The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1919-03-20
BY EDWARD w. PIckARD.

Immediate peace, and food for the
hungry peoples of central Europe.
These are the two essentials, If over
whelming anarchy is to be averted,
according to well posted authorities on
the situation. To these Frank Wander
lip adds that the speedy resumption
of production is most imperative, cor
the horrors Of war may be exceeded
by the horrors of this after period,
which is neither war nor peace but
breakdown of the machinery of civil
izatiOn."
However wrong I'm some respects
may be the senators and other Amer
leans who oppose the present plans
for the league of nations. they appear
TO have been right when they said
the peace treaty should be devised and
ratified first and the matter Of the
league taken up later for final settle
ment. The two propositions are I'M
doubtedly closely interviewer and
President Wilson may yet have his
adopted as one, but the opinion last
week In Paris and elsewhere was that
the peace treaty should be closed up
at once so that its ratification may not
be delayed by the opposition to the
league and the demands for amend
ments of the present plan.
The peace delegates recognize the
necessity Of submitting the treaty to
the German government before that
government falls, and In order that
II may not fall because Of longer de-
lay. 1t is hoped the preliminary treaty
can be ready by March 20, when the
German plenipotentiaries will be
called to Versailles to receive 1t. They
will lay 1t before the national assem-
bly, at Weimar and receive their in
structions from that body. While the
Germans will be given opportunity to
suggest minor changes, they will be
compelled to accept the pact substan-
TALLY as IL stands Since this treaty
Is held to concern only the belliger-
ent nations; 1t will not be submitted
TO the plenary session Of the con-
ference, which includes representa-
tives OF the neutral nations; only the
ratification of the supreme council Is
: held necessary. Though the terms to
be imposed on the Germans will not
be so harsh as those first suggested,
they will be so severe that there are
many predictions that the Ebert gov
eminent cannot sign them and live.
If the Huns refuse to sign them, II is
up to Marshal Foch, and the wisdom
of keeping very large allied force
under arms may become apparent at
once.
AS II stood at the time this was
written, the section Of the treaty deal
ing with the military cuts down the
German army to 100000 men with
1000 officers, the force to be raised
by voluntary twelve-year enlistments.
All equipment In excess Of the require
ments of this army is to be sur
rendered and the munitions output
correspondingly kept down. The Rhine
forts are to be demolished.
The PREPARATION to be exacted has
been reduced to about S35, 200, 600 900,
and economic terms are being ar
ranged with view to permitting Ger
many to. resume its manufacturing
and commerce in order that 1t may
pay the bill. This latter subject has
given the supreme council consider
able trouble. mainly because of the
stand taken by the French, who want
their own production in the devastat-
ed region restored first.
The supreme council decided that
the questions Of the western German
Turkish and Adriatic boundaries