The sun., 1919-09-10
u. WOULD CURB
BELLICOSE FRENCH
Italians Back Americans in
Clash Over Austrian Clause
in German Charter.
PARIS POLITICS INVOLVED
Opposition in Chamber of Dep
uties Still Criticises Treaty
as Not Severe Enough.
By staS Correspondent o, tbs sun.

COPYRIGHT. 1919, all rights reserved.
PARIS, Sept, 9.--American members
of the Peace Conference now seem
anxious to curb the French in the lat
ter's desire to go TO extremes with Ger
many over the Austrian clause in the new
German constitution. In this the Amer
leans have the support unquestionably
of the Italians who would have really
liked to have seen Austria given to Ger
many In the beginning, and also to some
extent of the British.
As was expected, Germany's answer
to the ultimatum Of the Allies demand
ing the notification of the clause Inn
mediately under penalty of a further ad-
vance into Germany has revived the
whole Austrian question in the Supreme
Council. and finds the Allies consider
ably divided in sentiment.
From what developed after yester-
days meeting of the Council, at which
IL was fully expected that a reply would
be framed to the German note, II APP
pears that the original note sent to Ger
many was drawn up exclusively by the
French Foreign Office and was designed
partly to ward off a political attack In
despatched some members of the Coun-
ell were inclined to regret it's tenor. and
now wish to avoid II possible the necee-
city of making good the threat which
would allow Marshal Foch TO unleash his
troops and execute the prepared plan Of
occupying Germany as far as Frankfort
II Is evident that the French desire to
make such a demonstration for Its effect
upon Germany.
II the Polk draft Is accepted 1t will
fall far short of this and will leave a
way out for Germany. whereas the note
the French would have sent yesterday
would have ended the matter abruptly,
merely stating that Germany's answer
was entirely unsatisfactory and an
nouncing that Marshal Foch would move
in fifteen days. 1t remains to be seen
whether under American pressure the
French will recede from the position
they have taken.
The moves OF the French Government
now are Influenced largely by the situa-
ton In the Chamber of Deputies, where
the treaty Is under criticism for not
being severe enough on Germany. The
Opposition in the Chamber not only
would prevent the annexation of Aus
tria but would have had Germany broken
up into several separate States again.
Back of the position which the Aus
TRANS now have assumed is the feeling
that Austria has been left a waif among
the nations and that the League of
Nations eventually not only must allow
this annexation but even must advo-
cate 1t for the good Of central Europe.
There is every reason to believe that
this is President Wilson's view and
that he has waived the self determine
tion principle in the case of Austria only
for the time being out of consideration
for French nerves. II is very evident
that the Americans are most unwilling
to countenance any use OF the Austrian
question A as an excuse for further
French advance into Germany, and
Under Secretary Folk is trying. pre-
sumably on the Presidents instigation.
to bring the parleying to a satisfactory
close. even II It is necessary to grant
an extension of time to Germany.
The final result in which France was
beaten by four to one in the vote on
the character of the reply to be made
was due to American insistence upon
their views. Secretary Polk presented
the draft of the note which probably
will be taken as the reply to the Ger
mans and the drafting committee now IL
working upon it. The council failed to
reach a formal agreement but a test
vote showed that the American note,
based upon the premises that the Ger
mans had made an argument which
which should be replied to in kind, had
the support of all but the French.
This is a distinct victory for the
Americans, but It does not imply that
the Germans in the end will not be
compelled to declare the Austrian clause
in the German constitution void It
does mean. however, that there will be
no advance by French troops at the ex-
piration of fifteen days, as the French
draft would have meant Instead the
negotiations will be continued and q
satisfactory outcome is expected.