The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-04-21

in progress.
| Draft Reply in Halt Hour.
Berlin, April a1.--(A, PD-Tbe
cabinet devoted less than half an
hour to the formulation of its an :
swer to the entente's invitation to
F., Versailles for the purpose of receiy-
ing a draft OF the peace terms. A
feeling of gloom prevails in ofricial
ciic'es tonight and the Associated
Press is told there are no illusions az
to obtaining any mitigation In the
dictatorial peace awaiting Germany
The procedure OF the counc.. OF
four came as a surprise, notwith-
standing the fact that the news for
the past week foreslladov'ed it., and
1t is interpreted in cabinet circles
and at the foreign affairs Office an
final proof that the entente is disn-
clined forthwith to enter into nego-
tiations based on President Wilson's
fourteen points" and that the terms
awaiting Germany are cut and dried
| The German emissarles will mere
/ ly have instructions to carry the
peace document back to Berlin. The
question whether the present gov
ernment will assume the responsible
ity of accepting or rejecting the
terms, or whether At win presen'
them FOR a national referendum. is {
matter of conjecture. Official opinion
80 far as adduced. Was opposed L
the declara ton of referendum and
in favor of a perelnptory declinatior
of peace terms based on any other
proposition than Mr.. Wilson's plat
! form, as the present temper of the
German workingmen is anti capital :
istic and anti-imperalistic and the
bourgeoise is In full accord with the
proletariat.
Not Flirting With Plebiscite.
The present government, 1t has
been learned. Is not flirting with the
idea of a plebiscite. as II would much
rather negotiate peace and set the
country at work. But il is also GU
scious that peace settlement in
which Germany has not had a voice
would precipitate a storm of national
resentment. which no cabinet could
weather.
The communication from the en-
tente powers was received here last
Friday and the German answer was
wired back Saturday afternoon.
Philip Scheidemann. the chancellor,
called in representatives of the Ger
man press at o'clock Saturday
evening and informed them of the
governments action. The public
received it's first Information as to
events on Easter morning.
Decide to Gust Managers.
Berlin, April Eta. P)-Taking
advantage of the new prerogatives
given them. the miners of upper Sile-
sia have decided to oust half a dozen
managers and directors from office
at some of the largest Silesian mines.
Gas Workers Strike.
Copenhagen, April 2i.--Gas work
ers at Bremen have Joined the gen.
eral strike there and the middle
classes have commenced a counter
strike, according 10 advices received
! here from that city. An intensified
state of seige has, therefore, been
declared.
Won't Receive Mere Messengers.
Paris, April 2l.-(A. PO-The
council of four has notified Germany
| that the associated powers cannot
receive representatives at Versailles
who are merely messengers. The
Germans must appoint representa-
tives with plenipotentiary powers.
Surprise Over Personnel.
! Paris, April 21.--A statement is
sued Sunday afternoon by the Havas
News bureau, a semi official agency,
SAYS surprise has been manifested
over the fact that Germany did not
select more important men for her
peace delegation than Minister Ha-
MEL Won Haimhausen, Herr Won
Keller Ernst Schmidt, Herr REIN
ker and Herr Luders, and also that,
according to the German note, they
will have power only to receive the
/ text Of the terms and not to sign the
treaty.
II was declared. the statement
adds, that "in these circumstances
the sending of these delegates to Ver-
sailles would be useless"
Grave Doubts Expressed.
Paris, April 21.-Grave doubts were
expressed today whether the per-
fected peace treaty would be pre-
sented to the German representatives
the coming Friday. While the treaty
will he communicated to them In
substance, 1t vas said in well in
formed quarters that it would be
physically impossible to prepare the
document in its complete, final form
in the four days remaining.
Premiers Lloyd George, Clemen-
ceau and Orlando met again this
morning in NJ. Clemenceau's office
and resumed consideration of the
Adriatic question. President Wilson
again absented himself from the con-
ference.
The German reply to the ulti-
n1atuun Of the council Of four that
il will not receive any German
delegation not fully empo~sred
to conduct and negotiate peace
is awaited anxiously IN peace
conference circles. The next
steps toward peace depend on
the German reply.