New-York tribune., 1919-06-07
Allies Likely
ToCive Foe 4
Days to Sign
Big Four's'' Reply Will Be
Virtually an Ultimatum;
Plea for Fixed Total of
Reparations To Be Denied

PARIS, June 6 (By The Associated
Press).-There are still many loose
ends to the determinations which must
be made before the reply of the Allies
to the German counter proposals can
be submitted to Count Won Brocku,rff-
Rantzau, head of the German plcnipo-
tentlaries, and even the question of
principle regarding changes in the
treaty has not been definitely settled.
Count Won Brockdorf- Rantzau left
Versailles this evening for Germany.
Positive instructions were issued to-
night by the council of four to all
commissions working on the reply to
the German counter proposals to COM
plete their reports by Monday
The reply to the counter proposals
will be submitted as an ultmatum with
short time limit, probably about four
days, in which Germany will have
either to take or leave the conditions
as offered her.
There are many evidences of impa-
tience among the prominent members of
the peace conference Premier Lloyd
George, because of division of opinion
and differences among the British ex-
perts working on reparations, is acting
as his own expert and is attending the
meetings of the reparat tions commission.
The Italians are showing great un-
easiness over the unsettled Adriatic
problem, as Premier Orlando insists that
it must be settled before the Italian
Parliament meets on June 18. The
council of four considered the Adriatic
problem to-day, but no decision was
reached
In French official circles there is
growing conviction that Germany will
not sign the peace treaty and this prob
ably accounts for the haste, as delay, it
is generally conceded, makes Germany's
signing less likely.
The most important modification un-
der consideration, namely, the ques-
tion of reparations, probably will not
involve any material changes in the
treaty as originally presented. The
concessions will, instead, be presented
in the form of supplementary agree
ment, defining the procedure for the
reparations commission and prescrib-
ing certain instructions for that body
which, according to the original draft
of the treaty, was given a most COM
prehcnsve power of action, subject
only to the instructions Of the powers
represented on the commission.
Will Dodge Fixed Totals
This new solution which is expected
to emerge from the deliberations of
the experts will dodge tixation of
to which the French object, on the
ground that announcement of any sum
which it is considered possible to exact
in payment would so disappoint the ex-
pectations of the French public as to
produce political upheaval.
1t also will evade the indefinite solu-
ton written into the draft of the treaty
which the Germans declared would
leave them toiling to pay off debt
the extent of which was unknown, and
with the population in virtual economic
slavery to the reparations commission
for the period of reparations under
Cii0C SAouoS ~ VIC eACdly ACquaIlhS 0CI-
many to devote her economic re-
sources directly to the physical re-
storation of the invaded areas of the
Allied and associated powers, to the ex-
tent that these powers may determine"
Seems Set In Certain Cases
The instructions TO the reparations
commission in the proposed supple
mentary agreement will enable the Ger
mans to know at once the amount of
reparations due under certain cate
gories" of reparations, such as pen
sions, separation allowances, main
tenance of war prisoners and the de-
struction Of ships at fixed figure a
ton.
The only general estimate on which
the French are willing to act would
bring the total to such high figure,
namely, 25o,ooO,o 100000 francs, as the
experts were quite generally agreed
was beyond Germany's power to pay.
1t is understood that the question
Of the plebiscite in Tipped Silesia vir-
tually has been decided affirmatively
No change with regard to respon-
sibilities, punishment of the former
Emperor or the disposition of the Ger
mRR colonies ~ regarded "a probable.