The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-01-29

HIGH COMMISSION ON
DEMOB1LIZATION FORMED
Disposition of German Colonies
Taken ur Cor Discussion by
Peace Council and Military
Commanders

Paris, JAM "a (By the Associated
Press).-A series of international
events Of the highest order took form
today 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 gained by force
will seriously prejudice the claims OF
those who use such means and set up
sovereignty by coercion. This decla-
ration was framed by President Viii.
son.
Second: The appointment of
commission of the highest military
authority, including the British min
ister of war, Marshal Foch, General
Diaz and Gen. Tasker II. Bliss to car
ry forward early demobilization and
established proportionate allied and
associated forces on the Western
front
Third: Discussion of territorial
claims on conquered German colonies
with hearings Of interests to Austral-
ia. New. Zealand and Southern Africa
On German East Africa and the Ger
man island groups Of the Pacific
Fourth Approval of the council OF
the striking os 2 medal for all troops
taking part in the war.
Fifth: Auth oriZation to NJ. Pin
chon the French foreign secretary, to
draft Instructions for the joint mis-
sion which is about to proceed to Po-
land
The foregoing embrace some Of the
most difficult questions before the
peace conference and with the pro-
jected action for tomorrow on the
{ league Of nations, indeunities. pun
ishments, labor and international
highways goes far towards clearing
the state of most of the large subjects
before the conference.
While the solemn warning with re-
gard to the gaining Of territory by
force specified no countries, it covered
broadly the varring elements in the
Ukraine and those around Wilma and
Len1herg. where commandments have
occurred. and also in the Caucasus.
where the new Georgian republic is
fighting the Armenia republic;
a.so Serbian inroads on Montenegro
as well as territocial.occupat along
the eastern Adriatic, in Thrace and in
Poland
Some OF these situations already
have brought protests and other pro-
tests are expected so that the great
powers decided to. enunciate the
principle that possession BY force
places a cloud on title"
The creation Of military commits
sion for prooortioning the troops on
the Western front brings the vigor-
ous figure Of Winston Spencer
Churchill into the conference. The
sentiment of the council was strongly
for rehabilitation with the least pos
sible delay. There. is reason to be-
ieve also that the commission will
carry out the plans already before
the war department in Washington
for the return Of American troops
homeward as rapidly as transporta-
ton permits and that there will be
no increase in the American proper
ton Of troops IN the occupied regions.
While the hearing on the German
colonies confined to the British do
minions, Japan was represented on
the council and expects to be heard
in due time concerning some Of the
German Pacific groups and Kiau
Chow. ..
1t is understood the British contenl-
plate an important proposal by which
such problems as the German colo
nies. Mesopotamia and Pales,..is will
he submitted to the league of nations
in order to avoid waste Of time and
territorial demands incompatible with
the principles of the league.
The second plenary session OF the
peace conference at o'clock tomor-
row afternoon will have the league of
nations as its foremost topic. This
will be followed by the four ques-
tions-labor, in6emnities, punish
ments and highways as previously de-
fined
David Lloyd George, the British
premier. will make the opening pre- 4;
sentation Of plan for (; league of ma
tons in 4 brief speech. dealing large
ly with principles and leaving the de-
tails for the commission.
The part President Wilson VIII I
take in tomorrow's session of the con-
ference has not yet been definitely
REP. W. f. DERRICK DEAD.
Srcc,,mhS m Pneumonia af His Home