The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-25
Conference tOTake Up Ques- tiOns of League of Ma tions, Indemnities, Punish ments, Labor and Inter- national Highways Today
By Associated Press

By Associated Press
 Paris, January 24.-A series of internatioal 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:
 l. The issuance of a solemn warn
 ing to the world that the possess
 sion of territory gained by force
 will seriously prejudice the claims
 of those who use such means and
 set up sovereignty by coercion.
 This declaration was framed by
 President Wilson.
 2. The appointment of com
 mission of fhe highest military au-
 thority, including the British min-
 ister of war, Marshal Foch, Gen
 eraI Diaz and Gen. Tasker H. Bliss,
 to carry forward early demobilizn-
 ton and establish proportionate ai-
 lied and associated forces on the
 western front.
 :. Discussion of territorial claims
 on conquered German colonies. with
 hearings of interest to Australia,
 New Zealand and South Africa on
 German East Africa and the Ger
 man island groups of the Pacific.
 4. Approval of the council of the
 striking of medal for all troops
 taking part in the war.
 ;. Authorization to NJ. PichOn,
 the French foreign secretary, 10
 draft instructions for the joint
 mission which is about to proceed
 tc Poland.
 MOST DIFFICULT QUESTIONS
 The foregoing embrace some of the most difficult questions before the peace conference and with the projected ac- tion for tomorrow on the league oi nations, indemnities, punishments, la- Dor and international highways, it goes far toward clearing the slate of most of the large subjects before the con- ference.
 While the solemn warning with re- gard to the gaining of territory by IOfCe SptClHSQ no cOuulfleS, IL CUNcTeu broadly the warning elements in the Ukraine and those around Wilma and Lemberg, where bombardments have oc- cured and also in the Caucasus, where the new Georgian republic is fighting the new Armenian republic; also Serbian sfnroads on Montenegro, as well as territorial occupation along the eastern. Adriatic, in Trace and in Po- land.
 Some of these situations already have brought protests and other protests are expected so that the great powers de- cided to enunciate the principle that possession by force places a cloud on title."
 The creation of military commission for proportioning the troops on the western front brings the vigorous fig ure of Winston Spencer Churchill into conference. The sentiment of the coun- cil was strongly for demobilization with the least possible delay. There is reason to believe also that the com mission will carry out the plans al- ready before the war department in Washington for the return of Ameri- can troops homeward as rapidly as transportation permits and that there will be no increase in the American proportion of troops in the occupied regions.
 JAPAN REPRESENTED
 While the hearing on the German col Onies was confined to the British do- minions, Japan was represented on the council and expects to be heard in dus time concerning some of the German Pacific groups and Riauchau.
 It is understood that the British con- template an important proposal by which such problems as the German colonies, Mesopotamia and Palestine will be submitted to the league of na- tions in order to avoid loss of time and territorial demands incompatible with the principles of the league.
 The second plenary session of the peace conference at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon will have the league of na- tions as it's foremost topic. This will be followed by the four questions-la- bor. indemnities, punishments and high ways as previously defined
 David Lloyd George, the British pre- mier, will make the opening presenta- ton of plan for league of nations in brief speech, dealing largely with principles and leaving the details for the commission. s
 The part President Wilson will taks in tomorrow's session of the confer ence has not yet been definitely an nounced.
 SUPREME WAR COUNCIL
 The supreme council of the powers met today as the supreme war council. Not only were there present President Wilson and the prerniers and foreign ministers, but Marshal Foch, the French commander in chief; Field Marshal Haig. the British commander: Gen. John J. Pershing. United States army, and General Diaz, the Italian general issimo, representing the high military command on all fronts and the gen. erals of the Versailles war council, in- cluding General Wilson for the Brit ish. General Bellin for the French. Maj Gen. Tasker II. Bliss for the United States and General Robilant for Italy General Diaz accompanied Premier Or lando of Italy and the occasion was one of the very few on which he has been absent from the Italian army.
 The session was devoted chiefly to a discussion of the status of the al- lied and American occupational forces along the German and Austrian from tiers
 SPECIALISTS STUDY QUESTION
 By Associated Press
 Paris, January 24.--The question oi the interantionalization of ports and waterways and, in certain cases rail ways, which is to come before the peace conference session Saturday, has been given careful study by American specialists on the subject. It is be- lieved that they win present some ad- vanced views on the question
 It is felt the carrying out of this proposal. which is the third of Presi- dent Wilson's II points, will bring