The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-06-04
REPARArioN coNslpEREp

PARIS. June 4.-The council of four
met this forenoon. Experts on terri
torial questions and reparations met
with the council It is understood
that the clauses OF the Austrian peace
treaty dealing with reparations now
have been completed.
The atmosphere in peace conference
circles was full of speculation today
as to possible modification In several
clauses of the treaty with Germany
but nothing tangible is expected to
develop until the outcome OF the Joint
meetings Of allied experts becomes
known. At the meeting OF the council
of four yesterday afternoon President
Wilson made another effort to bring
about an agreement as to the prin-
ciple of the reply to the German coun-
ter proposals, but the meeting ended
without an agreement.
1t is understood that Premier Glenn
.enceau maintains a firm attitude
against any revision of the treaty.
Secret Plot Denied
Prof. Hans Delbrueck, General
Count Max Montgelas and Prof. Weber
German experts at Versailles, have
drawn up long memorandum on the
question of responsibility for the war
4
the entente commissions report on
the subject.
| The memorandum argues the ne
cessity of submitting the question to
an impartial commission for investi-
cation and denies there was any Sc
cret plot between Berlin and Vienna
to destroy Serbia. 1t says that the
German government could not accept
the efforts of Sir Edward Grey, the
British secretary for foreign affairs in
1914, who offered to mediate, because
1t doubted his powers to check the
warlike aspirations OF Russia. EN-
peror Nicholas proposal to refer the
dispute to the Hague also failed, it
| is said, because on the same day that
the proposal was made the mobiliza-
ton of thirteen army corps was or
dered. Russia's imperialistic policy,
the memorandum argues, made war
with Germany inevitable. It says that
Germany's war against France was
one of defense and admits that Ger
many's naval policy was of such a ma
ture as to arouse the distrust Of Great
| Britain.
There is reason to believe, according
to advices from Paris. that the council
of four will reach decision by Thurs
day as to the reply that will be made
to the German counter-proposals to
the terms of peace. Allied experts
are at work on the reply and meetings
are being held in Paris today for the
purpose of drafting memoranda to be
submitted to the council of four. Il
is probable that this work is well
underway.
/ Premier Clem enceau As understood
to maintain firmly that there can be
no important changes In the clauses
Of the treaty to which the Germans
have entered their strongest objec-
tions There are indications, however,
Of a strong nndercurrent of sentiment
to meet ths-German offer of definite
sum Of 100000, 100000 marks as indem.
nifty insfead Of the indeterminate sum
that might be demanded under the
terms as presented. 1t also seems pos
stble that the clauses of the pact re-
Hating to Silesia may be modified SO
that Germany would be able to receive
supplies of grain, coal and other com.
modities In spite of the transfer to
Poland of sovereignty over that region
That the Germans have not said
that last word in objecting to phrases
Of the treaty is indicated by a memor
andum which has been drafted at Yer
sailles by German experts, who seet
to refute allied charges as to the gull
of Germany for the war. This mem
orandum will, it Is said, be presented
as reply to the report made by the
inter-allied commission on responsi
bility for the conflict