The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-04-24
SIXTY DAYS FOR
TRANSITION TO
PEACE STATUS
Common Date is Planned -
Treaty May Not be Signed
Until May IS.
(By Associated Press)

PARIS, April PA clause has been
drafted for insertion in the peace
treaty fixing the date for the transi-
ton to state of peace sixty days
after the signing of the treaty. If the
treaty Is signed about May Is, peace
thus will become effective throughout
the world on July Is.
The purpose Of this provision Is to
prevent confusion among the more
than twenty belligerent nations, which
might fix different dates in their veri-
fications. According to the present
plan each nation will ratify the treaty
according to its own laws but all will
unite in common date which will
become universal day of peace.
This follows the precedent estab-
lished at the conclusion of previous
wars but 1t is increasingly necessary
in the present case, owing to the large
number of nations signing the treaty.
Separate Treaty for U. 8.
1t is being considered whether the
United States, as an associated power
but not an ally, should sign separate
treaty with Germany. 1t would be the
same treaty as that signed by the
allies, and would be signed at the
same time as part of the same cere-
mony, but the effect of the separate
treaty would be to preserve the posi-
ton of the United States as an asso-
ciated instead Of an allied power and
would be direct engagement between
the United States and Germany in
stead Of between the United States
end large number Of other allied
powers.
Count Won Brockdorff- -Rantzau, in
his last reply, stated that the German
plenipotentiaries had been designated
with the idea that pourparlers will
occur simultaneously with the deliv.
cry Of the preliminaries of peace"
This expectation to engage In discus
sions from the outset is leading to a
careful scrutiny of President Wilson 8
| fourteen points" as intimations have
been received that the chief discus.
sion will be whether the treaty accords
with those points. One expert en-
gagged in this scrutiny has the prin.
cipal discussion will occur over the
| fifth point, relative to the German
colonies, and the second. which pro.
vides for free, open and absolute
| freedom of the seas
Ends Colony Control
The fifth point provides for free,
open G1lu dUSOlulcly liupdl Ildl duJuS
ment Of all colonial claims" The
treaty ends Germany's control Of heI
former colonies. with the league OF
nations establishing mandatorys
Whether this accords with the provi
sion for free and open adjustment
! is expected to figure in the pourpar
lers. The second point. concerning
! the freedom Of the seas, has not figur
ed during the discussion of the treaty
and the attitude to be finally adopted
has not been announced.
One Of the men drafting the treaty
has expressed the belief that it woul.
be physically impossible to complete
the instrument in time for the arriva
of the Germans and that 1t might ever
take until May Is to consummate tho
tremendous task. This leads to some
discussion Of presenting parts of the
treaty already completed, such as this
league of nations and the reparations
provisions, but 1t Is understood thai
President Wilson and Premier LloyC
George insist that no parts be pre-
sented by themselves, and that the
entire document be presented. Thi
may lead to some revision in plan!
for the delivery of the treaty will
Germany and there may be a brie
period Of inaction until the documen,
Is ready. aM,E4I