Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-02-15
Three Organizations Repre-.
sent Peace Conference
yfM in New York. g
MILITARY OFFICERS
BEING SCPPLANTED
Able Finsn, isrs 0sth 81 Europe and
America Considering Questions Of
Shipping, Removal ~ Economic
esrrisrs 0stwssn Natisns and Great.
ing Equality Dstwssn Countries
Competing Fer WerId Trade.

Paris. Feb. I5--with the subject Of
the league Of nations now out OF the
way for some time to come, the biggest
problem before the peace conference
at present Is believed to be the read
tustment Of the worlds financial and
economical organizations.
Three different organizations have
been created to. deal. with these sub
jects. Some o. these conclusions are
ready for consideration a. sacn as the
conference 10 willing to receive the re-
ports. altho the last body TO be
created in this connection dates back
only to FEB. s. This body is the su-
preme economic council, and it's work
is Of the greatest immediate import
ance. 1t has been charged temporari-
~ during the armistice period to
handle only such pressing questions as
the disposition to be made of shippins.
the abatement Of the blockade, which
has been holding back not only the
enemy's industry but those Of neutrals,
the distribution Of raw materials, and
finally, those financial questions that
require instant attention.
9uppIantins Army Men.
The council, which includes some OF
the ablest financial and business minds
Of America and Europe, has been firm
~ but quietly and without exciting an
imosity. supplanting the military Au-
thcrities who had been dealing with
the same subject. It WAS felt the
handling Of these questions by the
military was only incidental to the
swHr and that tia tialo, nd come to
place them m hands trained to deal
With them. Il was this opinion he'll
ny the supreme council which caused
the economic council to be created, as
il was desired they be dealt with on
the safe and sound lines Of civilian
experience.
OF more permanent value is expect
ed to be the work Of the other organi-
cations created by the peace confer
ence. These are the economic draft
ing commission and the financial draft
ing commission. These include dis
tinguished hnanciers from all the en-
tente countries. The economic draft
ing commission already has its report
before the peace conference awaiting
action by that body. Its high import
ance may be judged from the fact
that 1t has undertaken to make prac-
stical application Of the third Of Pres
dent Wilson's fourteen peace points,
namely, that declaring for the removal
as far as possible Of all economic bar
riers and the establishment Of an
equality Of trade conditions among all
OF the nations conSenting to the peace
and assoeiating themselves for it's
maintenance.
70 Rsssrvs Bones Of Contention.
The problem involved the right of
nations to discriminate betweeA
friends and foes in their trade rela-
tions and the propriety Of continuing
the many special trade treaties with
their differential tariffs. which in the
rast so often have jeopardized the
peaceful relations OF states.
The financial drafting commission
viii have to meet the insistent de-
mands Of some Of the European ma.
tions for the pooling Of all the credits,
debts and resources Of the nations. d
proposition which seems certain to be
strongly resisted by the American re-
presentatives.
or scarcely secondary importance Is
the task Of obtaining information as
TO the financial resources. present and
prospective. Of the enemy countries in
order that the commission on repara-
tion may complete Its work which is
based on the .dea, one Of the delegates
intimated. Of making the enemy pay
all that he can safely be made to pay.