The Benson signal., 1919-04-26
TREATY 10000 WORDS
TERMS OF TREATY ITEM BY ITEM
SETTLED BY PEACE CONGRESS.
BE ALLOWED TO DISCUSS
TERMS.

Paris, April 1S-The drafting of the
final form of the peace treaty is pro-
ceeding rapidly in order to have it
ready for presentation to the German
delegates when they arrive at Yer
sailles. The document, as framed, be-
gins with an introduction in the form
Of a protocol, setting forth the COM
plete list of belligerent powers taking
part in the war and now making peace,
with the designation of plenipoten-
tiaries of each country and with their
power to sign.
Then comes a declaration of i'm
pressive brevity not exceeding thirty
words, stating that on the conclusion
of the treaty and the exchange of
ratifications, the war shall come to an
end
Following upon the declaration of
peace, the present intention of the
peace delegates is to have the COW
enant of the League of Nations occupy
the place Of honor in the treaty and
to be the first subject treated in
detail.
1t will thus take the priority it had
in the program of the peace confer
ence. Then, in succession, will follow
the military, naval and aerial terms,
reparations, responsibilities, the Rhine
frontier, the Saar region, Alsace-Lor-
raine, Poland, the status of Danzig
us an international port, Germany's
t.I1 ir 1ct0 nd q
large number of special subjects, in
Guiding the labor convention adopted
at the last plenary session of the con-
ference; international ports and water
ways, and extended economic and
financial provisions not directly con-
nected with reparations.
The textual form of all these SUBJ
divisions has been completed, so that
the work at present going on is chiefly
fitting together the parts into homo
international experts representing the
five great powers.
Their work is largely formal, as the
council of four and the commissions
have adopted the language of the va
rious parts now being fitted together.
It is estimated that the treaty as a
whole will exceed 10000 words, or
the contents of large, closely printed
volume. The text is being prepared
in French and English, and, as a
means Of expediting action, German
text may be prepared, though it is
foreseen that the German plenipoten-
tiaries may ask for a considerable
time to peruse a document of such
magnitude.
After the treaty is actually delfv-
cred, it is intended to allow adequate
time for the Germans to make in
quiries concerning the various details
before returning to Weimar:
:. This is expected to take about two
days, the first day being devoted by
the Germans to familiariZing them
selves with the TERMS and the second
day to answering such queries as they
may make.
There is no purpose to have this
assume the character of q discussion,
but. merely the elucidation of any
points which may assist in obtaining
prompt and favorable action when the
plenipotentiaries return to Weimar.
The procedure on the arrival of the
German plenipotentiaries at Versailles
has virtually been decided upon.
1t is believed the stay of the pleni-
potentiaries at Weimar will cover a
week, thus bringing them back to Yer
sailles about May 8 to 10. This, how
ever, is conjectural, for it is dependent
upon the rapidity of the decisions
reached at Weimar