Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-05
EVENTS OLA WEEK

were such that peace was imperative. and that its post
ponement would unsettle still further the conditions in
central Europe. The statement has revived the criticism
in this country that the injection of the league Of ma
tions issue into the situation at this time has caused
delay which would not have been experienced otherwise.
and there is a renewal of the argument that the confer
ence should have devoted it's entire attention to the
Immediate conclusion of at least a preliminary peace.
leaving the league of nations to be given attention later.
The attitude Of the president on this point is indi-
Gated in his former statement that the league issue has
not caused any Of the. delay. as all the work in this con-
nection has been conducted in such a manner as not to
interfere with the other proceedings. In his recent
statement Mr.. Wilson expressed his willingness to accept
his share of responsibility for any delays that had &C.
Cured, but he urged that there be no further delay.
f'
The matter of territorial claims is proving the most.
difficult of adjustment. The matter of financial settle
ment is difficult and complicated, but there seems to be
no room for doubt that with the territorial features out
Of the way the pecuniary claims of the various nations
could be adjusted very quickly. In reaching a basis for
the settlement Of these claims the committee in charge
has undoubtedly with the most amiable intentions, pro-
posed a plan for pulling the wool over the eyes of the
populations Of all the countries concerned. The plan
calls for the making of no statement of the gross
amounts which Germany will be required to pay. but to
specify details only. If this plan is followed, the COM
pact will not state that Germany shall pay to any other
nation, or to all the nations, so many billions in gross,
but will rather specify that she shall make to each nation
certain stipulated payments in money or goods annually
for a period Of years.
%&#e4.sH = 80 = IF ~
The reason for the sugsestionaof this. course is two
fold. In the first place. no basis of settlement that can
be reached will be satisfactory to the German people.
The larger the payment required Of them the greater.
will hc thA}r no3entnent Tho 80 ~ 1i,. -. "a
avoid giving the Germans a shock by a statement Of
the grand total. On the other hand, in the Allied 8un-
tries there have been more or less popularN demands for
monetary compensation running into enormous figures,
the total amounting to sums which it would be a physical
impossibility for Germany to pay. Every reduction made
from the claims filed will be received with some dis
favor in the countries whose monetary reparation is thus
reduced. The purpose Of the committee is to give as
little cause as possible for this feeling by avoiding state
ments Of total amounts, and leaving the matter of COM
pensation in such form that only experts can figure out
just what it amounts to.
\ The territorial problems are OF a different class. The
fixing>of the boundaries between Germany and the new
state Of Poland Is proving troublesome. The Poles are
eager for territory, especially in the district bordering
ion the Baltic waters, while Germany is reluctant to let
go. The desires of Germany in general might be over
ridden, but there is very general recognition Of the unde-
STABILITY OF forcing needlessly under the Polish
sovereignty large sections OF country which are not Polish
but German.
A similar question arises in still more acute form
in relation to Germanys western frontier. There is no
a.sspnes over the restoration to France Of Alsace and
lorraine. But: the transfer to French sovereignty Of
so.asr Portions OF the districts west Of the Rhine is a
different matter. The justice Of requiring Germany to
compensate France for the destruction of the Lens mines
- Ihx.- -. 49,