The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-04-28
ALLIED TRIAL
OF Ex-kAISER
PROVIDED BY
PEACE TERMS
New Articles Considered
Would Bring Hohenzollern
Before International Tribu-
nal for Crime
.EvENTFUL week AHEAD
(By Associated Press)

tBy Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, April 2s. - New
articles proposed for insertion in the
peace treaty to be considered at the
plenary session of peace conference
today, the state department announc-
ed today, include the following:
Article /. The allied and associat-
ed powers publicly arraign William II
Of Hohenzollern, formerly German en-
peror, not for an offense against GRIM
inal law, but for a supreme offense
against internationally morality and
sanctfty Of treaties"
1t is proposed that special tribunal
be constituted to try the accused con-
slsting Of five Judges, one appointed
by each OF the i've great powers. the
United States, Great Britain, France,
Italy and japan.
Before Military Court.
The allied and associated powers
will request Holland to surrender the
former emperor for trial Persons ac-
cused Of violation OF the laws and GUS
toms Of war, according to 4 second
proposed article, will be brought be-
fore military tribunal and II found
guilty. sentenced to the punishments
laid down by military law"
"AI persons accused Of having COM
mitted an act in violation of the laws
and customs of war who are specified
"either by name or by the rank. Office
or employment which they held under
the German authority" will be demand
ed Of the German government for trial
by the military tribunal Of the power
against whose nationals the criminal
acts were perpetrated.
Must Produce Documents.
Article w is as follows:
~The German government under.
takes to furnish all documents and In
formation of every kind. the produc-
ton of which may be considered neces-
sary to insure the fun acknowledg-
ment of the incrimfnating acts, the
discovery Of the offenders, the just
appreciation Of the responsibility"
Thus the peace conference commits
sion on responsibility for the war has
solved its most weighty problem. The
state departments announcement of
the solution was received here general
ly with satisfaction bcause It was
known Secretary Lansing, chairman Of
the commission had steadfastly oppos-
ed any attempt to bring the former
kaiser before an International tribunal
Mr.. Lansing contended there was no
law by which such an offender could
be reached by the conference and that
It would be contrary to the constitu-
ton Of the United States for the Amer
ican delegates to participate in the
execution Of a sort Of ex post facto
law. At that time, however. II was
proposed to charge criminals with mil
itary offenses and it was suggested to-
day that the decision to base the In
dictment upon violation OF interna-
tional morality and the sanctity Of
treaty was taken to meet the Ameri-
can viewpoint.
Final Action on League.
What promises to be perhaps the
most eventful week yet Of the Paris
peace conference opens today with q
plenary session Of that body, with an
al action on the covenant of the
league Of nations in prospect.
There also Is a feeling prevalent IN
Paris that the treaty Of peace will be
ready for presentation to the German
delegates by Saturday of this week,
before which time 1t Is hoped the
Italian situation may resolve itself
AS to the peace treaty, the most
important matter still to be settled
is the problem of composing the Japa-
nese and Chinese claims to KIao Chau
and the Shantung peninsula. A deci-
sion on this subject has been expected
for several days and it may be an
nounced today.
Matters dealing with the disposition
of the German cables, the repatriation
Of German prisoners of war and the
future status of the Kiel canal and
questions relative to Luxembourg also
are pending. but it is believed they
are in fair way toward an adjust
ment.
Watch Events In Italy.
Conditions in Italy are being
watched with some concern, but very
little news relative to the state Of
public opinion there and the activi-
ties Of Premier Orlando and his col
leagues in the government, has ar
rived since Saturday. It was reported
that council of ministers was to be
held on Saturday by the premier, but
what action was taken at the meeting
aas not been made public. Senators
and deputies from all the Italian part.
les except the official Socialists held
meeting Sunday and appointed
special committee to draft resolution
of confidence in the government for
submission to the parliament.
At the public meeting of the peace
conference to be held today the re-
vised draft of the covenant Of the
league of nations will be presented.
This draft made public in this coun-
try Sunday night, differs in some inn
portant respects from that brought
to America by President Wilson last
February.
1t is probable that Japan will make
an effort to secure an amendment
which will grant the japanese claims
for recognition of racial equality.
Germany is Quieter.
Germany, with the exception Of Ba-
varia and Silesia, seems to be much
quicter than 1t has been for several
weeks. A general strike is reported
.,.onfinued an Dane ThPAAl