New-York tribune., 1919-03-03
( eace News Kept
3 ccret TO Balk
German Schemes
House and Balfour Have
Conferences Cupidi!y of
Prussia Arouses Paris TO
Urge a Rhine Barrier
Ncm York Tribune
.SDcrinI Cnhlc Scrl.lc..

Ncm York Tribune
Special Cablc Scrrice
tcopsrght. 1919 New York Tribune IncD
PARIS, March 9. On the eve Of the
most critical week in which the chief
questions OF the peace conference arc
to be discussed lack of news of prog
rcss indicates tho Importance which
the conference attaches to The neces-
slty of preventing Germany from be-
coming acquainted with the trend of
its deliberations.
Colonel House and Arthur J. Bal
four were together for while this
afternoon and Premier Clemenceau
conferred with General Foch and Gen
eral Petain.
Tomorrow will be devoted to dis
oussion Of military problems, to which
IS attached the question Of the block
ado. The necessity Of raising it. if
disaster is to be ,avorted in Germany,
becomes increasingly obvious
Prussian Policy Opposed
"Le Temps this evening discusses
the Rhine question, indicating that in
Germany two tendencies arc observed.
There Is the German tendency, which
moves toward founding on both banks
of the Rhine Rhino- Westpnnlinn
state, and Prussinn tendency, which
seeks to retain the left bank of tho
Rhine. US well as the right, within
the borders Of Prussia.
ut is hardly necessary to say the
German tendency would never have
dared TO show III relief If the Allies
had not been victorious and il they
didn't now occupy Khenish Prussia
lie Temps" attributes the persia
tencc Of the Pruasian tendency TO The
love Of ucro, for the Rhine popula-
tons ask thcrsclvcg whether under
another regime they would have tho
same facilities for cnriching them
selves, And above all, the rest Of
Prussia docs not wish TO give up the
abundant resources which the Prus-
sian state draws from the Rhcnish
lands.
Prussa's Claims Denounced
In tho interest of peace and civiliza-
tIon, lie Temps urges the Allies to
avoid anything favoring the Prussian
Prussia the left bank of the Rhine and
leave the right bank. Wouldn't that
make the Prussian state the head of
the German irredentists? HASN'T the
khlne problem two aspects a military
aspect, which forces us to make the
Kline strategic barrier, and a politi-
cal aspect, which should counsel us to
help toward the formation of Rhino-
Westphaian state 2"
British Foreign Minister Balfour told
the representatives OF the press last
night that seven weeks hence some
thing, great and substantial will be ac-
comphshed by the peace conference,
and we will be faced by the prospect of
satisfactory though daring solution
OF the colossal task before the con-
terence. Thus, the programme appears
to be sufficiently indicated.
plcnary session Of the con-
terence probably will take place March
Zo, after which summons will be sent
to the Germans early in April to come
here to sign the terms of peace. and
Mr.. Balfour's indication permits the
assumption that German compliance
VIII be forthcoming during the last
week in April
German Fleet Not Discussed
M. Pichon to-day had his weekly talk
with the newspapermcn at the Ouai
d'orsay, M. Pichon declared that the
question of the disposition of the Ger
man fleet had not yet been brought
before tho peace conference.
Tho questions connected with the
klel Canal, as to whether it should or
should not be intcrnationaized or if
other measures should be taken to
remove the strategic value of the
waterway to Germany, also had not
yet been discussed
The conference committee on do
limitation of enemy frontiers is pro-
crossing rapidly with its work, thus
bringing the important boundary feat
ure or the peace terms into line with
the military plan which already has
been prepared Discussion Of the
economic problems involved in the set
tlement of pence is still proceeding.
A new phase of this part of pcacc
negotiation has been introduced bv
the formation Of yet another peace
conference commission to study the
question of general reconstruction
schemcs TO be worked out under tho
society of nations. This commission
is also tnking UP financial aspects Of
certain treaties which would be ab.
rogated automatically by The creation
OF the international league. The pur.
pose IL to arrange an equitable set
t!ement Of purely financial provisions
IN these troutics