Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1919 — PREMIER ORLANDO RETURNS TO ROME [ARTICLE]

PREMIER ORLANDO RETURNS TO ROME

Leaves Pads After Conference With Big Four; Baron Sonnlo Remains. LLOYD GEOR6E IS ACTIVE British l > re«nlcr Tries to Avert a Break With Rome —Orlando in Htalemrnt Assails President Wilson—’•Treats Us an Foe," He Bays. • Paris, April 25.—Premier Orlando and Signor Barxllai left for Rome last night. Thia was announced after Premier Orlando’s conference with the other members of the council of four, at which, according to the Italian premier, only questions of principle, and not territorial questions, were discussed. This is explained as meaning that the discussions centered on the question of prestige Involved In the publication of President Wilson’s statement and that no effort was made to reach a settlement on a territorial basis. The conference lasted two hours. Baron Sonnlno, the foreign minister, and the other Italian delegates and representatives will remain in Paris temporarily. Premier Lloyd George arranged during the afternoon for President Wilson nnd Premier Clemenceau to meet Premier Orlando. It is pointed out that the statement Issued by Premier Orlando says nothing of the Intention of the Italians to quit the peace conference. It merely states Italy’s case concerning Flnmo nnd the Dalmatian coast and does not appear in the form of an ultimatum. The premier says he has never denied that the pact of London did not apply to Flume, but the Italian claim wns based on the principles of President Wilson’s 14 points. /' Orlando’s Statement.

Following is the text of Premier Orlando’s statement: “Yesterday, while the Italian gallon was discussing counter-proposi-tions which had been received from the British prime minister nnd which had for their aim the conciliation of contradictory tendencies which were manifest concerning Italian territorial aspirations, the Paris newspapers published a message from the president of the United States in which he expressed his own thought on one of the gravest problems which has teen submitted to the judgment of the conference. "The practice of addressing nations directly constitutes surely an innovation in international relations. I do not wish to complain, but I wish to record it as a precedent, so that at my own time I may follow it, inasmuch as this new custom doubtless constitutes the granting to nations of larger participation in international questions, and, personally, I have always been of the opinion that such participation was the harbinger of a new order of things. “Nevertheless, if these appeals are to be considered as addresses to nations outside of the governments which represent them (I might say even against the governments) I should feel deep regret in recalling that this process, heretofore applied to enemy governments, is toijay applied for the first time to a government which has been and intends to remain a loyal ally of the great American republic, namely, to the Italian government.” Claims Right to Complain. Premier Orlando says that he might complain that such a message addressed to the Italian nation had been published at the very moment when the allied and associated powers were negotiating with the Italian government, the help of which had been sought and appreciated in numerous serious questions heretofore discussed in intimate and complete solidarity. “Above all,’’ he continues, “I should have the right to complain if the declarations of the presidential message have the purpose to oppose the Italian people to the Italian government, because it would misconstrue and deny the high degree of civilisation which the Italian people has attained and its democratic and liberal regime, and I should be forced to protest strongly against suppositions unjustly offensive to my country.” Objects to Point 9. Premier Orlando said:

•‘I am hastening the convocation of the Italian parliament. I have no doubt as to how the country will welocme it. Today I received a telegram signed by 208 senators and 322 deputies, backing the claims propounded by the Italian delegation. “The Italian delegation always made express reservations regarding some of the 14 points, notably point 9, and I told Colonel House so. He replied this was Intended purely toward Germany. “I frequently observed to President

Wilson that his 14 points only concerned the armistice with Germany. Shortly before the end of hostilities Austria-Hungary asked peace on the basis of the 14 points, but Wilson replied, "Too late!’ as the situation had radically changed as far as Austria was concerned. We do not break wth the allies. We ask them to take care of our interests and we believe they will loyally fulfill this mission.”