Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-04-02
TEMPER SHOCK Of
HUGE INDEMNITY
BY CAMOUFLA
Of EXACT FIGURES
Hope to Escape Controversy
by Defining Character of
Payments Over Term of
Years, Not Giving Amount.
AGREEMENT REACHED
OVER SAAR VALLEY
Troublesome Question of Dual
Control of territory Believed
to Have Been Settled to Sat-
iSfaction Of All,


Paris, April l tby the Associated
Press. "A new phase of the question
presented in proposal to avoid stat
ing in the treaty any specific total aud
thus escape controversy over the
largeness or smallness of the amount.
1t is said that this is possible by de-
filming the character of the payments
over a period of years without precise
ly defining what the total would
reach, and efforts are being made to
find a formula which would express
this idea.
1t is understood that the plan is
considered advantageous chiefly for
friendly countries, where expectations
have b,en aroused of a total much
larger than is likely to he allowed.
The impression is gaining that a
formula will be found covering rep
aration without naming a figure, the
suggestion being made of commits
sion to determine the losses of the diff
ferent countries.
Marshal Foch attended today's ear
ly session of the council before leav-
ing for Spa to meet the German
plenipotentiaries regarding the land
Ing of Polish troops at Danzig.
The foreign ministers met today and
disapproved the proposal of George
Nicoll Barnes, the British delegate, for
a plenary meeting VI the conference
on Saturday. vs.
King Albert of Belgium. who az.
rived today. will probably see Pres3-#
dent Wilson regarding Belgian inter-
ests.
Frontier Question Discussed.
The Franco German frontier, which
Is still the foremost subject before
Pfemers Lloyd George, Clemenceau
and Orlando and President Wilson, is
being presented from a new stand
point which offers some prospect of
agreement
The first plan was to give France
economic control - the Saare coal
fields so as to offset damage to the
coal mines of northern France.
France was not to have political con-
troll over the large German popula-
tion In the Saar valley, which would
remain with Germany. This proved
Objectionable and one of the chief
causes of the council of four's mac
ton. The main objection was the di-
vided control, by which France would
he unable to operate the mines eff
fectively, prevent strikes and enforce
authority when the Germans were ex-
ercising political control
The new plan, therefore, seeks to
combine French economic and politi-
cal authority for a temporary period
until the productive capacity of the
mines in northern France Is restored,
industrial production revived and the
protection due to the war ended. 1t is
estimated that five years will be re-
quired to restore the mines to normal
and this probably gives an idea of the
length of the proposed joint control
by France.
The fact that the control would be
temporary would overcome the objec-
ton of annexation similar to the Ger
man annexation of Alsace and Lor-
raine in 1870.
The proposal was advanced as con-
cerning the Saare region only, but 1t
is regarded as equally applicable to
the left bank of the Rhine as possi-
BILE basis of agreement.