The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-01
Committees of Peace Confer
ence Begin Labor in Earnest.
Labor Body Is the First
Others Meet on Monday.
BRING WILHELM TO TRIAL
Wilson's Plan Is Accepted by
the Peace ENJOYS.
Germans Will Be Given Peace
Terms This Month.

Paris, Feb. 1.-The various commit
tees appointed by the peace conference
are about to begin their work in earn
est. On today's schedule was a meet
ing of the labor committee of the con-
ference at the ministry of labor, while
on Monday the committee on ports,
waterways and railroads will assemble
| at the ministry of public works and
the committee on reparations at the
ministry of finance.
The society of nations commission
is almost alone of the subsidiary
bodies named by the conference in
not having sent out a summons for
meeting.
| Sir Gordon Hewart, the British at
i torney general, who will reach Paris
today, has been entrusted with the
task of supporting the demand for
| bringing former Emperor William to
| public trial and also with upholding
the British views before the repara-
! ton committee.
| Accept Plan of Wilson.
| The peace delegates have definitely
program, in the opinion of the Matin.
I'VE must not forget" said the
Matin, that President Wilson de-
clared in effect. My aim is to pre-
vent wars. Here is my system. Have
you a better one? 1 am listening.
i "As a matter of fact, his system
was approved when the conferees en-
! dorsed his plan for disposition of the
| German colonies"
The Echo De Paris foresees some
difficulty in obtaining ratification of
| the peace settlement
Ratification of the treaty by the
Paris and London parliaments and by
the Washington congress is sure to be
most difficult to accomplish" the
newspaper said. TT is certain, too.
that the dominion governments will
reopen discussion of their territorial
indefinite settlement"
President Wilson conferred with
| Lord Cecil and General Smuts until
late last night, comparing the Ameri-
can plan for the league of nations with
their respective outlines, that the
whole proposition may be put ir
| shape for presentation to the peace
congress next week.
Il Give Them Terms.
Paris, Feb. Preliminary peace
terms will probably be presented tC
Germany along with conditions for q
further renewal of the armistice this
month, if present plans are not de.
ranged. Recognizing the need for 6
return of the world to a normal peace.
time basis, the nations associated
against Germany are considering max
ing a start toward the actual peace
treaty by inserting some of the ele
mentary terms into the condition:
which will be submitted to the Ger.
man armistice commission on Feb
ruary II.
This decision is reflected also il
the examination now under way tc
determine what American troops il
| will be necessary to leave in occupied
territory. The plan is to get then
all out as soon as it seems advisa BILE
and it has been thought that a star
might be made in laying down thu
| terms of peace. Some officials wht
have been closely studying the situa
| tion believe that the armistice itsel
might well be developed into a peac,
treaty just as they think society O
nations might be developed out of tn,
deliberations of the peace conference
President Wilson is known to have ex
amined this view ard contemplated it
possibilities.
Take Up Labor Legislation.
International labor legislation wa
formally taken up today when the spe
cial committee handling that portion
of the peace settlement went into ses
! sion at the French ministry of labo
. offices shortly before noon.
. AT the same time, it was announce,
, that the committee on reparation an,
damages. viIl meet at o'clock Mon
, day afternoon at the French ministr
3 of finance offices. Final determine
4 ton OF the program which will b
D submitted to the peace congress 70
ratification was expected to be reache
= at the next meeting of this committee
= scheduled for 4:30 p. m. Tuesday.
1 Put OF Days Session.
The usual plenary session was post
poned today to permit the peace bu
. reau to speed up action on the frame
work for the league of nations
:. The belief was expressed in certai
quarters that demonstration of tn
practicability of the league, as evince
IN several recent decisions, by the bu
reau, would hasten agreement on tn
details of its makeup. The Germa
colonial question was virtually settle
in accordance with principles of tn
: league: Previously, the bureau ha
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