Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-05-12
LABOR MATTER
AND PRISONERS
AREDECUSSED
Italian Foreign Minister and
Colonel House Hold
...a
Conference.

~SAO4x~4 4AS00S 4O40
n Conference.
Paris, May 12.-(Havas)-The
peace conference leaders are report
ed by the newspapers to have decided
upon the terms Of the reply
to be made to the two notes sent to
President Clemenceau of the peace
conference on Saturday evening by
Count Won Brockdorff Rantzau. The
first of these notes asked that there
the repatriation of prisoners. In his
second note the Germans advanced a
counter project as to International la
Dor legislation.
According to the newspapers the
basis of the second note is labor
charter inspired by the conference at
Leeds and Berne. and they argue that
cialists an opinion favorable to Ger
many by putting in direct collabora-
ton the working classes and the pres
ent government of that country.
Paris. Sunday. May 11.-(By the
dorf- -Rantzau, German foreign minis
ter and chief of the German peace
delegation. in addressing a note to
Premier Clemenceau relative to the
repatriation of prisoners asks that tho
details of the transfer be entrusted to
commissions.
The German foreign minister states
that the German peace delegation has
noted with satisfaction" that the
draft of the treaty recognizes in prin-
ciple the repatriation of German war
and civilian prisoners with great ex-
pedition and says that special COM
missions might carry on direct oral
discussions which would include all
belligerent states, it being pointed out
that even during hostilities this has
proved a most effective way Of solv-
ing the difficulties.
The note says that this work should
be much easier. now that the war is
over and would remove differences of
conception or lack of clearnees on
particular points, such as legal con-
ceptions in individual countries. The
German delegation. it is said. conBid-
ers it indispensable that those war
and civilian prisoners detained or un-
dergoing punishment for other than
disciplinary offenses should in prin-
ciple be included among those to be
unconditionallv repatriated.
Regarding war and civilian prison
ers of Allied and associated powers In
it's hands," the note says. Germany
has recognized the same principle. It
: appears self evident to the Gershxne
delegation therefore that on grounds
Of fairness certain alleviations in the
! treatment of prisoners should be
agreed upon pending their return
/ The note proceeds: ~
| I'm a one-sided manner. some feel
! the stipulations have been made in
favor of the Allied and associated
! governments. For instance, those re-
! garding the surrender of personal
property the search for missing OBJ
! jects and the care of graves might
! be cited"
! Since Germany's economic position
| prevents her by her own strength
from providing the requisite guaran-
! tees. the delegation suggests that the
deliberations of the commissions
far it would be possible on the part
of the Allied and associated govern
! ments to help Germany in the mat
] ter and for example in return for
the repayment of the cost to provide
the prisoners with new outfits. under
clothing. civilian suits and boots be-
! fore their return.
The note concludes: Accept. Herr
President, the expression Of my most
particular esteem"
In his note dealing with labor ques-
| tions, Count Won Observation-Disclosures
I says that the German government
agrees with the Allied and associated
| governments that the greatest atten
ton must be paid to those problems
Internal peace and human prog
ress depend on how these questions
are handled the note says The
! demand for social justice repeatedly
drawn up in this connection by work
ers of all lands only, partly find en-
dorsement in principle in this section
| Nf no m of
the peace terms. These high demands
have for the most part already been
i carried out in an admittedly exem-
plary fashion in the German en-
pire."
Referring to the draft Of an agree
ment on international labor complied
by the German government and pro-
posed by the German League Of Ma
tions the note says: I'm order in the
interest of all Of humanity, to put
these principles everywhere into prac-
tice the acceptance of the German
delegations proposal is certainly
requisite. We consider it necessary
agreement, even if they do not belong
to the League Of. Nations.
TN order to assure the workers
for whom these proposed improve
ments are destined, cooperation in
shaping these principles the German
! Qel6SdL1Ou ,COUS1OcIS ~ necessary
convoke representatives Of the nation :
al organizations of the labor unions
of all the contracting parties to a con-
ference at Versailles, even during
peace negotiations. to deliberate and
make decisions on International labor
law. 1t considers 1t would be advan-
tageous that the proceedings Of this
conference be based on decisions
reached at the international trades
union conferences held at Berne from
February to February 3, 1919. We
append a copy of these decisions
which have been accepted by the rep.
resentatives of trades union organin-
tons in Bohemia, Bulgaria, Denmark
Germany. Great Britain. France
Greece, Holland. Italy. Canada, Nor.
way. Austria. Switzerland. Sweden
Spain and Hungary. We have beer
charged to do this BY the union .o1
lGermany.".
Hold Cunierence.
Paris, May 12.-Baron Sonnino. The
Italian foreign minister. held q confer
ence today with Colonel e. NJ. Housl
! OF the American Deace delegation
The conferees went over the ItaliAE
situation with view TO reaching I
basis OF Adjustment before the Aus
frians arrived. s55 ST. Z 3a 4
The conference took plAce q /
luncheon in which Colonel HOUSE, wol
the Italian diplomats gus0G
Diocun N01eA
rArfA,sM 1.-THE council ~ Noe
Of the peace confershcs MT ~
~