The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-01-25
CHIEF EVENTS
TAKE FORM As
COUNCIL meets
Discuss Claims on Conquered
German Colonies
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
Some Of Most Difficult Questions Are
Before Peace Conference for
Solution.
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

Paris. Jan 24.--A series Of lnterna.
tional events of the highest order
took form today at meetings of the
council of the great powers and the
military commands on all the fronts
These may be summed up as follows:
First-The issuance OF solemn
warning to the world that the possess.
ion OF territory gained by force will
seriously prejudice the claims OF
those who use such means and set up
sovereignty by coercion. The declara
tion was framed by President Wilson
Second-The appointment of a com
. mission of the highest military au-
thority. including the British minister
OF war Marshal Foch, General Diaz
and General Tasker Fl. Bliss to carry
forward early demobilization and es-
tablish proportionate allied and associ
ated forces OH the western front.
Third-Discussio OF territorial
claims on conquered German colonies.
New Zealand and South Africa on
German East Africa and the German
island groups of the Pacific.
Fourth-Approva OF the council of
the striking OF medal for all troops
taking part in the war.
Fiftr-Authorizatio TO VI. PichOn,
the French roreign secretary, to draft
instructions for the food mission
which Is about to proceed to Poland
Tho fnraoof,o ~, hrooo entna of
the most difficult questions before the
peace conference and with the pro
jected action for tomorrow on the
league OF nations. indemnities, pun
ishments, labor and international
highways. II goes far toward clearing
the slate OF most of the large subjects
before the conference.
While the solemn warning with re.
gard to the gaining OF TERRITORY by
sorce specified no cumtiiess' il tuAer-
ed broadly the warning clements in
the Ukraine and those around Wilma
and Lomberg, where bombardments
have occurred and also in the eau
casus. where the new Georgian repub-
lie is fighting the new Armenian re-
public: also Serbian inroads on Mon.
tenegro as well as territorial occu.
patton along tho eastern Adriatic ir
Thrace and in Poland
Some o! these situations already
have brought protests and other pro.
tests arc expected, so that tho great
powers decided to enunciatc the prin-
ciple that possession by force places
cloud on the title
The creation OF Il military commits.
sion 70; proportioning the troops ON
the western front brings the vigorous
figure of Winston Spencer Churchill
into the conference The sentiment
Of the council was strongly for de
mobilization with the least possible
delay. There is reason to believe al
so that the commission will carry out
The plans already before the var dc
.oartment In Washington for the re-
turn of American troops homewarl
as rapidly as transportation permits
and that there will be no increase in
the American proportion Of troops IN
the occupied regions.
While the hearing on the German
colonies was confined to the British
domlnionG. japan was represented In
tho council and expects to be heard
in due time concerning some of the
German Pacific group and Klau-Chow
It Is Understood thai tho British
contemplate an important proposal by
which such problems as the German
colonies, Mesopotania and Palestine
will be submitted to the league of ma
iions. in order to avoid loss of tim'
and territorial demands incompatible,
with the principles of the league