New-York tribune., 1919-03-27
Peace Terms Fast
Shaping Under Eyes
OF Super-CounciI

PARIS, March 26.-The meeting of
the league of nations commission OF
the peace conference, which was fixed
for 3 o'clock this afternoon, was post
poned, by a decision reached this
morning, until tonight. This action
was taken to permit of an uninter-
rupted days sitting by President Will
son and Premiers Lloyd George,
Clemenccau and Orlando in an effort
to expedite the framing of the peace
treaty.
The President and the Premiers held
their first gathering Tuesday, begin
ming at II o'clock in the morning and
continuing into the evening. This
supercouncil, it is expected, will
smooth over many of the difficulties
facing the Supreme Council.
Marshal Foch Called
The session yesterday afternoon
was at the French War Office. Late
in the afternoon Marshal Foch and
Major General Thwaites, representing
the British staff in the place of Cen
eral Wilson, were called in. The Pre-
miers and the President considered
advices just received about the mill
tary situation in Russia.
In the absence of official communi-
ques the public has learned little
about the meetings of the Premiers
and the President, but there is reason
TO believe that reparation for war
damages was the first serious problem
they sought to solve.
All the data on the British, French
and American positions on this ques-
tion were before them at the first meet
ing Tuesday. 1t is understood the
data showed agreement on virtually all
features except the total amount. Even
the teXtual draft of the reparation
articles of the peace treaty are ready,
with blank space waiting for the in
sertion of the amount
Rhine Line a Big Issue
After settling the reparations ques-
tion the Premiers and the President
will consider the remaining main OBJ
stacle-the Franco German frontier
along the Rhine. With these questions
determined, the American delegation
believes that a prompt conclusion of
the peace treaty can be accomplished.
Such an expectation as concluding
the treaty by the end of the present
week is doubted owing to the extensive
amount of drafting work after the
main questions are settled in principle
Ihe drafters are steadily at work
while the supercouncil is in session
and each step of progress is followed
immediately by the completion of the
articles of the treaty.
The same process is being carried
on with the draft of the covenant of
the league of nations. which, in ad-
dition to being amended, will be re-
written so as to combine clearness with
the dignity of notable state Documents
The Russian situation, particularly
in relation to the political upheaval
in Hungary, also was considered at the
conference.
During the day the Hungarian re-
volt and its effect in bringing Bolshe-
vism into Central Europe also was
without doubt, examined, as experts
had prepared a huge map showing the
vast extent of Bolshevik authority.
which now embraces virtually half Of
Europe.
The Premiers also had access to re-
ports showing the extent of disorder in
all sections of Eastern Europe, includ-
ing private reports Of grave char
acter concerning regions in the south
eastern part of the Continent and
around Odessa which have not as vet
been made public.