New-York tribune., 1919-12-02
Fear Their Departure for
Home Now Will Inspire
Germans to Resist Put
ting Terms Into Effect
Plans Made Long Ago
Allies Assure Berlin There
Is No Sign of Weakness in
Breaking Up Delegations

PARIS, Dec. 1.-The French repre-
sentatives in the peace conference are
urging the American delegates to de
lay their departure for home until The
protocol putting into effect the peace
treaty with Germany, is signed, It was
learned day.
Inc feeling in French circles, which
Is shared in by some Of the other dole
cations, is that the departure of the
American delegates at this time would
De mlslnterpreted in Germany as a
sort of abandonment Of the conference.
although 1t would in no wise change
the relation of the United States
toward that body.
The decision of the American dele
gates to depart as soon as possible
after December was made long in
advance of any 81 gn that the Germans
would hang back when the time came
to make the Versailles treaty effective,
and long before it could be fores EN-
that the United States Senate woul /
adjourn without ratifying the treaty.
Hence, their departure now is entirely
unconnected with either of those le-
velopments.
Germans Disillusioned
lntimations have been made to the
German representatives here that it
would be d mistake on their yart tc
count upon the departure of the Amori-
can delegation as at all weakening
Americas support of her associates
l he Americans are leaving because the
work of the conference has reached
the stage where it can be finished with
out the maintenance OF a large mission
here, with the Bulgarian treaty out OF
the way and the Hungarian treaty
ready for submission to the Hunrarian
delegates as soon as they arrive.
serious phase OF the situation. as
viewed here, is the evident progress Of
reactlonary sentiment i'm Germany
which the French fear VIII encourage
resistance to execution Of the terms Of
the treaty. particularly f the American
and British delegations leave Paris to4-
lowing the failure of the United States
Senate to ratify the treaty.. creaf ng
the impression that the peace confor-
ence is thing Of the past and that the
Allied and associated powers are no
longer in close cohesion.
Baron Won Lersner, writing on Friday
last, quotes ar alleged official state
ment of August 20 to the effect nat
the Allied and associated powers had
decided to ignore the date of the
ratification Of the treaty in dealing
with German prisoners. the repatria-
tion OF whom was refused
Won Lersncr defends Germany's ac-
complishment of her obligations He
says that Germany made concessions
in the case Of the killing of Sergeant
Mannheim and in the matter Of the de
livery of coal by reason Of pro missed
favorable treatment on the question Of
prisoners. He accuses France OF max
ing innocent prisoners pay for pre-.
tended discrepancies on the part of The
German government.
Calls Them Inaccurate
NJ Clemenceau begins his reply ov
saying that Baron yon Lersner's letter
contains series OF statements. ,s'lose
inclslve tone cannot mask their mac
curacy"
He declares that the statement that
I me in connection with the murde. OF
Mannheim or the delivery Of coal prom
lsed the repatriation Of prisoners is
"absolutely without foundation.'
The German government accord ng
TO NJ. Clemenceau, is using the prisoner
question TO excite German opiu on
against the Allies. especially Franc"
He instances Germany's dilatory tactics
by their long debates which are ensu-
ing on the handing over of persons ac-
cused of breaking the laws Of war 4.
though Germany admits that numerous
crimes were committed and asser-s
that Germany is really respOns Bile
for the retention OF the prisoners. whO
are being treated not only humanely
but kindly"