The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-01-31
CRISIS over
DISPoSIT ION
OF COLONIES
HAS PASSED
Agreement Reached by Pow
ers Provides for Independ-
ence or Protectorate of Col
onies- Wilson Prevails.
WILL POLICE TURKEY
(By Associated Press)

(By Associated Press)
| PARIS, Jan. 31-The crisis in the
peace negotiations over the disposi-
ton to be made of Germany's colonies
seems to have passed. momentarily
at least. 1t is too early to say that
President Wilson's view has prevailed
in its entirety, but in American quar-
ters there is confidence that COM
promise plan, which has been accepted
in principle, will be worked out with
details which will be acceptable to the
American viewpoint.
When the supreme council of the
peace conference meets today it will
have before it the very plain state
ment made by President Wilson at
Wednesdays late session. So parti-
cular was Mr.. Wilson to have an ex-
act record Of what he had said. that
soon after entering the meeting. he
summoned one Of his personal steno-
graphers and kept him at his side
during the session.
! What he said did not appear In the
OAAASioA uOI AdS IL
been disclosed with any official au-
thority but it may be stated that it
was a very clear reaffirmation of the
principles for which the president has
previously contended. In phrases
stripped of diplomatic niceties. it is
understood, Mr.. Wilson told the men,
bers OF the supreme council he would
not be a party to a division of Ger
many's colonial possessions among
the powers which now hold them and
then become party to league of ma
tions which in effect, would guarantee
their title. There are inferences that
the president even referred to peace
OF loot"
| Force Definition Of Aims
The net result Of the past two days
of discussion on the colonial question,
In the opinion OF many here, has been
to clear the atmosphere generally and
to force a clear definition OF aims on
all sides.
The agreement reached by the al
| lied council of ten on the colonial
question, says a Havas agency state
ment today, provides that territories
which are sufficiently civilized. to give
expression of their wishes as to the
form of their government will be per-
mitted to set up such government
under the auspices of the league of
nations, obtaining either national in
dependence of living under a protec-
torate of one or the other of the great
powers. Arabia and Mesopotamia are
considered to be examples of this
| class
In case of peoples insufficiently de-
veloped for self-government, the state
ment explains, the league shall choose
the power most suitable to govern,
under certain guarantees to be fixed,
either by the peace conference or the
league. Professionally the African and
far eastern colonies shall be left as
now occupying them.
| Troops to Turkey.
AS regards Asiatic Turkey, the state
inent adds, the four great powers are
once and the council of ten has asked
the Versailles war council to submit
a report os to the best trops available
for the occupation of this Turkish
area.
The only government that was con-
tinuing to make formal objection yes
terday afternoon to the compromise
plan of administering the German col
onies was the Australian government,
says the Paris edition of the Daily
Mail today Her delegates were de-
clared to regard the ownership of New
Guinea as vital to the existence of
Australia Premier Clemenceau, how
ever, the newspaper adds, promised
Australia his full support in safeguard
ing her position.
There is no possibility now, the
Daily Mail declares, OF Australia con-
tinuing her Independent opposition to
the plan.
Australia Objects.
One result of the attitude taken BY
Italy in yesterdays discussion, the
Daily Mail states. was the decision
that the mandatory system OF admin.
istration should only be applied to
| non-European territories. Thus tha
fate OF the Adrfatic coast. the BalkaH
Austrian lands and the French terri
toriai claims against Germany, which
include, it should be noted, the Saar
valley. adds the newspaper, remains
for independent consideration.
The military representatives Of the
| supreme war council in accordance
with instructions by the council. are
| taking steps to secure an early meet
ing to arrange plans for the distribu-
tion of the entente and American
4 forces. II the latter should be neces-
sary, within the Turkish empire.
Fresh Atrocities Reported.
| Fresh reports of maladministratioa
| of the Armenian and other subject
races by local Turkish governors and
the refusal by the Porte to apply the
necessary corrective measures are un-
Il t . -
the action Of the council yesterday in
| taking measures toward supplying
/ military forces for the purpose Of
i maintaining order, in the Turkish area.
The military representative Of The
council expect to be able to hold .
meeting within a day or two. Mean
while the staff has been ordered to
proceed Immediately to gather mate
| rial for the consideration of the cf1,sv,