Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-04-14

Paris, April 14.-The peace
conference leaders have come
TO an understanding regarding
the date when the German deli
egates shall be called into con-
ference, the Petit Parisienne
says it understands. That date,
il declares Is very close at
hand-befOre April 20.
The status of the American, Jap
} anese and French amendments TO
the covenant of the league OF ma
tions has been definitely estab-
lished so far as the league of ma
tions commission is concerned,
with the American amendment con-
cerning the Monroe doctrine, the
only one to be given a place in the
covenant by the commission. The
French and Japanese, however,
have made reservations which en-
title them to renew, at a plenary
session of the peace conference, the
questions involved in these amend
ments, SO that the final decision is
still open.
Date To Call Foe Is Set.
As to the affairs of the peace
conference as a whole, they are
shaping themselves now with the
league of nations question and
nearly all the main points in the
peace treaty virtually disposed Of,
so that the date when the enemy
delegates shall be summoned to
, Versailles has been tentatively
set. The summoning of the peace
congress" as il will be called. in
stead of peace conference" after
the enemy delegates are admitted.
will, according TO the present un-
derstanding, occur between April
&c and May ., and il is considered
not improbable that a definite date
may be announced by Premier
Lloyd George when he speaks be-
fore the British house of commons
the coming Wednesday.
viii Give Foe Two Weeks.
7 Indications are that the Germans
will be given opportunity TO dis
cuss the terms before the con-
gress, but no extended discussion
will be permitted two weeks be-
ing suggested as the outside limit
for the sessions to be held at Yer
sailles. These sessions, it is eX-
pected now, will be attended by
President Wilson. who is said by
those close to him to feel that tho
progress made toward concluding
the peace is such that he will be
able to remain for the Versailles
meeting.
The chief question as regards
the peace terms remaining TO be
settled. now that the Saar valley
and reparation demands have been
disposed of in virtually all their
details, is that of the Rhine
! frontier. The council OF four is
/ likely mainly TO occupy itself with
| this question during the present
week, the debate probably center
( ing upon the French contention for
security from a military stand
point, the French attitude being
indicated as a determined one on
this point.
French Opposition Explained.
1t is understood also to have
! been largely Frances fears from a
military standpoint of what might
7 happen should there be another
German attack that influenced her
representatives in their sustained
opposition to the Monroe doctrine
amendment to the league of na-
! tions covenant. Their argument
was that if the Monroe doctrine
principle were given "a European
application the effect might be that
the United States might be kept
from again coming TO Frances
help in the event Of a future Ger
man attack.
Main Items Disposed OF.
/ London. Sunday, April 13-CBrit-
ish Wireless Service.) The main
items of peace with Germany have
| been substantially agreed upon by
the council of four, the Paris cor
respondent of the Sunday Observer
says he understands. The only
problem which they have not yet ap-
preached is that of the Bohemian
| border, he says. This problem, ne
points out, is an intricate one as II
raises the question as to whether a
considerable number of Germans
must be included in the Czecho-
Slovak state.
las for the other points concern
ing the German borders" continues
the correspondent. lit seems that
it only remains now 10 decide upon
some minor questions. The question
of Danzig will very likely be settled
| by setting up a kind of autonomous
state in that district, while includ-
ing il in the Polish customs area"
! . NIL hsas
by Easter, is of course, another
question. The important fact is,
however, that the council of four
seems to have agreed on all the
] fundamental points. This Is a DIS
tiuct Improvement /"