The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-04-24
GERMANS CALLED
INTO The FARLEY
invited to Meet at Versailles
April 25 to Receive Terms
of the Allies.
WILSON ISSUES A STATEMENT
On Behalf of Council of Four President
Says the Peace Solution Is
at Hand.

Paris, April IA statement by
President Wilson in behalf of the coun-
ell of four says that the questions of
peace are so near. complete solution
that they will be quickly and finally
drafted. This announcement was con-
tanned in an official bulletin, which
added that the German plenipoten-
tiaries had been invited to meet at
Versailles on April 25-
The President hopes that the ques-
tons of Italy, especially relating to
the Adriatic, will be brought to a
speedy agreement The Adriatic Ques-
ton viii be given precedence over
other questions.
The settlements belonging especial
" to the treaty with Germany, the
statement says, will thus be elimi
mated, and at the same time other set
Elements will be completely formu
lated.
A Statement by Wilson.
The text of President Wilson's state
ment follows:
I'm view of the fact that the Ques-
tions which must be settled in the
peace with Germany have been
brought so near a complete solution
that they can now quickly be put
through the final process of drafting.
those who have been most constantly
in conference about them have decided
to advise that the German plenipoten-
tiaries be invited to meet the repre-
sentatives of the associated belliger-
ent nations at Versailles on the 25th
of April.
This does not mean that the many
other questions connected with the
general peace settlement will be in
terrupted or that their consideration
which has long been under way will
be retarded On the contrary, it is ex-
pected that rapid progress will now be
made with these questions so that they
may also presently be expected to be
ready for final settlement.
1T is hoped that the questions most
directly affecting Italy, especially the
Adriatic questions, can be brought &c
a speedy agreement. The Adriatic
question will be given for the time
precedence over other questions and
pressed by continual study, to its final
stage.
The settlements that belong es-
will in this way be got out Of the way
at the same time that all other settle
ments are being brought to a complete
formulation. 1t is realized that
though this process must be followed
all the questions of the present great
settlement are parts of a single whole
The council of four did not meet this
afternoon. but President Wilson con
ferred with the American peace dele
CATION respecting the program of work
still to be done by the Peace Confer
ence.
Agree on Rhine Frontier.
It was stated in authoritative quar-
tiers tonight that a satisfactory agree
ment had been reached on the eques-
ton of the Rhine frontier, thus remOv.
ing the last of the main obstacles in
the way of the peace treaty with Ger
many.
Premier Clemenceau called on Col
E. NJ. House of the American peace
delegation tonight and expressed him
self as entirely satisfied with the set
Element.
The agreement is believed to include
complete demilitarization of both
banks of the Rhine, extending twenty
five miles east of the river and
throughout the German sections along
the west bank, in which there will be
no Notifications, no troops and no con
scriptions.
It is expected that the delegates OF
the other enemy powers will follow the
Germans within a few days after their
arrival at Versailles April 25.
. One hundred billion gold marks is
the amount Germany must pay the
Allied and associated governments for
losses and damage caused in the war
plus other billions to be determined
by a special commission on which Ger
many is to be represented.
This is the final and definite con
clusion which has been reduced &c
writing after weeks Of negotiations
which took wide range and involved
frequent changes and notifications
The payment of the 100 billion gold
marks is to be divided into three dis
tinct amounts as follows: First, &c
billion within two years; second. &C
billion during thirty years beginning
in 1921; third, 40 billion when a com
mission shall determine how it shall
be done.