Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-25
CLAIMS BASED ON
FORCE WILL GET
SCANT ATTENTION
High Military Commission
Appointed to Consider
Early Demobilization.
NO INCREASE LOOKED FOR .a
IN AMERICAN PROPORTION
Representatives of British Do
minions Present Claims
Before Conference.
FUTURE OF GERMAN COLONIES
French Foreign Minister Authorized
to Draw Instructions for
Polish Mission.
FUTURE OF GERMAN COLONIES
French Foreign Minister Authorized
to Draw Instructions for
Polish Mission.

'ciHdtlonal events OF the highest order
took form to-day at meetings of the
council Of the great powers and the
military commanders on all the fronts
These may be summed UP as follows:,
First The issuance of a solemn
warning to the world that the pos
session of territory gaiped by force
will seriously prejudice the claims OF
those who use such means and set-up
sovereignty by coercion. This declara-
tion was framed by President wilson.
Second The appointment OF com
mission OF the highest military an
thority, Including the British Minister
of Mar, Marshal Foch, General Diaz
and General Tasker II. Bliss, to carry
forward early rehabilitation and es-
-tablish proportionatei allied and as
sociated forces, on the western front.
DISCUSSION OF TERRITORIAL. y
CLAIMS ON GERMAN COLONIES
Third. Discussionlso OF territorial
claims OIL conquered German colonies,
with hearings OF sMterest to Australia
New Zeaiend and. South africa on s Ser
groups of the Pacific. ftf 81
Fourth. Approval Of the councilssofg.
the striking OF medals for all troops
taking part in the war. 3,S $50
Fifth. Authorization to NJ. Pichon,
the French Foreign Secretary, to draft
instructions for tho joint mission which
is about to proceed to Poland,
QUESTIONS COVERED EMBRACE 9,
MANY DIFFICULT ONES
The foregoing embrace some of5the
peace conferencei and with tho pro-
jected action for tomorrow on the
ishments labor and international high
ways, it goes far toward clearing the
slate of most of the large subjects
before the conference. Stf35..
While the solemn warning wIth4fre-
gard to the ginning of territory by
force specified no countries, it COW
the Ukraine and those around Vilna
and Lemberg. where bombardments
have occurred. and also in the cau-
lie Is lighting the new Armenian re-
pub!ic also Serbian inroads on Nom
tenegro. as we'll rs territorial occur
patton along the Eastern Adriatic, In
Thrace and in Poland
POSSESSION by FORGE PLACES So,
CLOUD ON TITLE
Some of these situations already
have brought protests. and other pro-
powers decided to enunciate the prin.
ciple that possession by force places
cloud on title."
sion for proportioning the troops on
the western front brings the vigorous
figure, of Winston Spencer Churchill
the council was strongly for de-
mobilization with the least possible
delay, There is reason to believe also
plans already before the War Depart
ment in Washington for the return OF
American troops homeward as rapidly
as transportation permits, and that
there will be no increase in the Ameti-
can proportion OF troops In the occu-
pied regions
JAPAN WILL. BF: HEARD
CONCERNING NIAUCIAU
,l,,
colonies was confined to the British
dominons, Japan was represented on
the council and expects to be heard in
que time concerning some of the Ger
man Pacific groups and Kiauchnu.
II Is understood that the British con-
template an important proposal by
colonies. Mesopo,amia and Palestine
nations in order to avoid loss Of time
and territorial demands incompatibiN
with the principles of the league
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
SUBJECT FOR TODAY
The second lplenary session of the
peace conference Mt 3 o'clock to-m6r-
row afternoon will have the league
of nations as its foremost topic. This
labor indemnities, punishments and
highways rs previously defined.
David .Lloyd George. the British Pre-
mier. will make the opening presenta-
in Il brief speech. dealing largely with
principles and leaving the details for
the commis ssion.
The part President Wilson will take
in to-morrow's session of the confer
ence has not yet been definitely an
nounced.
FIRST OFFICIAL UTTERANCE
DEPRECATlSG ARMED SEIZURE
The warning by the representatives
OF the FIVE great powers ngains, taxi
Ing possession of territory by force
Is the first official utterance deDrecat-
ing armed aggrandizemeut after the
war. - iS
II si~niftes that further bloodsheJ
will not be tolerated,
diousy prepared document which
however. the temper OF presidemt
Wilson: and of tho Premiers and Far
eign Ministers with regard 70 many
little mailed fists which have been
put intoN action since tho signing of
The demand tor good faith" means
that the men composing the steerinE
of the conferences do not 4
intend to let the worlds peace con-
ference appear TO be = moc,sery WHEN
at time its members are stfiying
for peace tho f1ar1e OF war gtilI RACES
In other paris OF the world. &,