The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1918-10-31
ENTIRE AGREEMENT
MAY Be REACHED
On Wilson Basis for Armistice
British People Mad Over
Treatment
OF ENGLISH PRISONERS

1
OF ENGLISH PRISONERS
Paris, Oct. 30.--6 (p. m.)-The
heads of the allied governments and
Col E. NJ. House, special represen-
tative of the United States govern
ment with the military and naval
advisers of the respective countries
continued their informal meetings
yesterday.
Differences of view, natural to the
immensity of the interests involved
have arisen, bat under friendly ex-
animation they have largely disap-
peared.
Although some points in Presi-
dent Wilson declarations may re-
quire more complete definition, en-
tire agreement is in immediate pros
| pect.
The supreme war council viii not
/ meet formally until this full under
standing has been reached.
London, Oct. 30.-That the i'm
mediate release of all British pris-
oners will be insisted upon by the
government as part of the armistice
ters is confidently expected here.
Sir George Cave, the Home Secreta-
l. ry announced in the House of Com
mons yesterday that the same con-
| ditions imposed on Bulgaria in this
matter would be insisted upon in
any truce with Germany or Austria,
and General Allenby had been in
structed to follow the same policy
in dealing with the Turks.
There is plenty of evidence that
British prisoners have received
worse treatment throughout the war
than the others, exceupt the Rus
SLAMS. Events since the German
peace overtures were launched have
not tended to instill any spirit Of
conciliation. forgiveness or leniency
toward the enemy in British breasts.
The sinking of the Leinster fol
lowed close on the German note. The
evacuation of Belgian and French
towns, for years under German rule,
has opened what has heretofore
been largely a sealed book of ru-
mors, and authentic stories of Ger
man barbarities have been flooding
out.
Finally yesterdays discussions in
the House of Commons of the treat
ment of British prisoners appeared
to have been about the last straw
breaking the back of British pa
tience.
The topic was forced upon the
House by strong public demand
for light upon the circumstances of
what is termed blackmail in refus-
ing TO ratify an agreement drawn up
for an equitable exchange of prison
ers unless the British consented to
go outside that subject and give
guarantees against the deportation
of Germans from China.
Sir George Cave, home secretary,
gave authentic details of wholesale
deaths of British soldiers, kept rag
ged, starving and verminous and
compelled to work long hours in
salt mines and under fire at the
front, contrary to the rules of the
Hague convention, beaten and tor
tured and shot for petty or no Of
fenses.
Old parliamentary reporters say
that they have never seen such bit
ter and strong feeling pervade the
House of Commons. And the same
feeling has infected the whole coun-
try. The only group of members
who hold aloof was handful of pa
cifists.
The general nature of the militia
ry guarantees which the allies will
require has been outlined as the oc-
cupation of strategical German bas-
es, as well as the retirement of the
German army on its own soil. Mar
thine guarantees are considered
important % Great Britain.
Their nature thus far is only specu-
lative. but the internment of the
German submarines, if not the sur
render of the whole fleet, appears to
be the minimum terms which would
satisfy the British people.