The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-12
DANGER SEEN IN
PEACE SECRECY
France Fears Germans Will
Get Terms in Advance of
Other Nations.
ENGLAND ALSO AROUSED
Hope Is Vanishing That Open
Covenant VIII Be Made
Publicly by Big Pour.
ENGLAND ALSO AROUSED
| BY G. g. ADAM.
Special Gable Despatch TO tn. suS from the
| london Times serT'ace

BY G. 8. ADAM.
Special Gable Despatch 10 tn. sus from the
london Times serr,ce.
Copyright. 1919; all rights reserved
PARIS, April 1.-THE drafting COM
mittees on peace terms will begin their
work on Monday, and already an I'M
portant point OF the principles in re-
gard to the Versailles negotiations has
arisen.
Is the world to know the result OF
the deliberations Of the Council OF
-Four or is it to wait until peace has
been signed for any new publication
Of its terms? Are the Germans going
to know the proposed peace terms be-
fore Belgium or the British Domin-
ions? Are the German delegates going
to be enabled to publish the allied
peace terms with their comment and
the aIlled people to be left to hear
through the German radio Of proposals
made in their nameo
The Council of Four appears to have
, taken the decision that any publica-
tlon Of it's peace proposals before they
are actually signed by the Germans
would constitute an act OF treason.
The only conceivable argument in
favor OF such an idea would be that the
allied terms are on their face unjust.
, such as would not obtain the tie sup
port of the allied people in enforcing
them and would at the same time justify
enemy resistance against them.
Might Encourage German Revolt.
! Surely It is obvious that IL the Ger
mans see in the terms submitted to
them any prospect Of arousing a success
! full revolt in their own country they
will not fail to publish the. terms to
encourage agitation against them.
Apparently the Council of Four has
yet to be persuaded that no peace is
likely to be effective which has not be-
| hind II the enlightened support OF all
Its people. There seems to be some
doubt whether Premier Lloyd George
will be able to make a general state
! ment in regard to peace in the House
| OF Commons
The Temps tonight, commenting upon
I the telegram from the British members
OF Parliament. optimistically says Lloyd
George has understood II is impossible
to go on drafting peace behind closed
doors and has declared himself pre-
pared to submit the efforts he has made
TO keep his electoral pledges to Parlia
ment and to the country II necessary.
Herbette points out the humliating
:! position in which France will he placed
II she is to learn through the mouth OF
Premier Lloyd George the condition OF
her own affairs and urges the French
Government to appeal to the confidence
and support Of the French public In this
,,rea, moment OF history. The decision
announced by Premier Clemenceau &c
the Chamber that he will not comfnuni.
cate the terms OF peace until signed and
a similar undertaking by President Viii
son. Lloyd George and Premier Orlando
seem to offer no hope that open cove.
nants will be openly arrived at.
Ridiculous Handicap on France.
The growing Indications of the de.
termination Of Great Britain to rema II
shoulder to shoulder with the Frencl
after the war is a good sign AS things
are at present France could obtain the
security of the Rhine only by the oc
cupation OF the bridges and the lef
) bank. This would entail her maintain.
Ing n permanent army at least twice a:
large as that which will be allowed ir
Germany under the peace terms. Sucl
n handicap upon victorious nation Il
ridiculous. The best method OF pre-
venting It would probably be found II
the formation OF n joint Anglo French
Belgian force which would act as
temporary "Wacht am Rhine"
Experts on German capacity TO maxi
reparatlon have estimated, after TAX
ing into account the difficulty Of liquidat
ing German ssets especially in foreigl
countries, that within eighteen month
from the signing OF peace the enem!
should be able to pay in repa ration
SIS 900 600, 900. TO include s640, ,00o. 90
| in gold and silver