The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-04-12
Council Of Four Decide That
Former Kaiser Should
Be Tried
INDEMNITY OF, CENTRAL
POWERS FIXED
They viii Be Allowed Thirty
Years IN Which to Pay for
War.


Press3 The responsibility OF the
German emperor for the war and
the means Of bringing him to trial by
one Of the allied governments, PROB
ably Belgium. have been definitely de-
terTnined upon by the council OF foIr.
This follows the definite decision On
the terms of reparation for war dam
ages. whereby $4,000, 100000 must be
paid within the next two years, ana
an, interaIlied commission assess he
remaining damage for period OF 50
years beginning May !, 1921.
Thus TWO of the great obstacles
which stood in the path Of the rapid
attainment of peace have been &c
moved within the last "a hours, and
the period OF extreme tension over
the inaction and the failure to secure
tangible results is succeeded by re-
vived confidence over the great cd
vance made towards a permanent set
tlement How far these results are
due to the intiInations conveyed IN the
sunamoning to France OF the Unned
States transport George Washington
by President Wilson is only conj"c-
IUIdl, Dul IL - az iS>i9S q WIN iN'N
that the main difficulties began 70
dissolve from the time that this de-
cis:on became known.
The exact nature of these Difficult
ties is not disclosed. Friends Of the
president maintain that they We're
largely OF a minor character. not in
yolving large principles, though the
presid dent's adherence to his : >
points as the rigid limitation OF the
scape of action appears to have run
All through the deliberations during
the tense period of the last few days.
While the tension has bern gceatN
reduced, it is not entirely removed, as
much depends on the continuatloIp or
prngress with respect TO Tire rei11afa-
ing obstacles, notably the Sarre Val
ley, the Rhine frontier, the Adriatlc
issae and a number Of lesser issues
which are stin short Of final agree
lnent.
TIE agreement on responsibilities
for the war is understood to have been
a compromise between divided re
ports presented by the commission, OF
which Secretary Lansing IS chairman.
There was a practical agreement 90
the general responsibility OF TIE
German emperor for bringing on the
war. but division occurred on Wheth-
rr It was feasible to bring him tc
iustice before an international trlbu-
nal.
The French and British view favor
ed tribunal but the American view
fiictnent without recourse to prose
cution. owing to the lack of an inter
national law as a basis for trial be
fore an international court.
Belgium, on which the war fel
first and heaviest. is reported to have
taken a view much similar to that o
the United States, while Japan anf
italy were partially in accord witt
the American view.
II was owing to these divergen
viewpoints that the council devised
new plan, whereby one Of the alile'
nations, probably Belgium. would I'M
tate prosecution against the forn1e
emperor and others responsible TO
the breach of treaties. the invasion o
IoTTILCTy anu tilS uSSN1 ONI-N-i N-N~>
ed against this country and leadln!
to more general spread Of the war
The, exact nature of the agreement
not disclosed. but the foregoing is be
lieved to cover the main lines.
The text as finally approved o.
reparations specifies that the enenl
countries must admit responsbiilt
for all losses and damages to allie
and associated nations and their cit
liens caused oy the unjustihable AK
sression But, in view Of the inabil
ity Of the enemy countries fully t
recompense these losses, the claus
states, an interallied commission WI
assess the losses or a just basis 70
80 years. beginning May /, 1921. Wit
an initial payment of s5,000.000.0oi
Germany is to pay the entire cos
Of the commission and staff durjn
the 80 years of operations The :::s
payment is to be credited asai:ls
Germany's obligation TO pay for tn
maintenance Of the allied troops j
the occupied region, and the secon
priority is for the payment Of FOO
relief furnished to Germany.