New-York tribune., 1919-12-26
Time for Exchange Of Rati-
fications Depends Upon
Speed of Allied Inquiry
Into German Shipping
Agreement Believed Near
German Delegate in Paris
Hopes for Solution of
Dispute ON Scapa Flow

PARIS, Dec. 25 (By The Associated
Press).--The final date of the repeat-
edly postponed exchange Of ratifica-
tions of the Treaty Of Versailles now
depends upon the speed with which the
Allied missions in Germany can verify
the German figures of available float
ing dock tonnage demanded by the
Allies as compensation for the sinking
of the German warships at Scapa Flow.
the correspondent was informed to-day
at the headquarters of the German
peace delegation.
Baron Won Lersner, head of the
German representatives. said he
thought this would take at least a
fortnight, if not longer, in view of the
difficulties Of transportation in Ger
many and the detail involved in veri-
flying the figures.
"A decided Misunderstanding was re-
fected in the Paris press in the last
few days regarding my projected trip
to Berlin, which | subsequently aban-
doned," Won Lersner said. "My object
was to hurry, rather than delay, the
putting of the Versailles treaty into
effect. ,it From Monday night until
Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock
was deprived of any communication
with. my government by either tele-
graph or telephone, in consequence of
which Berlin had no knowledge of the
Entente note or Of the verbal COM
munication given on this subject by
M. Dutasta (secretary of the peace
conference( until this morning.
Sought to Speed Peace
"I thought that trip to Berlin and
verbal explanation of the situation
to the government would facilitate
matters. The inference by the French
papers that the German government
wanted to delay the exchange of rati-
fcations is absolutely unfounded We
want nothing more than effective res
toration of peace.
Peace means the repatriation of our
soldiers, prisoners in France, who are
obliged to spend another Christmas in
captivity, although hostilities have
been suspended for more than a year.
"The fact that Herr Won Simson ar
rived in Paris last Sunday to start ne
gotiations for putting the treaty into
effect proves that we had no intention
to delay matters"
Regarding the Entente note, Baron
Won Lersner said it's tenor surprised
him, as it seemed so little in accord
with the progress of the negotiations.
"The Paris press" he said, "even
announced our readiness to deliver
over all the harbor material we could
spare without endangering our eco
nomic existence as compensation for
the Scapa Flow sinkings, and forecast
an early agreement on this question.
If we did not get that far it was not
our fault. Our experts have not been
asked to talk the matter over since q
week ago."
Baron Won Lersne, asserted that, ac-
of NJ. Dutasta at the time of the de-
livery Of the note, the Entente made q
diminution in the port tonnage de-
manded, conditional upon verifcation
of Germany's assertion that the En-
tente estimates of the harbor material
available were erroneous.
81 want to say in this connection" !"
he continued, "that the statements in
the French press that we were dis
loyal and gave out wrong figures on
this tonnage is absolutely unfounded.
This the investigation will prove.
promised M. Dutasta to ask my gov
investigation, and have no doubt that
they will be accorded at once.
Expects Early Notification
owe both agreed that it should be
possible in short time to verify our
statements and come to definite agree
meat regarding harbor materials to be
our expectations will soon be full
filled, and that peace will finally be
put into effect"
After the chief of the German dele
cation had informed M. Dutasta that
he thought it advisable to go to Berlin
communication by special wire was re-
stored, according to the information
given ou5 at the headquarters of the
German delegation, and it was decided
20 telegraph the note and verbal COM
munication, which, taking into consid-
Grafton the time for coding, transmits
sion and DECIDING, could not come to
the knowledge of the German govern
ment before the morning of Decem-
Der 25.
Havas Explains Controversy
The Havas Agency issued the follow
ing official note:
"The German press of Wednesday
pretends that Baron Won Lersner never
intended quitting Paris, and that the
statement he made to M. Dutasta that
he meant to leave with Herr Won Sim
son was erroneous. The German pre- So
insinuatcs that this was unfounded
and that the news sent out by Havas
and the story of Won Lersner's second
visit to M. Dutasta was an invention to
cover up the Havas withdrawal
"These allegations are contrary to
the truth. Won Lersner's declarations
at II o'clock Tuesday morning cannot
be denied. They were diately
written and communicated to all the
Allies. Baron Won Lersner later-at
3:45 p. m.-informed M. Dutasta that
he and Won Simson were remaining in
Paris"