Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-04-08
PRESIDENT MAY
LEAVE PARIS IN
NEAR FUTURE
Continued From Page Ons.)

has confined him also to his bed
A morning session of the council
was, therefore, impossible.
1t was then determined to have
the council meet at Lloyd Georges
residence, so as to be near him. and
here the session began at $3.50 this
afternoon with Premier Clemenceau,
Premier Orlando, Colonel House
and all the financial experts present.
Reparations was again the chief
issue and although settled in the
main principle, a number of essen
tial details still remained open.
One of the American experts
summed up the situation as he en-
tered the meeting, saying: A.
The chances are favorable to an
agreement, but we have not agreed
yet"
Spread Payment Over Years.
The principles which seem to be
settled are that PREPARATION and res
toration shall be in accordance with
the presidents seventh and eighth
points, and the allies reply to the
presidents note, and also that the
actual damages and destruction shall
be the main basis for estimating
the damages and that the commits
sion shall formulate categorics or
classes of these damages. Payment
is to be spread over a period of
years, without specific total being
fixed and the initial payments prob
ably will be required within the first
two years.
At the close of the councils ses-
sion it was stated that no agree
ment had been reached on tepara-
tons or other subjects. and that the
discussion on reparations would be
resumed tomorrow with President
Wilson probably present
The extreme tension was evidently
a result of discussions and it is be-
lieved throughout the conference
that another critical stage has been
reached. One of the most re-
sponsible authorities associated with
President Wilson said that he would
not be surprised if American partici
patton was brought to an early close
if the delays over details were car
ried much further.
The differences still remaining on
the subjects of frontiers and repara-
tons are comparatively light, he
added, and yet these slight differ
ences are so persistently maintained
as to threaten to create prolonged
delays, which the president and
American delegation ARE not willing
to accept.
Principles at Stake.
The president was described by
one who saw him during the day as.
standing firm in his determination
to make no further concessions. He
insists that the principles which
were definitely agreed upon at the
time of the armistice are at stake.
There is little doubt that the pres
ident's stand has been made known
to the other members of the council
but since his illness he has not per
sonally conferred with any of them,
excepting Colonel House.
The existing tension led to many
reports of decisive action which the
American delegation was said to be
about to take. These reports were
more or less exaggerated, yet all
seemed plausible in view of the pres
ident's determined attitude.
Some of the presidents closest
intimates had not been informed tina t
the steamer George Washington had
been sent for, while others were of
the opinion that the summoning of
the steamer would be accepted as an
intimation by the allied leaders that
delays must be brought to speedy