Američki stavovi o jadranskom pitanju uoči Pariške mirovne konferencije
American Viewpoints Concerning the Adriatic Question on the Eve of the Paris Peace Conference

Summary/Abstract: In contrast to other countries the U.S.A. entered World War I without any territorial claims but with ambitious new ideas and a clear vision of a new world order which differed considerably from the plans of France, Great Britain, and Italy. The American peace program formulated in fourteen points was enthusiastically received by the allied countries. The »fourteen points« seemed to be an efficient formula during the war but did not prove to be an appropriate basis for a practical political agreement in peace time. President Wilson's »fourteen points« could namely be interpreted in different manners. There was thus serious danger that they might become a bone of contention instead of being an universal formula that would satisfy all interested parties. In the American peace program that which concerned Italian interests was formulated in a clear manner. Wilson contested the secret London treaty between Italy, France, and Great Britain, and he envisaged a future Italian frontier to be determined according to ethnic principles. These basic ideas were also upheld by »Inquiry«, a committee of scientists and experts on political and territorial questions, in its report to Wilson and the American delegates to the peace conference concerning the boundaries between the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes and Italy. The U. S. A. would become the first great power to recognize the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes and would strive that Rijeka should not fall under Italy and that the rest of the frontier should satisfy ethnic principles.

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