Republican farmer., 1919-03-14

Cd as the result of reducing the
 Discussion of the subject was re- suned by the Supreme Council today, the basis for the debate being Mar -sual Fochs report on Premier Lloyd CeorEe's proposal to reduce Ger 11a1ly's armed force from 100000, as had been suggested, to 140,000 men, and to substitute voluntary for com r1lsory service. Marshal Foch ia vored the change, as the COnscriptOn plan providing for 100000 men serv- ing one year terms would have given Germany a trained army of two mill lion men in ten years.
 As against this, MT Lloyd-George proposed to fix the enlistment term at 12 years. Marshal Foch embod- led this in his report, which propos- ed an army of 140,OOO men, but the council finally adopted an amend ment further reducing th!s figure to 100000.
 One of Premier Lloyd Georges main purposes in substituting volun- tary farvice for the conscripion sys- tenn was to pave he way for the disappearance of the ConscriptiOn system throughout Europe, as 1t was believed the effect of the abolition of the system in Germany would be that the other European cOuntr a would generally follow 1t, thus ending the IT enace of large standing armies and their provocation to warfare
 The Council has already adopted t11e naval terms of the treaty, except for O few reserved provisions, which will be discussed tomorrow.
 The progress in the work of fran- ing the Peace treaty ensures com petition of the task by March 20. The first rough draft will be in read fness when President Wilson arrives in France on Thursday, and the revi- sion will be concluded before the goth. It is the present purpose of The Peace conferees to call the Ger mans to Versailles probably from March 22 to March 25. The docu- snent then will be delivered to the German delegates and In case they are not prepared to sign 1t at once they will be given opportunity to re- urn to Germany to consider 1t and re- turn for the formal signing at Yer sailles.
 This plan oOviates the necessity of holding se fions for debate at Yer sunles and restricts the functions to be conducted with the Germans to LL5 uGlIFSIG O4 LI1S dOSuLl4G ehAlNA their return for it's signature or such other action as they desire to take.
 It is known definitely that Count von Bernstor former German am bassador to the United States, will not be one of the German delegates at Versailles.
 The presence of Premier Lloyd George in Paris is permitting of daily conferences of the premiers of the powers as a sort of steering commit zee to direct the course of the main work of the conference The session his morning was attended by Pre- rniers CIemenceau and Lloyd George and Colonel T.. NJ House, represent tng President Wilson. Premier Or lando of | Ily will join the other pre- miers tomorrow, and when President Wilson arrives it Is expected that these conferences of the government heads will gradually take the place of the council of the Great Powers, which experience has shown to givC too much tine to speeches. The con ferences of the preniers, on the other hand, are providing an effective exec utive organization for the rapid dis charge of business. This rapidity in sures tho drafting of the peace within the limit fixed, a week from next Thursday.