Evening star., 1919-04-14

ever. that the council of four seems
to have agreed on all the fundamen-
tai points This Is distinct inn
provement."
On the subject of the western bor-
der of Germany. the correspondent
states he has 1t on good authority
that Premier C1emenceau's main OBJ
ject has been from the first day OF
the conference to pave the way to
q settlement that should be entirely
based on that idea of right which
since 1870 has been embodied in AL
SAGE Lorraine" and that the settle
ment of the Czechoslovak question
should be entirely acceptable to the
English-speaking democracies.
Says Clemenceau Misunderstood.
Those who believed that he would
try to annex to France the whole or
mart of the left bank of the Rhine
entirely misunderstood his intention,
the correspondent declares Truly
enough, when the question of the
western border of Germany came up
before the council of four he asked at
first for rectification of the IRON
tier which would amount to re-eStab-
fishing the French border of 1914. TO
understand such a demand it must be
recalled that the comparatively small
district extending between the bor-
der Of 1870 and the border of 1914
includes places such as Sarrelouis.
where so per cent of the inhabitants
are said to be in favor of reunion
with France
still as objection was raised inside
the council of four that such a step
might be interpreted as amounting to
annexation, the French government
made it clear on March IS that ii did
not want to maintain its demand IL
Great Britain and America deemed
1t to be Objectionable. Since that date
the French has confined
itself to claiming that the coal of
the Sarre valley was due to France
a. part of the reparation.
Calls Compensation Inadequate.
This principle was agreed to by
all parties, as 1t is recognized that
the transfer of the mines to France
the havoc deliberately wrought in
northern France by the Germans. The
solution of the Sarre problem was
suggested last week by Mr.. Lloyd
George. 1t consists in giving the
Sarre a kind of autonomy very much
resembling that of Luxembourg. Under
such a scheme the local authorities
would remain free from any inter-
ference on the part of either the
French or the German administra-
tion, the political status of the dis
trict being. besides. guaranteed by
the league of nations. That sugges-
tion was carefully worked out by a
subcommittee. The scheme was laid
before the council of four early last
week and heartily supported by Mr..
Lloyd George"
C1emenceau Reassures Socialists.
PARIS, April 1s (Havas).-Premier
Clemenceau told a deputation of the
radical socialist group which called
upon him today that the question of
reparation by Germany had been set
tied among the allies a few hours
previously on basis that would sat-
isfy the desires of the deputation. as
these had been presented to him, and
that the same could be said for the
negotiations concerning the Sarre
valley.
The group considered it of great i'm
portance that the league of nations
should be organized. theoretically and
practically, in such a way as to pre-
vent In future any attempt against
the security of the world and the in
dependence of it's people.
The Paris Chamber of Commerce
passed a resolution yesterday de-
manding that the government obtain
complete reparation from Germany.
The Civic League issued a manifesto
demanding the entire reimbursement
by Germany Of the damage done and
the cost of the war.