The Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1918-1919, 1919-04-10
BY EDWARD w. PlckARD.

by cO"AnO w. VlSNf\n1s
Prodded by the public opinion of
most of the world. and particularly by
The insistence of President Wilson, :
the peace delegates In Paris speeded
- ths' work last week and really ac-
"a something. Mr.. Wilson, it
VAS r, fably reported, told them that
f results were not forthcoming soon
he might reveal to the public the real
causes of the delay, and just before
that he issued statement denying
that the discussions over the league
Of nations were to blame in that re-
spect. No one nation, said Mr.. Will
son, was solely to be blamed for hold
ing up the peace treaty, but dispatches
from Paris make it fairly clear that
many of the bitches bave been due to
he disparity between what the French
demand and what the Americans,
sometimes backed by the British, are
willing to impose on the conquered
Germans.
If present indications go for any
thing, those same beaten Huns are
going to come out of the peace con-
terence in fairly good shape. The big
-Four" last week concerned themselves
mainly with the major questions of
reparatiOn, the west bank of the
Rhine. Danzig and the Italian frontier.
Unofficially, Germany has been taking
part in the conference, and its argu-
ments, presented by public officials,
The national assembly and the press,
seem to be having decided effect.
Though France still asserts that the
Huns should be required to pay the
laafnupenny that can be got out OF
land in this are supported by the
public opinion of most Of the civilized
world, the n ace delegates. Influenced
apparently by the American represen-
ftatives, have been scaling down the
amount of indemnity more and more
until the prediction now is that 1t will
be less than $4,000 100000. How
Germany shall pay and how long
time shall be given her proves so COM
plicated question that 1t was consid.
ered probable last week that all that
Hill be left for decision by commits
don after peace has been declared.
Germany has a gold reserve of more
han $5OO,OOO 900. and likely a part of
this will be demanded as a cash pay
mint to be disbursed in the devastated
rekions of Belgium and France.
When the matter of the Rhineland
was taken up the effect of the German
rotests again was evident. 1T was
drtually decided that there shall be
90 buffer republic on the left bank Of
the Rhine, but that that region shall
he heutralized and policed by allied
trops until the indemnities are paid {;
tht the Saar coal basin shall not be
allotted to France, but shall remain
under German sovereignty, though its
nroducts shall go to the French for a
certain period of years. 1t is presumed
that French and Belgian troops would
hold the left bank of the Rhine. since
the British have insufficient forces for
the purpose and America does not
wish to leave any soldiers in Europe
after the treaty is signed. King AL
inert of Belgium went to Paris last
week, probably to discuss his coun-
try's share in this occupation. He
called on Colonel House and President
Wilson.
Marshal Foch was sent to Spa We'd
nesday with full INSTRUCTIONS for end
ing the dispute concetfing Danzig.
The allies wished to haveGeneral Hal
Ter and his Polish divisions landed at
that port, ard the Germans declared