Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-11-25

question which is being dlscuSSed'
widely Some newspapers take the
view that it will present questions of
adopting Americas higher standard
of wages to seamen and OF giving
America its proportion of the worlds
carrying trade How far such ques-
tions will come before the congress
are not clear, but Premier Clenmceau's
attitude toward the labor delegates
who visited him yesterday concern
ing a labor meeting simultaneously
with the peace congress, leads to the
belief that they will have as much
prominence in the conference as po-
litical and territorial questions
Freedom of the seas and compen-
sation by Germany for all damages
suffered by the allies are two ques-
uons for further discussion and deter
mination
Concerning freedom of the seas, the
tendency in American quarters is to
obtain q change in the present inter-
national practice by which belliger-
ents have practically taken control OF
the sea- going traffic on the outbreak
OF the war, as It is maintained that
the neutrals would be the ones to
profit by keeping out of the war and
icayiag tstEass ossasf siippbsS 10 move
without interference from the bellig
| erents But as this neutral shipping
I, might be used TO carry ammunition
! and other war supplies, II is said that
some voluntary agreement would also
be necessary. pledging all nations not
to furnish war supplies to countries
! going TO war. This in turn would re-
! quire an international sea patrol and
| the right to search at sea. While
| these phases are being discussed, they
are so complex that no decisions are
| likely for some time.
May Prohibit Mines.
Other points involved under the
| general head of freedom of the seas
| are the removal of all restrictions from
| free passage through such waterways
! as the Cattegat between the North and
/ Baltic seas the Dardanelles and Bos-
! phorus between the Mediterranean and
! the Black seas, and all straits exceed
! ing 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
I the Dover channel, are further points
| of discussion under this general topic.
| The second reserved point of the al
! lies-Germany to give compensation
! for all damages-appears generally to
he accepted in principle, leaving only
! the question of the amount of claims
!, bv the various allies to be settled.
! Non-official estimates place the
| French damages as upward of three
| hundred and forty billion francs, in
! cluding the return of the war indem-
nifty paid Germany in 1871, with in
/ terest and expenses and property losses
| during the present war.
! The British claims will concern
! largely shipping losses and war ex-
Jsnses Serbia, Belgium and Italy
/ have had large property losses.
4 Whether Americas war expenses
i will be presented as claim. is not
known. In some quarters ii is held
that the precedents established IN the
Boxer indemnify and in the Spanish
war probably will prevail.
Outside of these reserve points, the
!, main duties of the conference and the
congress will he in giving treaty form
and effect to President Wilson's four
teen points. which the allied govern
mcnts and the central powers both
have accepted as the basis Of agree
ment,
II To Restrict U-Boats.
, Restriction of submarine operations
against merchant ships so as to pre-
, vent attacks like that against the Lu-
, sitania doubtIessly will be proposed in
, the discussion by the peace congress
of the freedom of the sea- question.
Il It is the view of leading naval au-
!, thorities who have examined this
n branch Of the subject that submarine
: operations should be limited to attack
{ ing warships forming the regular part
NJ of a navy Attacks would be prohip-
g tied against merchant ships. either
s passenger or freight, and whether
e armed defensively or otherwise. Ac-
: cording to this view submarines would
continue to be an arm Of naval sei'v-
e ice, but their use would be confined
d strictly 10 naval warfare.
d This. with many other subjects to
: come before the peace congress, are
now in a formative state, as 1t VIII be
: some time, perhaps fortnight before
q the regular sittings of the inter-ailied
q conference are resumed to arrange
v tho preliminaries of the congress.
: In the meantime none OF the Brit
ish italian or other foreign delegates
II are here except Col r. M. House, the
s American representative to the con-
o ference, who is confined to his bed
with the grippe. Several members OF
" his staff are also down with the pre-
d waiting epidemic.
The Americans have taken the Ho-
y tel Crillion, facing the Place De La
al Ccncorde and the adjoining extensive
office quarters formerly occupied py
4 the American Red Cross. This gives
the Americans a frontage OF nearly
an entire block, the opposite side OF