The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-04-09
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are concerned, are now q thing OF
the past
1T viii be peace which the
worlds common sense will approve.
even il it disappoints the reaction
aries on one hand and the extremists
on the other" he said
The official intimated the peace
treaty viii leave great deal for the
league OF nations TO do. saying it will
not be a rigid affair, like most
I treaties. but viii be more like the
/ American constitution, subject TO
+ changes providing two-thirds OF the
I signatories desire.
When it was suggested that such
questions as the Saar basin and
PREPARATIONS hardly admitted OF COM
| promise, but must be decided one
way or the other, the official replied
| il would be found there is room for
give and take on these questions
without sacrificing any of the essen
tial principles. Asked if he meant
the principles President Wilson
enunciated. he replied:
Yes"
Fighting for France.
[By William Philip Simms, United
Press staff Correspondent
PARIS, April 9.-Premier Clemen-
ceau, undaunted by charges OF i'm
periaiism or iusinuations that France
IS imbued with childish idea Of
vengeance, continues to fight for
what the French regard as adequate
PREPARATION from Germany.
The premier's arguments are back
ed by the most startling figures.
oass .
debt Is more than $4,000, 600 900.
Every man. woman and child, there
fore. is burdened with debt of more
than $1,000. Every baby is born
owing debt on which it must pay
at least an annual interest OF S55.
According TO the last cen ;us, there
were less than 5000, 900 money pro-
ducing males in France Thus for
each worker, there is a debt of over
coo. With its present debt,
Frances expenditures are placed at
SO 500, 0o0, 600 a year and as the total
annual private income of all the
French together is only between ST.
SOC. O0e, 900 and $1,000, o0o, 900 fifty
percent Of every mans wages and
other income is necessary to meet
the country's budget
However, it is not only neces sary
to meet expenses, but TO pay OF that
great national debt. Prof. Henri
Truchy, the famous economist OF Sor-
born university, considers 100000
900 a year for this purpose would be
a good average At this rate it would
require hundred years 10 free the
country from debt. Truchy declared
that certain peace delegates have
adopted the position 1t would be I'M
fair to Germany and contrary 10 the
spirit of the items to place heavy
burden of debt on future generations
of Germans, who ought not to suffer
for the mistakes Of their forefathers.
He said the French position is:
us it fair TO force future genera
lions of French TO pay the debts OF
a war begun by the Germans when
the Germans themselves are exempt
ed?"
La Liberte said today that Clemen-
ceau, Premier Lloyd-George, Premier
Orlando and Colonel House reached
an agreement on certain principles
while President Wilson was i'll. 1t
declared that it now remains for the
president to approve these decisions,
adding the obvious conclusion is. that
il he approves the peace prelimi-
naries would be signed.
Reach Agreement.
PARIS, April 9.-The big four"
has virtually reached agreement on
the question of responsibility for the
war, it was semi POLITICALLY announced
today.
1.-THE latest unofficial reports On
the work Of the responsibilities COM
mission said that body had drawn up
an indictment OF various enemy mill
tary and civil officials, charging them
with wide range OF offenses in con-
nection with starting and maintain
ing the war The enemy countries
will be asked to surrender these men,
IL was said, for trial by special
international court, which is expected
10 remain in session until all the
cases are disposed Of. 1t was IN
dicated the former kaiser could not
be brought to trial owing to the abb
sence of international precedent on
which to act
The present Turkish government.
taking matters into its own hands
has already undertaken to try sew
eral high officials charged with vio-
latfng the international laws of war
fare.l
Hope for Harmony.
by Robert j. Bender, United Press
Staff Cores pondent1
WASHINGTON, April Slope DOM
mated the thought of diplomats, off
|iaIa and LEGISLATORS here TODAY de-
spite the tension reported in some
peace circles at Paris. 1t is believed
Incredible here that the statesmen of
Europe will allow the crisis to reach
the state that withdrawal of the
American delegation will result.
Should America quiet the deliber-
ations, It is the official conviction here
that chaos would sweep France and
Italy.
AS authorities see it today, with