The sun., 1919-06-03
U. s. WILLING TO
MODIFY TREATY:
BRITAIN AGREES
Thirty Billions for Repara-
tion. With First Pay
ment in 1923.
CLEMENCEAU Is OPPOSED
Contends Treaty Cannot Be
Altered Without Reopening
Whole Discussion.
CLEMENCEAU Is OPPOSED
BY LAURENCE HILLS.
stof Correspondent Of rHr Sun.


PARIS, June 2.-The followine
changes will be made in the peace
treaty to meet German objections Il
the opinions Of the American experts
who helped to draw up the document
are consulted:
/. Germanys demand that the
reparation sum be fixed i'm
mediately, instead Of at the end of
two years, will be granted. The
sum will be fixed at $4,000, ,OOO,-
600. the Americans having con-
tended all along that no more
than this could be collected.
2. Germany would get four
years instead of two for pay
ing the first instalment of S.
OOO.OOO,00O. Count Won Brock.
dorn-Rantzau, German Foreign
Minister and head of the peace
delegation sent by Germany to
Versailles, demands seven years.
8. The treaty text with ref
erence to the powers Of the
reparation commission would be
changed materially for clarifica-
tion purposes, to show the Ger
mans that the Allies have no IN
tention Of absolutely controlling
Germany's domestic legislation,
which is admittedly the impress
sion the present text gives but
which the Allies disavow.
q. Germany's protest that she
would be unable to do bus
iness without some ships will be
met either by allowing Germany
to keep some of her own ships,
or guaranteeing her that the
United States and Great Britain
will charter for German use a
certain amount of tonnage of
their new ships at favorable rates.
B. While the Germans will not
get representation on the
reparahon commission, the treaty
will make clear that there will be
no objection to the appointment
Of German commission to work
hand In hand with the allied
commission.
Approved by British.
British circles concur in these opin
Ions, OF which a memorandum wa!
made for the President.
The big question that will be raiset
is: Can the treaty be changed with
out opening up the whole discussion
again, with the old wrangling? Pre-
mier Clemenceau argues that 1t can
not.
On the other hand the Americans
are now sure that the Germans will
not sign the present treaty unless
they are forced to do so by an In
vasion of Germany. In many circle.
1t is felt that the President, by a de
termined stand, could quickly force 9
change along the lines indicated ant
that the alterations could be made II
one week.
The question is: VIII the President
follow the advice OF the American ex
perts and go to the mat with the
Tiger and possibly also with Pre-
mier Lloyd George. although 1t II
now strongly intimated that the Brit
ish Premier favors the changes?
The treaty has been discussed or
few points aside from the reparatior
commission, all questions turning or
This commission and on the financial
More investigation by TIL
Sun shows that the experts Of al
the Allies are in favor Of fixing def
mite reparation sum, but that Pre-
miers Lloyd George and Clemenceau
insisted on letting the treaty stand al
1t Is. The American financiers point
ed out that nobody would lend money
to Germany with her liabilities un
settled. This is recognized as being
one OF the worst features of the pres
ent plan, since Germany cannot dc
much toward paying until 1t is made
possible for her to obtain credits.
nenniss sum Was Urged.
When the reparation and nnancia
clauses first came up the Americans
~ G0atinas6- on Ssoosd RaRS