Little ItalyDuring the negotiations at Versailles following World War I, Woodrow Wilson adamantly opposed the concession of the Adriatic port of Fiume to Italy.
V. E. Orlando, leading the Italian delegation, eloquently presented Italy's case: given that Fiume's population, language, and culture were all largely Italian, its right to the city was irrefutable.
"I hope you won't press the point in respect to New York City," Wilson retorted, "or you might feel like claiming a sizable piece of Manhattan Island."
Wilson, [Thomas] Woodrow (1856-1924) American politician and educator, Princeton University President (1902-10), Governor of New Jersey (1911-13), 28th president of the United States (1913-21), Nobel Peace Prize recipient (1919) [noted for his decision to involve the United States in World War I (notwithstanding his neutral position in the early years of the conflict); and for his Fourteen Points (incorporated into the Treaty of Versailles) which laid the foundation for the League of Nations]
[Sources: E. Fuller, 2500 Anecdotes]More [Thomas] Wilson anecdotesRelated Anecdote Keywords:
Witty Replies Territorial Disputes World War I War Negotiations Italy Retorts Arguments Analogies
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