The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-01-09
PEACE TREATY
WATSON ENEMY
Until Central Powers Evolve
Stable Government, Settle
ment Is Suspended.
FOUR STEPS ON PROGRAM
Lloyd George Detained in
London-Wilson Holds Con-
ferences With Officials.

ferences With Officials.
Faris. Jan. ga. P)-President
Wilson'S conferences with the pre-
mier OF Great Britain. France and
Italy, which were to open today,
have been delayed and probably will
not begin before early next week.
Mr. Lloyd George Is detained In
London by work incident to the re-
construction of his cabinet. Premier
Orlando of Italy. who Is due here to-
day, probably will return to Rome,
where his presence for forty-eight
hours Is necessary because of mat
ters under consideration by the Ital-
ian parliament.
There will, however, be a meeting
today at the Office of Stephen Pichon,
foreign minister 1t will be attended
by Mr.. Wilson, Premier Orlando and
Japanese representatives, but it will
be informal because of the absence
Of Mr.. Lloyd George, although Brit
ish representatives probably will be
present. 1t was considered best to
hold the meeting and clear UP mat
ters for the opening conferences on
Monday and Tuesday. Importance
Is attached to the meeting of the
French cabinet today, for it is prob
able President Poincare will definite
ly nominate the French delegates to
the peace congress.
Perhaps Last Meeting.
Referring to the conferences as be-
ing between the chiefs of the entente
governments, the best informed
French sources say it Is nothing more
or less than a neutrality-suspicious. the
last--of the higher allied war COM
mittee. The procedure that will be
adopted will be the simplest possible,
having the advantage of avoiding la
1borious pepfry parlers and exchanges
of notes between chancelleries. 1t Is
pointed out that the committee in
question will be composed of the pre-
iniers and foreign ministers of the
allies. Mr.. Wilson figuring as Ameri-
can premier.
1t is not expected there will be a
long debate at the conferences, this
mornings newspapers saying the
French government communicated to
the entente powers some days ago a
complete plan of work, amounting to
a suggestion Of a CO. o-ordinated pro-
gram.
AS regards questions concerning
enemy countries, It is understood
those concerning Germany will be
taken up first, then those of Austria
Hungary, and finally those relative
to Bulgaria and Turkey. These de-
tails probably will not be decided
upon until the league of nations part
of the program has been exhausted,
however.
Only General Principles.
1t is not expected the premiers' con-
mil
most general principles of the peace
settlement In fact, it now seems
doubtful IL more than a broad. gensrai
agreement will be reached before
President Wilson returns to America
in February. Out OF the coming con-
ferences ii is expected more or less
tentative program VIII be adopted
which divides the work of the peace
congress into successive steps. The
actual making of peace with the CEN
tral powers may be the last OF these
steps.
The procedure now being discussed
is, roughly, as follows:
First: A general agreement between
the United States and the entente bel
ligerents for the creation of a. teague
of nations, or similar machinery. TO
enforce the terms of peace and pre-
serve it.
Second: The setting Up Of net m
dependent states growing out OF the
war.
Third; The assessment Of damages
and indsmpities and the manner OF
theH payment.
Fourth: The conclusion Of peace
treaties with the central powers.
Treaties Lett to Last.
The peace treaties may be left to
the last because none OF the agree
ments can bind the central powers un-
less in the meantime they have es-
tablished governments which satisfy
the peace congress as to their stabili-
ty and purpose of carrying out the
treaties made.
At this point arises the question OF
how long the peace congress will wait
for the central powers to arrange
their governments. 1t is pointed out by
some of those working ON the problem
that neither Germany nor Austria can
complete their governmental machin-
cry until it is determined what the
two peoples desire in this matter. It
is. Of course. dependent largely on the
peace congress, but 1t is not expected
the congress will wait indefinitely for
the central empires to prepare them
selves for an agreement.
There is always the possibility that
if no responsible governments appear
10 give assurance that obligations un-
dertaken will be carried out, the ma
tons represented at the cngress could
give notice that it would become nee
essary at certain points TO assist in
the formation OF orderly governments
and at the same time begin to collect
revenues to apply on the bill of dam
ages.
Would Be Last Resort.
Such action. ii taken at all, would
be only a last resort. but. If taken, the
question will arise as to how far the
United States would participate. No
official outline has been made to show
what the United States would agree
TO do in carrying out such an UNDER
taking. If it should become necessary.
but some of those best informed as
TO the lines along which Mr.. Wilson
and the peace commissioners are work
ing. believe IL is the purpose OF the
United States TO go no further into
the readJustment OF European affairs
than to secure general adherence TO
the principles already laid down hv
President Wilson and then expect. Of
course, the details TO square with the
The execution OF these de-
tails. some diplomats believe. may ex-
tend into a work Of years. developing
into a process OF constant improve
ment and adjusiment"