Imperial Valley press., 1919-06-10
NCEAU.
STANDS FIRM;
PEACE BODY
PESS|M|ST|C
(By Associated Press)

oIlS, uIlc IO.-i ne SOuIlCll VI
-Four met today amid an atmosphere
of peSsimiSm over the larger queS-
tons of peacemaking with Germany
still unsolved.
1t is understood that Premier Glenn
enceau has not moved from his posi-
ton against any modification of the
terms.
No settlement of the Silesian ques-
ton or that concerning the Polish
western frontier has been reached and
it is stated that the problem is tied
up with the difficulty Of holding a
plebiscite without Allied occupation,
no troops being available for that pur-
pose.
President Wilson has received let
ter from an unidentified Jugo-Slav
saying he had heard the presidents
points and the proposed plebiscite and
desired to cast his vote in favor of
Jugo-Slavia and against Italy. Pres
ident Wilson sent the letter to the
secretariat as constituting the first
vote submitted on the plebiscite.
Paris, June 10.-According to a
high American authority French hes
itation is now the chief factor in the
inability Of the Council of Four to
decide on fixed sum for the Ger
man indemnity. though President Will
son and Lloyd George continue firm
ly to strive therefor, with every pros
pect of ultimate success.
Premier Clemenceau admits that
Immediate benefit would accrue to
France by enablinp her to secure
much-needed credits on the basis of
her share of a definite indemnity to
come, yet the indications are clear
that this government fears the eff
feet on public opinion Of the an
noLncement of such sum, however big,
because it necessarily will be smaller
than the swollen expectations the
French people have been encouraged
to hold.
A fact much exploited by the grow
ing opposition to Clemenceau's ad
ministlation is the recent announce
lnent of Finance Minister Klotz that
5,000,0 100000 francs of extra taxes
will be necessary this year. Indeed,
it is being made a political cry.
Clemcnceaus' enemies point out that
when France was vanquished in 1871
she was forced to pay Germany 5,000,-
100000 indemnity, while today,
though France is victorious, the best
Clemenceau can do is to take the
same sum from French pockets.
NacillatiOn Charged.
It is contended that the Clemen-
ceau government only vacillates, lack
ing a financial and economic policy,
making a show of public confidence
by the strctest pplication of the CEN
sorship and not proceeding with de-
mobilization (the Glass of 1911 has
been under arms for more than seven
years.) Generally as one critic re-
marked, the government is "tWiddling
its thumbs futilely behind closed
DOORS"
The refusal to communicate the
full text of the German treaty to
the French parliament, at first ac-
cepted calmly, has now taken on the
proportions of bitter joke, since
cheap editions of the treaty, some
of which are of German origin, are
freely sold in Switzerland and Scan
dinavia. The climax came when the
evening paper Bon Soir nrinted the
whole French text and forwarded
complete set of galley proofs to
each senator and denutv with a let
ter begging the recipient mot to COM
municate the contents to any French
man." While the officials of both
HOUSES were dlIdil W toIll lISoS
proofs, they We're anxious that none
should go astray ard personally de-
livered them to the members.
1t is known that Clemenceau in
tends to resign as soon as peace is
made and it is the general opinion
that he intends to ignore criticism
and continue his present course un-
\ til the signing of the treaty, which
viii be the eliminating point of his
political career. This explains the
Governments present hesitation to
agree to a fixed indemnity. the
knowledge of which might result in
a popular outcry which, echoed in the
Chamber of Deputies, mikht snatchh
the honor of having made peace from
Clemenceaus' hands at the eleventh
hour.
Paris, June 10.-The Echo De Paris
has predicted that Germany will sign
the peace treaty before July ! and
that the various parliaments will rat
ify it before August.
1t expects that the counter propo--
sails of the Germans will be answered
Friday and thinks the Germans will
replace the Scheidemann government
by another if the present government
determines not to sign.