Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-11-03
BOARD
HAS AGREED
ON DIVISION
Italy to Get Her. Share
From Austria Supreme
Council Has Decided.
Settlement Result of y.
S. and England's Wish
to Sink Their Quota.
BY HENRY WALES.
Cable to Great Falls Daily Tribun,
and Chicago Tribune.

Copyright, 1919
Paris, Nov. 2.-France and
Japan are the only allied powers
which will receive any German
warships, according to an agree
ment by the supreme council.
Since Great Britain and the
United States had previously
agreed to sink such vessels as
the peace conference allotted
them, it is now decided to give
France a few serviceable ships
which remain afloat here or in
German ports, as Japan will
keep a few small German cruis-
ers. Italy will receive her war
ships from the Austrian navy.
Imediately after the armistice the
British admiralty launched Propaganda
campaign favoring the sinking Of all
German warships. This was construed
in some circles as an effort to prevent
the United States navy from being rein
forced by the powerful German units,
but then Admiral Benson came out sup
porting the plan of sinking the German
ships. The French and Japanese object
ed strenuously, after which the British
apparently changed their attitude and
were not SO anxious to sink the sur
rendered warships.
Benson Is insistent
Admiral Benson remained insstent,
however, and is reported to have inti-
mated to England that if it retained
the units allotted to it the American naval
building program would be augmented.
As result, a gentleman's agreement was
reached between England and America
that they would sink whatever German
warships were allotted to them by the
peace conference.
Afterward a tentative distribution Of
German warships was made, when sud-
denly the Germans scuttled the whole
fleet at Scapa Flow, leaving only few
ships afloat. Since then couple more
big ships and few destroyers have been
floated. If the remaining German ships
were redistributed among France, Great
Britain and America, each would receive
only a few, and in the face of the de-
termined French demand. the inter allied
naval commission decided to give France
the original number Of ships rgreed upon
will comprise nearly all of the German
warships afloat, either at Scapa Flow
or in German harbors.
Too Good to Destroy.
Commander Fuller. representing the
British admiralty, reported to the SUI
preme council that the admiralty would
accept the responsibility for negligence
in letting the German crews sink the
ships. at Scapa Flow.
II is not believed the American people
would have supported Admiral Benson S
plan to sink the United States share of
the German fleet, especially since infor
nation has been obtained about great
efficiency Of the newest German models,
their improved fire control system and
the accuracy Of their weapons.
Frank Polk expects to spend Christ
mas in Washington. Both Henry White
and General Bliss expect to return to
the United States when Mr.. Polk goes.
50 there is strong belief around the
Crillon that whether the peace confer
ence finishes it's work or not the Amer
lean commission will cease functioning by
the end of November.
Confirming this, Mr.. Polk announced
that if no satisfactory government was
established at Budapest by the time
the Bulgarian treaty was signed. the
Hungarian treaty will be closed up and
left to the French foreign office until
suitable government is established in
Hungary to sign the treaty and new
boundaries will be settled By series
OF protocols among the surrounding
states.
The peace conference reply to Bnlgar-
ia, 1t is expected. viii be ready Monday
and the Bulgarian treaty may be signed
by the end Of the week The supreme
council will then wind up its affairs and
will not sit indefinitely waiting for the
Hungarians to establish n really repre-
sentative government.
However to settle the frontiers
through an exchange of protocols Ru-
mania must be dealt with, as the Buda-
pest government is stubbornIy refusing
the decision to give part Of the time to
Jugo- -Slavia, and they announce that it
will not adhere to the Hungarian treaty
unless her claims in Bessarabia are rec
orgniZed.
Hotel Crillon is gradually emptying
as the experts and attaches and advisors
are packing UP and leaving. and huge
boxes OF documents, books, and papers
are being loaded up and sent to America
by every boat.