The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-11-25
Entrance Into War of the U. s. Made Change in
 Economic Boycott @ t Plan
FREEDOM OF SEAS WILL BE DEFINED
 AT CONFERENCES
Enormous Indemnities Claimed by France, Belgium, Serbia and Italy. But Recoupment of War Expenses
 May Not Be Demanded

f
 Paris Saturday, November 23.-tBy the Associated Press) .--Premier Glenn encaus intended visit to London early in December doubtlessly will give him an opportunity to discuss a number of the more important issues to come be- rore the interallieu conference and the peace congress with Premier Lloyd George, A. J. Balfour. the British for CTS who. are detailed in England by the. election campaign.
 Announcement of the premier's in- tention to go to England follows the visit to Paris, of Paul, Cambon, French ambassador to Great Britain, who is believed to have acquainted the au- thorities here with the prevailing Brit ish sentiment on the main points un- der discussion.
 While there has been no authori- tative announcement, it is understood that a considerable advance has been made in discussing parliamentary de- tails and very thorough examination now is going on concerning all ques- tions likely to come before the con- ference and the congress particularly economic questions and the reserva- tions made by the allies in accepting President Wilson's fourteen points as the terms upon which peace could be made.
 ECONOMIC QUESTIONS
 The ecomic questions are assuming marked prominence since the an- nouncement that an American party Including large staff of economic and shipping experts was coming to Paris and the presence of Edward N Hurley and other shipping authorities The main discussion appears to center around President Wilson's third point which was accepted without reservation ! by the allies, providing for the removal 70 far as possible of all economic bar riers. Previous to this the allied eco homie congress held in Paris two years ago provided for an economic boycott . against the central powers for five years after the conclusion of the war and for special trade facilities between the al- lied countries, their colonies and neu- trals.
 This preceded Americas entrance into | the war, and the United States did not subscribe to the proposed restrictions. Little has been heard since that time about putting into effect the decision of the economic congress and the ac-
 
 point by the allies appears to substitute the principle of the removal of economic barriers for the previous one of exclu- sion.
 HIGHER WAGES FOR SEAMEN The growth of American shipping dur ing the war is another economic question which is heinz discussed widely. Some newspapers take the view that it will present questions of adopting America s higher standard of wages to seamen and of giving America it's proportion of the |. worlds carrying trade How such ques- tions will come before the congress are not clear. but Premier Clemenceau's at- titrde toward the labor delegates who visited him yesterday concerning a labor meeting simultaneously with the peace congress leads to the belief that they will have as much prominence in the conference as political and territorial questions.
 Other points involved under the general head of freedom of the seas, the re- poval of all restrictions from free pass age through such waterways as the Cat tegat between the North and Baltic seas; the Dardanelles and Bosphorus between the Mediterranean and the Black seas and all straits exceeding one marine league which connect with the high seas.
 The restriction against planting mine fields such as those across the North sea between Norway and Scotland and barrages in the Dover channel are fur ther points of discussion under this gen. eral topic.
 ENORMOUS INDEMNITY
 The second reserved point of the allies Germany to give compensation for all damages appears generally to be accept cd in principle. leaving only the ques- tion of the amount of claims by the 4~1t .Ax1. c.u.. estimates place the French damages as upward of 34o,ooo. .oooo0o francs, including the return of the war indemnity paid Germany in 1870. with interest, and ex- penses and property losses during the present war.
 The British claims will concern largely chipping losses and war expehses Serbia Belgium and Italy have had large prop erty losses.
 Whether Americas war expenses will be presented as claim Is not known In come quarters it is held that the prec- edents established in the Boxer indem- nity and in the Spanish war probably will prevail.
 WILSON'S 14 POINTS
 Outside of these reserved points the main duties of the conference and the congress will be in giving treaty form and effect to President Wilson's IA points,. which the allied governments and the central powers both have &C., cepksd as the basis of agreement Those ihvoivi1y territorial questions are out lin6d only in general principles and the main discussion win be to give rractical effect to the principles by fixing exact boundaries and safeguard ing the territorial Integrity and sov- Afeisnty of newy organized states like Poland. Ju8o-Slavia and Czecho- alovAkia.
 Some of these territorial questions in southeastern Europe present delicate phases. particularly. along the eaAtern thore Of the Adriatic. where many races ex>rlAp and where the Italians, JuKo- slAvs. GrsAks and AlbAnians each have meyitorioue claims of being the predom- inant nationality in different sections.
 American naval representation in the Adriatic already is having an influ- enco in smoothing out these delicate phases. Reports from that quarter show that American efforts have aSsist- 6d greAtlys in removing intsf@raciai dif- ferencea n all parties accept Americas s diainfnfAatod good wfll