Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-19
EVENTS OF WEEK.

Es&@# Sucn progress mas oeen II mo WV1A VI LAX
peace conference that a definite ate-April as-has
been set for the appearance Of the German commission
es at Versailles, to be informed Of the terms Of peace de-
cided upon by the conference. The tentative program Is
arranged in the expectation that perhaps two days will
be required by the German commissioners in disestins
the terms and obtaining such further Information on
them As they may request, and that q week. more or less,
will be consumed in the return Of the commissioners TO
weimar the necessary conference with their government.
and their return to the seat of the conference with au-
thority to sign on behalf Of the German nation. The
possibility Of the refusal of the Germans to sign, while
it exists. is taken very slightly into account. The atti-
tude Of the conference is not that of negotiation or bar
gaining with the Germans, but that Of fixing terms which
Germany must accept if she wishes peace.
The exact terms to be presented have not been made
public, nor will they be published until they have been
presented to the German commissioners. The general
form of the more important provisions, however: has
been made known. In addition to the French control
OF the Saar valley as q meaaure Of reparation for the de-
struction of the Lens coal mines. and the practical neu-
tralization of the left bank of the Rhine, provision is
made for the occupation Of the latter territory by Allied
troops for IS years. The amount of Germanys initial
Indemnity payments has also been fixed. this amount to-
falling about twenty-five billion dollars. There will be
further payments and concessions, continuing over a term
Of years. the amount Of which has not been stated.
#&4
One Of the most interesting and important develop.
ments at the conference is that Of complete unanimity
among the great powers represented, succeeding the ten
sion which was reported to exist two weeks ago. That
such tension existed was shown by the attitude, almost
Of hostility, toward President Wilson which character
lied the utteranees of the French press. and there is az
forded similar evidence of the smoothing out Of thu df-
ficulties In the amiable tone Of that press within the past
few days. The precise nature Of tho difficulties which
were encountered il a matter Of speculation. No odacial
statement concerning the subject has been. made, Of
course: And the public is left to guess at the means em-
ployed to remove these dihhculties. Tho general>under-
standing Is that President Wilson opposed certain French
demands which were made on the ground that they were
necessary to free France from the threat Of further Ger
man aggression, but that Mr.. Wilson believed that these
prcydstons would give the settlement more tho appear
ance Of forcible conquest than Of settlement in the inter-
est Of just peace. 1t Is believed that notifications have
been made in the French demands so Is to meet the Will
son objections, and that President Wilson has made con-
cessions which he did not believe to be in conflict with
the essential principles to which he is committed
S@
Arrangements are being made to call in peace COM
missioners from Austria Hungary. Bulgaria and Tur-
key ct dates later than the time fixed for the appearance
Of the. German delegates on the scene. There are many
I complications With reference to the treatment Of these
powerA A peculiar situation exists in that, while the
peaos conference, of which the United States is a men,
her. u prescribing conditions Of peace affecting all of
these nations, the United States has been at war with
only one Of the three-the empire Of Austria Hungary.
Yet, to all intents, the United States participates in the
work Of making peace with the other two. with whom
she Is officially on terms Of peace and amity.
@ s
OF the three nations Bulgaria presents the problem
Of least complexist. Though she has undergone a change
In form Of government. Bulgaria remains a compact and
distinsuishable entity, and it will be possible to deal with
4 a MEASURE Of directness and certainty with the Bulgar-
ian government as it now exists. But the Austro-Hun-
garian empire, as such, has passed out of existence. Hun
gary has seeded. and is itself in the throes Of revolution.
.yaa territories ON the north and on the south are defin-
itefy to be separated from the former empire to pass UNI
der the control Of the csecho-elovaks and the Juso-slavs,
whose right to national Independence the dominant pow
err 8heye formally recognized. The apportionmeut Of
property, debt and war responsibility, and the fixing of
the terms of national existence, are. under the circurn-
stances problems Of extraordinary dimeuhy.
Turkey has always been a problem and the wsr has
perhaps reduced that problem to simpler terms than for
IS npefly. The Turk is no longer TO have guardianahip ana
control over subject peoples. alien in race, religion and
srntiInent. When the work Of the peace conference is
Foncflded the Turk will remain in control-under close
S5DseryAtion-only of territory Inhabited by Turks. Egypt
Ag Aefinitely British. Opportunity will be given for the
e8;Svelcplaent Of autonomous states east Of the Msditer-
safancAn, md Armenia viii, be taken in charge by one Of
thNSwsstern nations snndef mandate from the league OF
E8saaEonss The suggestion has been made that this duty be
EaaxGnnsnasd ~ the United STATED. but the atutuds Of the
H#&21MS6Stration on this point has not been statsd.
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Sa&1S1S1 20 censtanttnopls By the United gtates. The plan
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