South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-15
LAST OBSTACLE
IN WAY Of PEACE
TREATY REMOVED
President Issues Statement,
Saying Treaty viii Soon
Be Drafted.

PARIS April 15.-It was stated
in authoritative quarters last night
that a satisfactory agreement had
been reached on the question OF
The Rhine frontier. thus removing
the last OF the main obstacles in
the way 20 the peace treaty with
Germany.
A statement 10y Pres't Wilson in
behalf Of the council of four says
shat the questions OF peace are so
near complete solution that they
VIII be quickly and finally drafted.
This announcement was contained
iu an Official bulletin, which added
that the German plenipotentiaries
had been invited TO meet at Yer
ssilles on April %.
The president hopes that the
questions Of Italy especially relat-
ire 10 the Adriatic. will be brought
10 a speedy agreement. The Adri-
attic question will be given prece-
dence over other questions.
The settlements belonging espe-
cially TO the treaty with Germany.
The statement says. will thus be-
gotten out OF the way. and at the
same time other settlements will
DE completely formulated.
Text of Wilson's Statement
The text of Pres't Wilson's state
ment follows:
"In view OF the fact that the
questions which must be settled
with Germany have been brought
so near complete solution that
they can now quickly be put
through the final processes Of
drafting, those who have been most
constantly IN conference about
them have decided TO advise that
the German plenipOtentiaries be
invited to meet the representative
of the associated belligerent nations
at Versailles on the 25th Of April
This does not mean that the
many other questions connected
with the general peace settlement
will be interrupted or that their
consideration which has long been
under way will be retarded. on
tic contrary. IT is expected that
rapid progress will now be made
with the questions, SO that they
may also presently be expected 20
Doe ready for final settlement
cit is hoped that the questions
most directly affecting Italy. espe-
ciaHy the Adriatic questions, can
now be brought to a speedy agree
meut The Adriatic question will
be given for the time precedence
over other questions and pressed
hy continual study Of its final
stage.
Germany Treaty Near Settlement
The settlements that belong es-
peciauy To the treaty with Germany
will i'm this way be gotten out of
tho way at the same time that
other settlements are being brought
70 complete formulation It il
realized that, though this process
must be followed, all the questions
of the present great settlement are
parts of a single whole"
One hundred billion gold marks
b. the amount Germany must pay
The allied and associated govern
mcnts for losses and damage caused
i1 the war plus other billions 10
be determined by a special COM
mission on which Germany IS TO
Hc represented.
Arrange For Payments
This Is the hnal definite conclu-
sion which has been reduced TO
writing after weeks of negotiation
which took wide range and in
tolved frequent changes and modi-
locations The payment of the
100000. 100000 gold marks is 20 be
divided into three distinct amounts
as follows
First 20 billions within two
second. 40 billions during so
years beginning I'm 1921.
Third. 80 billions when COM
mission shall determine how il
shall he done
in view OF the fluctuations
through which the negotiations
have passed an authoritative
statement was obtained today CON
cerning the nnal terms OF the set
clement. This sums up the condi-
lions as follows.
Germany is at the outset held
generally responsible for losses
and damages .n accordance with
Trest Wilson's 10 points and the
mistice was concluded To deter
mine the extent of the payment
under this responsibility commits
sion is set up to take testimony, as
semble data and arrange az de
rails OF the payments from the en-
allied p-u associated bowels.
Commission For Details.
While the commission Will ad-
minister the details of the pay
meuts. sufficient is known 90 per
mit tlc determination that an in
ral payment viii 80 required OF
10000. e1e coo gold marks. payable
iu tuo ve.is without interest. It
las also been determined that 40
coo. 100000 sold marks shall be
payable boz bonds extending over a
period OF 90 years beglnnine in
1921 vlth sinking Cuua begin
ming i0 1895.
Thee 4O.0Ce- o0o.50p marks draw
two and one-half percent interest
from 1921 Co 1896 and five per
cent interest after 1861
Must Cover indebtedness.
In addition 10 the FOREGOING nav