Evening star., 1919-12-26
DOCK DATA INQUIRY.
/ DELAYING TREATY,
IiSAYS Won LERSNER
Allies Verifying Figures on
Tonnage to Repay for Ships
/ Sunk at Scapa Flow.
BY the, Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PARIS. December 25.-The final date
of the repeatedly postponed exchange
of ratifications of the treaty of Yer
sailles now depends upon the speed
with which the allied missions in Ger
many can verify the German fig
ureS of available floating dock ton
mage demanded by the allies as compen-
sation for the sinking Of the German
warships at Scapa Flow. The Associat-
ed Press was informed to this effect to-
day at the headquarters of the German
peace delegation.
Baron Won Lersner, head Of the Ger
man representatives, said he thought
this would take at least fortnight. if
rot longer. in view of the difficulties of
transportation in Germany and the de-
tail involved in verifying the figures.
Sees Misconception to Trip.
. "a decided misunderstanding is re-
nected in the Paris press during the past
two days regarding my projected trip
TO Berlin, which l subsequently aban-
doned." he said. MY object was to
hurry. rather than delav. the putting of
the Versailles treaty into effect. From
Monday night until Wednesday after
room at 2 O'Clock 1 was deprived of any
communication with my government by
either telegraph or telephone. in conse-
quence OF which Berlin had no knowl-
edge OF the entente nots or of the verbal
NJ. Dutasta, secretary of the peace
conference. until this morning.
thought that a trip to Berlin and
verbal explanation of the situation
matters. The inference by the French
papers that the German government
wanted to delay the exchange of rati-
hcations is absolutely unfounded. We
want nothing more than effective res
toration of peace.
Peace means the repatriation OF
our soldiers. prisoners in France who
are obliged to spend another Christ
mas in captivity though hostilities
have been suspended for more than
a year.
The fact that Herr Won Simson ar
rived in Paris last Sunday to start
negotiations for putting the treaty
into enect proves that we had no in
tention to delay matters
Tenor of Note Surprises Him,
Regarding the entente note. Baron
Won Lersner said it's tenc- surprised
him. as it seemed so little in accord
with the progress of the negotiations.
The Paris press" he said, "evep
announced our readiness to deliver
over all the harbor material we could
spare without endangering our eco-
nomic existence. as compensation for
the Scapa Flow sinkings. and fore
cast an early agreement on this ques-
ton II we did not get that far, 1T
not been asked to talk the matter
over since a week ago.
Baron Won LerSner asserted that
according to verbal communication of
NJ DutaSta at the time of the deliv-
cry of the note, the entente made
a diminution in the port tonnage de-
manded- conditional upon verificatjon
of Germany's claim that the entente
estimates of the harbor material
available were erroneous.
Denies Wrong Figures Given.
Il want to say in this conection." he
continued, that the statements in the
French press that we were disloyal
and gave out wrong figures on this
tonnage is absolutely unfounded This
the investigation would prove prom
iSed NJ. Dutasta to ask my govern
ment to give all facilities for such
investigation, and have no doubt that
they will be accorded at once
1--WE both agreed that it should be
possible in a short time to verify our
agreement regarding harbor materials
to be delivered by Germany. I hope
that our expectations will soon be full
filled and that peace will finally be
put into effect"
After the chief of the German dele
cation had informed NJ. Dutasta that
he thought it advisable to go to Ber-
lin. communication by special wire
was restored. according to the informa-
ton given out at the headquarters of
the German delegation, and it was de-
communication, which, taking into
consideration the time for coding.
transmission and DECIDING, could not