The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-30


growing among the members of the
American delegation to the Peace Con-
| ference that proper progress is not
| being made by the Council Of Four
| toward a settlement of the great ques-
| tons upon which the peace treaty
must be founded. All Of the last week
virtually was lost, or rather marked by
such a series OF advances and retreats
as only served to irritate those men,
bers who are seeking earnestly a solu-
ton of the various problems.
When 1t was thought that an agree
ment had been reached on the question
of reparations a backward step was
! taken last evening through the sudden
introduction by one OF the parties In
terested OF an entirely new basis Of
adjustment.
Original Demands Are Renewed.
1t Is said the proceedings have been
marked throughout by Just such aban-
comments of positions when II had
been supposed that an agreement was
In prospect. In the matter Of repara-
tions the question was brought back
to original demands which already had
been found excessive or impracticable
by majority OF the council.
There are indications OF a sharp Is
sue impending on this method OF pro-
/ cedure. Among the American delega-
| ton II Is felt that better progress should
be insisted upon, even II It requires the
adoption OF something like O cloture
rule.
After most OF the day In conference
with the three Preniers President Will
son spent some time late this afternoon
| In discussion with Thomas Lamont
and Norman Davis members OF the
Supreme Economic Council and the
financial advisers OF the American dele
cation, regarding reparltions Several
| formula are under consideration, and
such progress has been made as 10
Justify the expectation that this sub
| ject will be finally disposed OF on Tues
day or Wednesday of the coming week.
The Council OF Four also has given
| fresh consideration 20 the question of
| the Saar Valley, and il is believed that
the council has virtually settled upon a
plan TO permit Germany to retain
|
be given economic control OF the
mineral resources in that section for
a limited time. supposedly based upon
n time allowance for the settlement of
indemnity.
Secretaries Fail to Meet.
! The Council Of Foreign Secretaries
and Foreign Ministers organized Friday
did not meet to-day. but ii was an
nounced that it will meet Tuesday 10
hear the report Of the Peace Conference
Commission OF Czecho-Slovak affairs.
Paul Dutasta, tho general secretary
| OF the Peace Conference, went TO Yer
sailles to-day to arrange details for the
signing of the preliminary treaty,
In laying her claims before the Coun-
Gil OF Four yesterday France asked, first
OF all. that her bounda ries. as fixed by
the treaty OF Paris. May so, 1914, be
restored to her, together with the Sarre
basin. In the Rhine provinces on the
left bank OF the Rhine. 1t was stipulat ted,
the Germans should have political
autonomy, but should not be permitted to
establish fortihcations, occupy the ter
ritory with armed forces, nor control the
railways. Thus the Rhine would serve
/ France as n natural frontier.
1.-THE treaty OF Paris in 1914 provided
that France renounce her claims on
Belgium and the left bank of the Rhine
and return to the boundaries as they
existed In 1899. before the Revolution.
This compelled France to confine herself
70 the provinces OF Alsace and Lorraine,
west of the Rhine, those territories
having been under French control since
1889. 1t was enormously reported from
Paris Friday night that France had de-
manded her 1914 frontiers. which would
have excluded Alsace and Lorraine from
her claims before the Peace Conference ]
Portugal to Have New Cabinet.
LISBON. March 29.-Col. Sacardoso has
been charged with the formation OF a
new Portuguese Cabinet. He is q men,
Der OF the Democratic party.