New-York tribune., 1919-01-29

tional Council and an increase
in the number of members of
the government from seven to
nine.
East and the Pacific and on those in
Africa.
"The representatives of the do
minons were present at these two
sessions, the representatives of
China at that in the morning, and
the Marquis Salvage CItaly) at that
in the afternoon. In the morning
tnc delegates Of Australia, New
Zealand. China and Japan were heard.
an the afternoon Henri Simon,
French Minister OF the Colonies, cx-
planned the views of his department
on colonial questions.
'In addition the fundamental prin-
ciplcs OF the league of nations and
their application were considered.
"Thc next meeting will take place
tomorrow at II o'clock"
Financial considerations have en-
tered largely into the discussion Of the
Observation-Disclosures OF the German col
cnie, which have been generally re-
gardcd as the chief asset of Germany
in settling war claims. While Japan
has made it clear that she is willing to
return the actual territory included in
the kiaoChau concession to China she
desires to retain the German railways,
mines and other valuable concessions
in Shantung province to reimburse her
for wa~ expenses.
Fear They Couldn't Collect.
Australia has advanced similar rea-
son for claiming the New Guinea ISL
ands, and New Zealand for claiming
Samoa. Japan's claims to the Marshall
and Caroline groups are supported on
the same grounds, and a similar reason
is offered for the actual trans rer Of the
German African colonies TO members Of
the Entente.
China objects to having the conces-
sions which Germany forced from her
transferred to Japan sin settlement Of
the war claims Of an ally, while it is
asserted that President Wilson opposes
actual annexations and insists upon the
! nter-nationalization Of all the Pacific
and African German colonies
But under an internationalization
plan the Entente powers apparently
are unable to see how their claims
against Germanay would be met and
objection has been raised that if actual
transfer Of the colonies is not made
to certain powers in settlement of war
! claims the chief asset Of Germany
would be eliminated, as the nation to
whose guardianship the colonies was
entrusted by the league of nations
could not consider them as its property.
Labor Issue to Fore
The American delegation TO the peace
conference, it appears, has decided to
keep the question Of labor to the fore
rs far AS possible in the conferences.
President Wilson and Colonel Z. NJ
House have arranged for meeting Of
American labor men to be held to-
morrow to formulate the programme
to be pushed.
Before to-days session of the coun-
Gil, and between the morning and after
noon gatherings, President Wilson
had several engagements, among them
one with Samuel Gompers and another
with NJ. Delacroix. Belgian Premier.
Tnc conference with Gompers was ex-
pected to develop consideration OF
some Of the provisions of labor
which American labor interests are
anxious to have written into the peace
settlement. The talk with the Belgian
Premier was understood to concern
generally Bc!giums interests before
the conference, including the ques-
tions of reparation and colonial
claims.
Wilson's Homecoming Discussed
AS the work Of the peace conference
proceeds it is becoming evident that
there was full justification for the
earlier forecasts that nothing more
than broad general outlines and funda-
mental principles would be decided
upon before President Wilson's de-
parture for home next month.
The state Of the conferences work
to-day, it now appears, does not war
rant prediction as to whether he will
return to Europe after the closing
OF the congress session. This uues-
ton probably cannot be decided until
the last few days of his present visit.
Prof. Lord on Polish Mission
The American members or the COM
mission created by the peace confer
ence to visit Poland were named TODAY.
They are Major General Francis j. ker-
nan, for the army, and Professor Rob
crt H. Lord, of Harvard University, the
American peace commissions expert ON
Russia and Poland.
1t is expected that the commission
will leave for Poland next week.
The second French member of the
commission, according to The "Temps."
is General Niclsel, former chief of the
French military mission to Russia.
Joseph Noulens, the French Ambassador
to Russia was nan1pJ voc4orio,, q l,o