Evening star., 1919-01-31
PRESIDENT TALKED
PLAINLY IN CRISIS
Told Allies He Would Not Be
a Party to Seizure of Ger
man Colonies.
RUMOR HE SCORED "LOOT'

By the Associated Press.
PARIS, January 31.--The crisis in
the peace negotiations over the dis
position to be made of Germany s
colonies seems to have passed, mo-
mentarily, at least.
1t is too early to say that President
Wilson's view has prevailed in its en-
tirety, but in American quarters
there is confidence that compromise
plan, which has been accepted in
principle. will be worked out with
details which will be acceptable to
the American viewpoint
| When the supreme council of the
peace conference meets today it will
| have before 1t the very plain state
ment made by President Wilson al
Wednesdays late session. SO partic-
| ular was Mr.. Wilson to have an exact
| record of what he had said that soon
after entering the meeting he sum
moned one of his personal stenog-
| raphers and kept him at his side dur
ing the session.
Reafhrms Principles,
What he said did not appear in the
| disclosed with any official authority
but it may be stated that 1t was a
very clear reaffirmation of the prin-
ciples for which the President has
previously contended. In phrases
| stripped of diplomatic niceties, 1t is
nderstood, Mr.. Wilson told the mem
bers of the supreme council he would
| not be party to division OF Ger
manys colonial possessions among
the powers which now hold them and
| then become party to league of ma
| tions which, in effect, would guaran-
| tee their title. There are inferences
| that the President even referred to a
peace of "loot." The net result of the
last two days of discussion on the
! colonial question in the opinion OF
many Americans has been to clear the
atmosphere generally and to force
clear definition of aims on all sides.
Balfour Prepares Memorandum.
| LONDON, January 31.-The Paris
| correspondent of the Daily Mail sends
| the following regarding the negetia-
| tions on the former German colonies;
| 1T is understood that the premiers
| of Australia. New Zealand and South
Africa have agreed upon scheme re-
! gated under the mandatory system
| and urging this scheme strongly upon
| the conference IT would provide
practically for freedom of administra-
| tion on the present dominion plan
Mr.. Balfour also has prepared a
| strong memorandum on tho Wilson
system, pointing out the various diff
culties in it's application and possible
ways of overcoming them
Other Comment by British Press.
/ JONpON. January 30-The discus =
| sions of the Paris conference regard
ing the future of the former German
colonies is being followed with in
I tense interest here. In some sections
of the press there is strong feeling
against the British delegation for
what the Globe calls giving away the
empire" A great majority of Eng
lishmen, the newspaper says, strongly
| support Australia's claim to the
| islands of the Pacific and South At
| rice,'s for possession of German East
Africa.
! Indications that the claims of the
dominions are not being supported
by the British government delega-
ton have caused some n'n,a alarm. uans. Inc
"If the British delegates weakly
persist in this attitude they are not
only surrendering the British inter
ests intrusted to them, but they are
sowing the seeds of such bitter dis
content as might dlouHiIS eSiAN Ni-
rupt the British empire
Presidents prentice Hand"
The Globe, taking this same line
! says: ,,
"These former German colonies un'
der the scheme proposed. with us
manufactures and the remainder OF us
| visionary suggestions, will fan undei
the control of league of nations
| which does not exist and which nc
! practical statesman believes in. Pres
ident Wilson, however. is intent or
irving his prentice hand. and pro
poses to do this at the expense OF the
British empire. and its allies. France
Italy and Japan"
The Pail Mall Gazette SAYS II il
distinctly unfortunate that the rea
sons advanced for President Wilson
policy are not fully expounded SO as
1--WE can see how far they counter
balance it's somewhat obvious draw
backs"
The STANDARD opposes the mandator!
scheme for the Pacific islands and
German Southwest Africa, saying
the islands are necessary te safe
guard Australia and South Africa. II
adds that Australia is as much in
terested in the Pacific islands as the
United States was in the Hawaiian
islands, when she annexed them.