216    THE PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE, 1919, VOLUME V


instead of as the direct result of the war which had been won. This
was a reason of grave difficulty in signing the peace with Germany,
if questions affecting the peace with Austria-Hungary-that is to
say, the question of the frontiers-was not also settled.
MR. LLOYD GEORGE said that if M. Orlando left, a very carefully
drawn communique would have to be sent to the press.
BARON SONNINO, starting from the basis of M. Orlando's statement,
said that it was proposed that M. Orlando should present to the
Italian Parliament a statement of the question in general terms. It
was difficult, however, to state the question if he had no clear idea of
the intention of the other parties. He had thought that when they
were invited to come here this afternoon, they would receive some
suggestion of the latest point of view of the Allied and Associated
Powers. Up to now this had not been given. President Wilson had
made a statement as though the position was where it was a few
days ago before certain additional proposals had been made. Mr.
Lloyd George, in regard to Fiume for example, had said that he
would not refuse to change in some degree the elements of the
Treaty of London provided that concessions were made by Italy. M.
Clemenceau did not take the same point of view, and said that Fiume
had been promised to Croatia.
MR. LLOYD GEORGE said he never went beyond what his colleagues
had agreed to. The Treaty of London gave Fiume to Croatia. He
now proposed that it should be a free port, or rather he should say a
free city. He would take it from the Croatians and give it to its
own inhabitants of all races. This was a serious modification of the
Treaty from his point of view, but he would agree to it if Italy
would modify the Treaty of London.
BARON SONNINo asked if M. Clemenceau agreed.
M. CLEMENCEAU said he did. Mr. Lloyd George's point of view
was his own.
BARON SoNNINo asked if that was President Wilson's view also.
PRESIDENT WILSON said that in his memorandum he had expressed
his readiness to the erection of Fiume into a free city, and he had
accompanied his memorandum with a map.
BARON SoNNINo said that in President Wilson's memorandum other
frontiers, for example in Istria, were not the same as in the Treaty
of London. Did President Wilson consent to leave these frontiers
as in the Treaty? He only asked the question to clear the situation.
PRESIDENT WISON said that in his memorandum he had stated
what he felt to be the position of the United States of America.
From that he did not care to depart. He hoped that in any state-
ment to the Italian Parliament, M. Orlando would limit himself to
that memorandum.