Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-26
OF RATIFICATION
FINAL DATE DEPENDS
RESULT OF INVESTIGATION
FlEurca Fixing Loss In Sinking OF
German Craft at Scnpu Flow
Are REQUIRED.
IBy Associatnd presal

PARIS. Dec. 25.-The final dato of
the repeatedly postponed exchange of
Ratification OF the treaty OF Versailles
now depends upon the specd with
which tho allied missions In Germany
can verify tho German figures Of
available floating dock tonnage de-
manded by tho allies as compensation
for the sinking OF tito German war
Press was informed to this effect today
ut the hcadquarters OF the German
pence delegation.
man representatives. said he thourht
this would take at least rortnirht
II mot longer. In view OF tho diilcui-
| ties of transportation In Germany AMI
the dotail involved in verifying tho
| figures.
"a decided misunderstanding is ro-
nected In the Paris press during the
PASS two days regarding my projected
| trip to Berlin, which I subsequently
abandoned" he said.
object M to Hurry.
my object was to hurry. rather than
delay tile putting OF the Versailles
treaty into effect. From Monday night
until Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock
was deprived of any communication
with my government by either tele-
graph or telephone. in consequence OF
which Berlin had no knowledge OF the
entente note or OF the verbal commu-
nication given on this subject by NJ.
ference) until this morning.
II Thought that a trip to Berlin and
a verbal explanation OF the situation
TO the government would facilitate
matters The inference by the French
papers that the German government
wanted to, delay the exchange of rat
iflcations liz absolutely unfounded. We
want nothing more than effective res
toration OF peace.
Peace means the repatriation of
our soldiers. prisoners In France. who
rfgf-
mas In captivity. though hostilities
have been suspended for more than n
year.
Denies wiufuI Delay.
THE fact that Herr Won Simson ar
rived in Paris last Sunday to start no
Botiations for putting tho treaty into
effect proves that we had no Intention
to delay matters
Won Lersner said its tenor surprised
him. as 1t seemed SO little in accord
with the progress of the negotiations"
THE Paris press" he said. even an
nounced our readiness to deliver over
all the harbor material we could
spare without endangering our eco
the Scapa Flow sinkings. and fore
cast an early agreement on this ques-
ton. II We did not get that far. II
was not our fault. Our experts have
not been asked to talk the matter over
since week ago"
Baron Won Lersner asserted that ac-
corning TO verbal communication OF NJ.
Dutasta at the time of the delivery OF
the note. the entente made u diminu-
ton in the port tonnage demanded,
conditional upon veriication OF Ger
mnny's claim that the entente csti-
mates OF the harbor material available
were erroneous.
Denies Disioynlty Charges.
II want to say In this connection"
lie continued, THAT the statements in
the French press that we were dis
loyal and gave out wrong figures on
this tonnage, Is absolutely unfoundcd.
This the Investigation would prove. L
promised NJ Dutasta To ask my gov
eminent to give all facilities for such
investigation, and have no doubt that
they will be accorded at once.
I'VE both agreed that II should be
possible IN n short time to verify our
statements and comd to definite
agreement regarding harbor materials
to be delivered by Germany. hope
that our expectations will soon be full
filled and that peace VIII finally be
After the chief German delegation
had informed NJ Dutasta that he
thought II advisable to go to Berlin,
communication by special wire was re-
stored, according to the information
given out at the headquarters of the
German delegation, and 1t was decided
TO telegraph the note and verbal com
munication. which, taking into con-
sidera ton the time for cooling, trans
mission and DECIDING, could not come
to the knowledge of the German gov
eminent before the morning of De-
cembcr rs.