The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-04-09
Lloyd George Issues Statement
Tht Preliminary Treaty is
Nearing Completion.
NO DIVERGENCE AS
TO ESSENTIALS
Delay Caused by Difficulty in
Deciding as to Ways and
Means Of Enforcing Terms

Paris April S.-The preliminary
peace treaty will be ready by Easter
and the Germans will be asked to
come and sign it@at the end Of April
or the beginning of May, Premier
| Lloyd George Of Great Britain de-
ciared IN an interview today with
Stepnane Lauzanne, editor Of The
Matin.
In answer to remark by N. Lau-
zanne that what troubled public
opinion was not SO much the delay as
the secrecy In which the peace ne
gotiations were wrapped and the tear
that there was some divergence OF
opinion, the British premier said:
ST affirm absolutely that there Is
no divergence among the nesotia-
tors. They are often confronted
with. technical difficulties which can
only be settled after close study. Take
the question Of reparations. In. sub
stance the allies have one common
principle. which once set forth thus:
Germany must. pay us to the last
farthing OF her power
"But is it sufficient to draw up a
bill and hand it to the enemy? Must
we not REQUIRE guarantees and must
we not study the terms, methods and
forms Of delayed paymente?. Must we
not be able to say to our adversary
when he pleads decrease OF re-
sources: Yes you can go as far as
that and you must do it and you must
do that In q word, shall we simply
present a bill or. collect the money,
all the money possible? Well, that Is
where the work comes in, slow and
i-difncult work complicated by the fact
that technical experts Of the highest
capabilities and great experience; are
not in agreement among themselves
either, as to the method Of liauidatton
or as to- the assets to be realized.
tNo,4 there IS no divergence among the
{aegotfators but, alas. there ARE f1ev-
liable ones among the experts, seften
tamong those from the same countrs.
Who is, 20 decide between them IL not
the negotiators and do you think it
can always be done quickly 90 =
NJ. Lauzanne remarked that what
public opinion could not understand
was why, before everything, Germany
was not handed a full bill, no matter
what amount, and forced to admit full
liability
And who says we shall not do so?4
said Premier Lloyd George. Who
says we have not decided that?'
t'No one" the interviewer inter
rupted, has said that you have de-
cide6 it,
The British premier resumed:
'.sCan not the people wait until we
have finished our work instead Of al
ways venting to<judge our inten-
tons. This conference had to meet
and discuss things under conditions
unprecedented in history. All eyes
are turned toward it, and, what IS
more grave. all ears are glued at its
ke.-hoie. Enemy ears tremble with
| jos when they detect some hesitation.
Friendly ears half hear confused ru-
n1ors which ate peddled far and
quickly.
"The day. does not pass, but what
sorte false news here and there takes
it's fight Nevertheless. no day passes.
but that vein silent deliberation feel
approaching nearer the great aim and
experience for each other more ses-
teer- confidence and affection. Lex
public opinion wait few days. It
will then be able to pronounce on
facts, not runlors."