Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-30
PEACE DELEGATES
CONSIDER COLONIES
Private Conferences Are Held to
Reconcile Rather Acute
Issue.
ANNEXATION IS FAVORED
Believe Middle Ground Will Be
Reached Regarding Ger
man Holdings.
fBy Associated pres. 1


PARIS. Jan. 29.-Whiie the coun,r
of the great powers were to-day Civ
ing their attention 20 Poland. the chief
interest was conferred in n series Of uri
vate conferences in the upper cham
ber Of the American and British dele
cations. where efforts were being made
TO reconcile the rather acute issue
which has arisen over the. disposition
of the German colonies
The American position has been
quite definitely and firmly stated in
favor of The Observation-Disclosures of
these colonies under the league of ma
tions, with mandates as trustees to
such powers as undertake to admins
ter them. But the British dominions,
! which are chiefly Interested in the
German colonies of the Pacific and in
South Africa. are equally firm for an
neXation. with full sovereignty, and
without mandate from the league Of
nations.
MAIN EFFORT MADE
TO RECONCILE FACTIONS
The main efforts to-day have been
to reconcile those extremes. and those
taking part in the conferences were
hopeful tonight that a middle ground
would be found. which would preserve
the American contention for man
date to the powers claiming the colo
nieS. Early in the day. General Smuts.
representing the British dominions'
view against the mandate, and Colonel
House, who is supporting the mandate.
held lengthy conference. with n view
to reconcilinE the differences. This
seemed TO tend toward an agreement
whereby the mandatory power would
have full control of the administrat ion
of any colony committed to it's care,
but the league of nations would eXer-
acter of this administration. with a
view to protecting the interests OF the
nation and population.
PREMIER HUGHES HOLDS
LENGTHY CONFERENCE
Later in the day Premier Hughes. of
Australia. who is the exponent ot the
| extreme view for outright annexation
of the colonies. conferred with Colonel
House in further effort TO secure a
| various British dominion delegates held
meeting and conferred with Premier
| Lloyd George for the purpose OF de-
! ttcrmining their course. s
I The result OF tili:; ntcsling' WIS not
| made known. but the sentiment Ia
conference circles IS strongly hopeful
! that an agreement Will be reached
/ Of Il mandate without hampcring the
power in administering colony.
Tie council OF the great powers gave
the entire day to Poland. hearing the
Polish delegates Dmowski ana riltz.
and tic Czecho- S1ovak delegates, Kra-
marakand Benes.
COMMISSION ABOUT
TO START FOR POLAND
While this bore on the instructions
10 the comm ission about TO start for
Poland. yet the main desire of the coun-
ci. was to hear the Poles and Czecho-
Sloraks concerning the warfare now
going on between them along the
Sllesian frontier. This clash between
! the military forces of the two coun-
. tries is regarding as contrary 10 III"
recent warming given by tho counc..
against the occupation of territory by
force.
The hearings to-day ana the dcpar-
;urc OF the commission for Poland are
expected to put IN end to this internal
conflict between two powers which a-e
!. rcnreS SeMtcd at the coNfrrnnrc