The sun., 1919-03-21


'Avar costs. 1t is generally conceded
that France has suffered the largest
material loss, while Great Britain
has imposed the largest burden OF
taDation on her people.
/ The United States has put In a
maximum claim for loss of life and
property during the war aggregating
b little less than a billion dollars, the
amount for individual loss Of life be.
Ing $4,000 In each case.
Treaty Ready By March 20.
Col +. NJ. House Of the American
delegation to the Peace Conference
told British journalists to-day he wac
convinced that the peace treaty, In.
Guiding the League of Nations cove
nant, would be ready for signature
on March 20 and added that he would
be disappointed If the Germans were
hot at Versailles three weeks hence"
! Premier Lloyd George told the
British newspaper men that he had
decided to remain In Paris until the
peace treaty was signed. He ex.
pressed the opinion that one of the
reasons for the present labor difficult
ties In England was the fact that the
treaty had not been completed, which
led to feeling Of disquiet in that
country. He said he was unable to
imagine that labor leaders would re-
sort to force at the present moment"
When informed of the statement by
Col. House that the Germans were
expected at Versailles in three weeks
Mr.. Lloyd George said: Add an
other week and II viii be about
right"
President Wilson went to the resi-
sdence Of Premier Lloyd George to-
day, meeting there A. ]. Balfour,
British Secretary Of State for For
eign Affairs; Premier Clemenceau,
Stephen Pichon, French Foreign Min
ister; Premier Orlando and Gems. AL
lsnby and Diaz. The discussion was
chiefly on the question Of manda-
tories for countries IN Asiauc Tur-
key, including Mesopotamia, Pales-
tine, Syria and Armenia. Some sentl-
ment In favor of the United States
becoming a mandatory for Armenia
was manifested, but no decisions were
reached.
Representatives of the neutral ma
lions met at 3 o'clock In the Hotel
de Crillon. the American headquar-
tiers in Paris. Many of the delega.
lions were accompanied by military
and naval attaches, making an i'm.
pressive and snowy gathering.
! Aside from the meeting of the lead
ers Of the big Four" the conference
Of representatives Of European, South
American and Asiatlc neutral coun.
tries with reference to the League
Of Nations covenant was the out
standing feature Of the day.
Some Of the neutrals were repre-
sented by specially commissioned
delegates to the Peace Conference
while others, particularly those q
great distance away, were repre-
fented by their regular diplomatic
3nvoys in Paris.
The session of the neutral repre-.
sentatlves, which continued through
the afternoon and evening, was held
1t the Hotel Crillon. 1t was an.
nounced previous to the meeting that
oil proposals from these Governments
and they are known to be as varied
% they are numerous-would be care
fully considered and prepared In con.
crete form for submission to the
Peace Conference.
\ House Sits with Commission.
Lord Robert Cecil of Great Britain
acted as chairman and Premier Venl.
zelos of Greece, DR.. NJ. X. Vesnith
of Serbia, Paul Hymans of Belgium
Col. Z. NJ. House of the United States
nnd Leon Bourgeois of France sat as
members Of the sub commission. The
claims Of neutrals were heard In de-
tail, either directly or by memoran-
dunn, Norway, Sweden, Denmark,
Holland. Switzerland, Spain, Persia,
Guatemala and most of the South
American neutrals having some sug-
gestions to make.
Those represented by delegates or
Ministers were heard together. The
three Scandinavian countries pre-
scented virtually Identical proposals,
It is understood, these being In the
main favorable to the league and
asking that neutrals be admitted TO
membership.
{ All Central and South American
neutral nations. with the exception of
Salvador and Paraguay. which have
reserved their decision, participated in
the conference.
Suggestions for amendments TO the
covenant were made, the smaller coun-
tries following the larger ones In ask
Ing for revision OF articles OF the cove
nant which affect them.
Tho Enterallie1 Aerial Commission
has a sub-commission at work elab-
Grating the proposed international air
code. 1t is hoped that its labors will
be completed within week and the
results presented to the Peace Confer
ence.
President Wilson will act as chair
man at the meeting of the League OF