The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1919-04-24
Effects of German Protests and
Threats Seen in DoingS of
the Treaty Makers.
WILSON URGING MORE Speed
ACCESSIBILITY of Coming to Terms With
Hungary and Russia Seriously Con-
sidered - Counter Revolution
Against BoIshevisnn-Eloody
Strike Riots in Ger
man, Cities.
By EDWARD w. PIcKARD.


Prodded by the public opinion OF
most of the world, and particularly by
the insistence of President Wilson,
the peace delegates in Paris speeded
up their work last week and really ac-
complished something. Mr.. Wilson, 1t
was reliably reported, told them that
if results were not forthcoming soon
he might reveal to the public the real
causes of the delay, and just before
that he issued statement denying
that the discussions over the league
of nations were to blame in that re-
spect. No one nation, said Mr.. Will
son, was solely to be blamed for hold
ing up the peace treaty, but dispatches
from Paris make it fairly clear that
many of the bitches bave been due to
the disparity between what the French
demand and what the Americans,
sometimes backed by the British, are
willing to impose on the conquered
Germans.
If present indications go for any
thing, those same beaten Huns are
going to come out of the peace con-
ference in fairly good shape. The big
Four" last week concerned themselves
mainly with the major questions OF
reparation, the west bank of the
Rhine, Danzig and the italian frontier.
Unofficially, Germany has been taking
part in the conference, and it's argu-
ments, presented by public officials,
the national assembly and the press,
seem to be having decided effect.
Though France still asserts that the
Huns should be required to pay the
last penny that can be got out OF
them, and in this are supported by the
public opinion of most of the civilized
world, the peace delegates, influenced
apparently by the American represen-
tatives, have been scaling down the
amount of indemnity more and more
until the prediction now is that it will
be less than $2O,OOO,0O0,O0O How
Germany shall pay and how long a
time shall be given her proves so COM
plicated a question that it was consid-
cred probable last week that all that
will be left for decision by a commits
sion after peace has been declared.
Germany has gold reserve of more
than $5OO,OOOOO0, and likely part of
this will be demanded as cash pay
ment to be disbursed in the devastated
regions of Belgium and France.
When the matter of the Rhineland
was taken up the effect of the German
protests again was evident. 1t was
virtually decided that there shall be
no buffer republic on the left bank of
the Rhine, but that that region shall
be neutralized and policed by allied
troops until the indemnities are paid;
that the Saar coal basin shall not be
allotted to France, but shall remain
under German sovereignty, though its
products shall go to the French for
certain period of years. 1t is presumed
that French and Belgian troops would
hold the left bank of the Rhine, since
the British have insufficient forces for
the purpose and America does not
wish to leave any soldiers in Europe
after the treaty is signed. King AL
bert of Belgium went to Paris last
week, probably to discuss his coun-
try's share iii this occupation. He
called on Colonel House and President
Wilson.
Marshal Eroch was sent TO SDa We'd