The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-24
TREATY TO BE READY
ON WILSON'S RETURN
Council Adopts Resolution for
Speeding Draft.

PARIS, Feb. 22 (delayed) Results OF
far reaching character were obtained at
the meeting OF the Council of the Great
Powers to-day. when resolutions were
adopted requiring such a speeding up OF
all important branches OF the work OF
the Peace Conference as to permit the
formulation of preliminary peace
treaty by the time President Wilson re-
turns to Paris IN the middle OF March
To accomplish this all comm las Ions deal
ing with the big questions OF reparations.
boundaries and economic and financial
issues must report to the Supreme Coun-
Gil within the next two weeks or by
March s at the latest These reports, in
turn, will form a basis for the drafting
Of the treaty.
An extensive programme had been
matured carefully within the last few
days and It was brought to a culmina-
ton this afternoon when A J. Balfour,
the British Foreign Secretary. and Col.
z. NJ. House of the American delegation
called on Premier Clemenceau in his sick
room shortly before the Council con-
vened. Both Secretary Balfour and Col
House found the wounded statesman
dressed and sitting up and keeniy alert
concerning the work OF the Conference
and fully agreed on the plan for rapid
acceleration Of work on all subjects.
This brought together the British.
American and French viewpoints for a
rapid course of action, assuring the
earliest nossible peace. Shortly after
ward the Supreme Council met and ratl-
fed the programme. The official state
ment issued after the meeting announced
that: 1.-THE meeting decided on proper
steps to be done in order TO accelerate
as much as possible the !abors of the
Conference"
Back Of this formal announcement Is
the speeding up OF the plan, which now
goes into effect for an early drafting
OF the peace treaty. The main feature
of this pfln is to emhody all subjects
non-military and as we'll as military in
the preliminary peace soon to be framed
and to have this broad general docu-
ment take the place of a separate mill
tary treaty for disarmament which had
been prepared by the Supreme War
Council under the direction of Marshal
Foch who was 10 present 1t within the
next few days
But instead of this limited action on
military questions, to-day's decision
broadens the action so as to include all
important subjects within the scope OF
the preliminary peace treaty, thus max
ing II embrace economical, financial and
all other essential subjects, including
and other military and naval textures.
II will be this broad general plan which
will be drafted by the time the Presl-
dent returns, and which soon thereafter
will go before the Peace Conference.
The foregoing action relates only to
Germany as the conclusion OF this pre-
lmlnary peace treaty is regarded as
of chief Importance. But similar Ftcion
may proceed at the same time concern
ing Austria, Bulgaria and Turkey, al
though 1t is not sure that action on
these countries can be effected within
the same period.
Although the proposed document is
designated as preliminary peace
treaty It Is expected to embody virtually
all main questions and to correspond 10
the treaty of Versailles which closed the
Franco Prussian War, though a supple
menulry treaty was signed later at
Frankfort.