Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-04-11
PEACE CONFERENCE
MAKING PROGRESS,
MESSAGE DECLARES
Agreement Is Finally Reach
ed on Responsibility for the
War as Well as on Repa-
ration (

| WASHINGTON. April 1O-"Ham-
mer1nR ahead"> along the path he has
has made fine progress in his peace
| conferences during the last "a hours,
according to, a private message re-,
| ce1Ved' here today. ~! g. rs
This news, adding that the presi-
dents physical condition continues
to improve, that he took his first
drive yesterday since his illness and
| that. by the power of his personal
force" he is making gratifying
| Roadway, materially increased OPP
| 1t was indicated here that under
standings were reached yesterday on
some of the most perpiexing prob
lens before the big four"
The tension. however, is only
somewhat relaxed-not eliminated
In intimate touch with the situation
| declared that this week lis probably
| the most critical, certainly the most
dramatic in the history of the
| world"
He further indicated that the
| president might be expected to get
final decisions or showdown this
week.
Once more nearing the full vigor
! Of his normal strength and able to
with Lloyd George. Clemenceau and
Orlando, the president is expected by
his advisers here to swing the "big
fourI back into the path of the IA
| points and gain his end.
RESPONSIBILITY AND
PREPARATION AGREED ON
PARIS, April 10.-The RESPONSE
the war and the means for bringing
him to trial by one of the allied
governments, 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 with
in the next two years and an inter-
allied commission assess the remain
ing damage for period of thirty
many is to pay all the expenses OF
the commission and it's staff during
the thirty years.
The text of the PREPARATIONS clause
as finally approved by the council
Of four Wednesday specifies that enc
my countries must admit RESPONSE
bility for all loss and damage to al
lied and associated nations and their
citizens due to unjustitiable agrees
sion.
Thus, two of the great obstacles
which stood in the path of the rapid
attainment of peace have been re-
moved within the last twenty-four
hours, and the period of extreme
tension over the inaction and the
failure. TO secure tangible results is
succeeded by revived conffcence over
the great advance made toward a
permanent settlement. How far these
results are due to the intimations
conveyed by the summoning to
George Washington by President
Wilson is only conjectural But it
is at least coincidence that the
main difficulties began to dissolve
from the time that thfSs decision be-
came known.
The exact nature of these diff
culties are not disclosed. Friends
of the president maintain that they =.
not involving large principles, though
the presidents adherence to his
fourteen points" as the rigid limita-
ton of the scope Of action appears
to have run all through the delibera-.
tions during the tense period Of the
last few days.
While the tension has been greatly
reduced, it 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 a number of lesser
issues, which are still short of final.
agreement.
The agreement on responsibility
for the war is understood to have
reports presented by the commission
of which Secretary Lansing is chair
man. There was practical agree
ment on the general responsibility
of the German emperor for bringing
on the war, but division occurred on
whether it was feasible to bring him
to justice before an international
tribunal.
The French and British view IA,
vored a tribunal, but the American
view, it is understood, favored moral
indictment without recourse to pros
ecution, owing to the lack Of an
international law as a basis for
trial before an International court.
Belgium, on which the war fell
first and heaviest, is reported to
that of the United States, while Japan
and Italy were partially in accord
with the American view.
1t was owing to these divergent
viewpoints that the council devised
new plan, whereby one of the
would initiate prosecution against
the former emperor and others re-
sponsible for the breach of treaties,
the invasion of territory and all the
destruction directed against this
country and leading to more gen
nature of the agreement is not dis
closed, but the foregoing is believed
to cover the main lines.
The text as finally approved on
separations specifies that the enemy
countries must admit responsibility
for all loss and damage to allied
and associated nations and their cit
liens caused by the unjustif1ed ag-
gression. But, in view of the in
ability Of the enemy countries fully
to recompense these losses, the
clause states, an inter-aHied com
mission will assess the losses on
just basis for thirty years, begin
ming May 1, 1921, with an initial.
payment of $4,000, 100000
Germany is to pay the entire cost
of the commission and staff during
the thirty years of operations. The
first payment is to be credited against
Germany's obligation to pay for the
of the allied troops in
the occupied region and the second
priority is for the payment Of food
relief furnished Germany.
Ignace Jan Paderewski, the Polish
premier, was summoned before the
council of four to present the claims
of Poland. The premier urged that
Danzig must be given to Poland and
that Poland must have the coal fields
of Teschen, Silesia, upon which, it
is said. Polish industry depends.