Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1919-04-11
DAY SEES
|. PEACE TREATY OK.
GERMANS TO BE ASKED TO SIGN
THE PEACE PACT EARLY
IN MAY.
LLOYD GEORGE SAYS so TOO
Delays Due to Divergence of Opinion
Among Expert Advisers-Wait a
Few Days and Public Can
Pronounce on Facts.

Paris - The preliminary peace
treaty will be ready by Easter and
the Germans will be asked to come
and sign it at the end of April or the
beginning of May, Premier Lloyd
George of Great Britain declared in
an interview Sunday with Stephane
Lausanne, editor OF the Matin.
In answer to a remark by M. Lau-
zanne that what troubled public opin-
ion was not so much the delay as
the secrecy in which the peace nego-
tiations were wrapped and the fear
that there was some divergence of
opinion the British premier said
Il affirm absolutely that there is no
divergence among the negotiators.
They are often confronted with tech
nical difficulties which can only be
settled after close study. Take the
question of reparations. In substance
the allies have one common principle
which l once set forth thus: Ger
many must pay up to the last farthing
of her power"
Must Require Guarantees.
But is it sufficient to draw up
bill and hand it to the enemy? Must
we not require guarantees and must
we not study the terms, methods and
forms of delayed payments? Must
we not be able to say to our adver-
sary when he pleads inadequacy Of re-
| sources Yes, you can go as far as
that and you must do it and you must
| do that In word, shall we simply
present bill or collect all the money
possible? Well, that is where the
work comes in, slow and difficult
work, complicated by the fact that
technical experts of the highest ca
pabilities and great experience are
not in agreement among themselves
either as to the method of liquidation
| or as to the assets to be realized.
mo, there is no divergence among
the negotiators-but, alas, there are
inevitable ones among the experts
often among those from the same
country. Who is to decide between
them if not the negotiators, and do
you think it can always be done
quickly?"
Asks Public to Be Patient.
NJ. Lausanne remarked that what
public opinion could not understand
was why, before everything, Germany
was not handed full bill, no matter
what amount and forced to admit full
liability
And who says we shall not do
so?' cried Premier Lloyd George.
who says we have not decided that"
mo one," the interviewer inter
rupted, has said that you have de-
cided it,"
The British premier resumed:
Can not the people wait until We
have finished our work instead of al
ways wanting to judge our inten
tions? This conference had to meet
and discuss things under conditions
unprecedented in history. All eyes
are turned toward it, and, what is
more grave, all ears are glued at its
keyhole. Enemy ears tremble with
| JOY when they detect some hesitation.
Friendly ears half hear confused ru-
mors which are peddled far and
quickly.
The day does not pass but what
some false news here and there takes
flight. Nevertheless, no day passes
but that we in silent deliberation feel
approaching nearer the great aim and
experience for each other more es-
TEEN, confidence and affection. Let
public opinion wait a few days. 1t
will then be able to pronounce on
facts, not rumors."