Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-31
SPEAKS View
PLAINLY and
ENDS CRISIS
Eis Threat to Withdraw
Over Land Grab Pro
posal Brings Action.

Paris. Jan. 31.-CBy the Associat-
cd Press The supreme council
reached satisfactory provisional ar
rangcments dealing with the Ger
man colonies and tae occupied ter
r.tOries OF Turkey tn Asia.
The crisis in the peace uegotia-
tons over the disposition to be
made of Germany's colonies seem
cd TO have passed, according to h
late report. IL is TOO carly 10 say
that President Wilson's view pre-
walls in an entirety, but in Amert-
can circles there is confidence e
It's acceptance in principle, which
viii be worked out with the de-
tails which are acceptable to the
American viewpoint
When the supreme council Of the
peace conference meets today it
will have before H. the very plan
made by the president at Wedncs-
days late session. So particular
was Mr. Wilson 10 have IN exact
record Of what he had said. shat
soon after entering the meeting ha
summoned one Of his personal
stenoGraphers and kept him a his
side during the session.
Threatens 10 Withdraw.
What be said did not appear IN
me official communique, nor has
It been disclosed with any Official
authority. but ii may be stated that
ID was a very clear rcafHrmatlon
Of the principles for which the
president las previously coutended.
In phrases stripped Of diplomatic
uicety il is understood Mr.. Wilson
told the members Of the inner
council. he would not be party to
a division of Germauys colonial
possessions among the powers
which now hold them and then be-
come party 10 league OF nations
which in effect would guarantee
tHeif- title. There are differences
that the president even referred to
a peace of loot"
The net result OF the past two
days Of discussion on the colonial
question, in the opinion OF many
americans has been to clear tho
generally and To force
a clear definition OF aims on all
sides.
Shows Land 4Crab' violation.
In the discussions concerning the
disposal Of the former German COL
onies, Presid sut Wilson conteudod
in no uncertain terms that 10 dt-
vide the colonies among the en-
tente nations would be in direct
contravcntion Of the ~ points.
which were accepted as a basis 0r
peace Such n division, which i7
said to have been proposed, also
would violate the principles Of the
league of nations as laid down ar
the peace conference last Satur-
day.
Future May Upset Parley.
The American attitude, il is de-
clarcd, is very positive. What tho
United States would do in case the
powers insisted upon dividing tho
colonies among them has not been
The American attitude,
1t is held IN such quarters, might
be such that it, probably would sf-
feet the whole future OF the peace
conference. President Wilson. u is
still holds 10 his orig
inal attitude that ir would scarcely
he worth while for the United
States to participate in the neeo-
taitious unless a league Of nations
with tho arcomnanyinl. princinras
VOC nrovidod for in r,,L.,ng roac,
d.. ". r,,,.a.o.-.,I-
az es,v,Iai 1eI,Li, paff, r..,'n n % ,Ig v..is
presented the American viewpoint
unres nrvedly The general public
rf ,-og,,r,1a,.,. ecs..irr, r.n,-I ,ro1,-
,b1y. vii ~ bist,~fG etr1,ff5 .s're,
,rtl ,I,, t-a,t,. If ,,o,,, a. ei.,,.r
~ ~. IN
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fafl7' jan o. ne only govern
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