The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1919-04-05
THE PEACE TREATY
WILL Be READY
For Signing by Wednesday
Next. Belgium's Case is
Now Before
THE PEACE CONFERENCE

Paris, April 5.-The opinion, was
expressed last night by response
BILE British authority that the peace
treaty would be ready for signing by
Wednesday next.
Belgium's case has been laid be-
fore the peace conference by the
most distinguished advocate Belgium
could have chosen. King Albert
has been in Paris for the past three
days, and in numerous conferences
with the representatives of the
great powers he has outlined the
needs of his country and told of the
steps that must be taken immediate
| 1y If Belgium is to be restored. King
Albert has had long conversations
| with President Wilson, Col. House,
Premiers Clemenceau and Lloyd
to his appearance before the Coun-
| Gil of Four yesterday.
| A number of the Belgian peace
delegation told The Associated
Press yesterday that, shorn of all its
| diplomatic niceties what King AL
| bert told the council might be sum-
married. thus:
| tThe time of promises has pass
ed. If Belgium is to live the coun-
| Gil must act. The Associated Press
is able to state that three questions
of vital Immediate Importance to
the re-establishment of Belgium fl
| nancially, economically and politi-
cally were discussed. The first ques-
tion was the immediate advance to
| Belgium of about ten billion francs,
the second, the expectation to Bel
, gium from England and the United
4 States of raw materials; and the
third the cession to Belgium of the
left bank of the L'Escaut river and
the Lemberg peninsula.
! The first item represents the val
ue of German marks left in circula-
I tion in Belgium. After the depart
ure of the Germans the Ministry of
Finance. sent out an urgent call to
holders Of the marks to deposit
them in the banks. The amount
was estimated to be about two bill
lion, and it had been the govern
the par value of one franc. 25 CEN
times Belgium was not prepared
for the avvaanche of marks that re.
suited. Eight billion marks passed
through the banks windows, into
the vaults. The banks were unable
to redeem this amount of paper, and
depositors were merely given re-
, ceipts, stating that a certain amount
of marks were held to their credi
until such time as financial arrange
ments could be made to reimburse
them.
The payment of an immediate
indemnity by Germany was reliet
upon to enable repayment for these
) deposits. The indemnity thus fal
has failed to materialize. Deposit
ors cannot draw against these cred
: it's, with the result that some tel
billions of francs are idle, as the
banks are paying no interest OF
J such deposit.
The importation of raw material
is said to be indispensable to the re
treiving of Belgium from the eco
nomic standpoint.
The correspondent has just re
turned from an extended trip in Bel
gium. Evedywhere he found man
ufacturers complaining of the stu
i alton arising from the fact tha
while the Americans and British
: permit expectation into Belgium o
: manufactured articles they thus ia
/ have failed to export into Belgium
, raw materials which would permi
of industries resuming work.
} Paris, April 4.-King Albert. Q
l Belgium, appeared before the Coun
} ell of Four today when it conyene
: at IL o'clock to discuss Belgian al
fairs. He was accompanied by Pau
. Hymans, the head of the Belgia
Q peace delegation. It is understoo
Q that reparations and teh territoris
8 aspirations of Belgium were tn
principal subjects presented.