The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-04-11
This Determination Reached
Following Decision on
ReparatiOnS.
BELGIUM MAY TRY HIM
At Least To One of Allied
Powers Will Be Delegated
This Pleasant Task BY the
Congress.

Paris. April 1O-The RESPONSE
bility of the German emperor for the
war and the means for bringing him
to trial by one of the allied govern
ments, probably Belgium. have been
definitely determined upon by the
council of four. This follows the
definite decision on the terms OF
reparations for war damages. where
by $4,000. 100000 must be paid
within the next two years, and an
inter-allied commission assess the
remaining damage for n period OF 30
years. beginning May |. 1921 Thus
two Of the great obstacles which
stood in the path of the rapid attain
ment OF peace have been removed
within the last "a hours. and the pc
riod OF extreme tension over the mac
tion and the failure TO secure tanCi-
BILE results is succeeded by revived
confidence over the great advance
made towards permanent settle
ment.
How far these results are due to
the intimations conveyed by the
summoning to France of the United
States transport George Washing
ton by President Wilson is only con-
jectural. But II is at least a coin
dence that the main difficulties be-
gan to dissolve from the time that
this decision became known.
The exact nature of these diff
culties are not disclosed. Friends
OF the President maintain they were
largely OF a minor character, not in
volving large principles. though the
Presidents adherence to his IA
points" as the rigid limitation OF the
scope OF action appears to have run
all through the deliberations during
the tense period OF the laast few
days.
While the tension has been greatly
reduced. IL is not entirely removed.
as much depends on the continuation
of progress with respect to the re-
naming obstacles. notably the Saar
valley. the Rhine frontier, the Adri-
attic issue and number OF lesser is
sues which are still short OF final
agreement.
The agreement on responsibilities
for the war is understood to have
been a compromise between divided
reports presented by the commission
OF which Secretary Lansing is chair
man There was an agreement on
the general responsibility OF the Ger
man emperor for bringing on the
war. but division occurred on
to Justice before an international
tribunal.
The French and British view fa-
vorod a tribunal hut the American
view. u is understood. favored
moral indictment without recourse
10 prosecution. owing 10 the lack OF
an international law as basis for
trial before an international court
Belgium, on which the war fell
first and heaviest. is reported 10 have
taken view much similar to that
OF the United States, while japan
and Italy were partially in accord
with the American view
II was owing 10 these divergent
viewpoints that the council devised
new plan, whereby one OF the al
lied nations. probably Belgium.
would initiate prosecution against
the former emperor and others re-
enoDsihle for the breach OF treaties,
the invasion OF territory and the de-
struction directed against this cOun-
trv and leading to more general
spread of the war The exact nature
Of the agreement is not disclosed
but the foregoing is believed to GOV
er the main lines.
The text as finally approved on
pronositions specified that the enemy
countries must admit responsibility
for loss and damage to allied and
associated nations and their citizens
caused by the uniustifahle aCgres
sion But. in view OF the inability
of the enemy countries to fully re
compense these losses, the clause
states an inter-alIied commission
will assess the losses on a Just basi