The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-05-16
NO MIDDLE GROUND,
ALLIES TELL TEUTONS

pleted the'task of defining them this
afternoon in session with the for
eign minister. Such progress was
made that the members of the Coun-
Gil believe that the Austrian treaty
may be completed this week. Nv
Although it is not stated in the
treaty, the new Austrian frontier is
the one designated by the secret
treaty of London, giving Italy all the
strategic heights and defensive pas
sages.
The Peace Conference leaders are
reported by the newspapers to have
decided upon the terms of the reply to
be made to the two notes sent to
President Clemenceau of the Peace
Conference on Saturday evening by
Count Won Brockdorff -Rantzau, chair
man of the German delegation.
accept or Reject Treaty.
The first exchange between Count
Won Brockdorff- Rantzau and the Al
lies was considered preliminary
skirmish to the main battle and dis
closes the allied position as, in effect;
Accept the treaty as it stands or
|
no middle ground"
This was the prevailing view today
in the American delegation to the
Peace Conference and in conference
circles generally after the four notes
had been analysed
The Council of Four today decided
to refer the German notes on labor
and war prisoners to experts for con-
sideration instead Of answering them
at once, as it did with the first two
communications from the German
delegation.
Count Won Brockdorff- Rantzau, in
addressing a note to Premier Clemen-
ceau relative to the repatriation Of
prisoners, asks that the details of the
transfer be entrusted to commissions.
Oral Discussions Urged
The German foreign minister states
that the German peace delegation has
NOTED with satisfaction" that the
draft of the treaty recognizes in
principle the repatriation of German
war and civilian prisoners with great
expedition and says that SPECIAL COM
missions might carry on direct. oral
discussions which would include all
belligerent states, it being pointed out
that even during hostilities this has
proved most effective way Of solv-
ing difficulties.
The note says that this work should
be much easier, now that the war is
over, and would remove differences of
conception or lack of clearness on
particular points, such as legal con-
ceptions in individual countries. The
German delegation, it is said, consid-
ers it indispensable that these war
and civilian prisoners detained are
undergoing punishment for other than
disciplinary offenses should in prin-
ciple be included among those to be un-
conditionally repatriated. "
Regarding war and civilian pris-
oners of allied and associated powers
in its hands," the note says, Germany
has recognized the same principle 1t
appears self-evident to the German
delegation, therefore, that on grounds
of fairness certain alterations in the
treatment of prisoners should be
agreed upon pending their return"
The note then proceeds: ain a one
sided manner, some feel the stipula-
tons have been made in favor of the
allied and associated governments.
For instance, those regardi6g the sur
render of personal property, the
search for missing objects and the
care of graves might be cited. 1t is
assumed that these questions demand
for complete reciprocity, if founded
on general human rights"
The note then refers to number
of minor points and proposes that de-
liberations by commission should be
begun speedily to clear up prelimin-
aries in readiness for the time when
shipping and similar difficulties may
be solved and the removal of the prs
oners may be possible. 1t alludes to
the Importance to Germany that the
prisoners return home under orderly
conditions, insuring their reinstate-
ment into economic life with the great
est possible dispatch, and says that
this seems only possible if everything
is done to "raise the moral and ply
steal state of those returning"
Allied Help Wanted
Since Germany's economic position
prevents her by her own strength
from providing the requisite guaran-
tees, the delegation suggests that the
deliberations of . the commissions
might extend to the question of how
far it would be possible on the part of
the allied and associated governments
to help Germany in the matter and
for example in return for the repay
ment Of the cost to provide the pris-
oners with new outfits, underclothing,
civilian suits and boots before their
return.
The note concludes: accept, Herr
President, the expressions of my most |
particular esteem"
In his note dealing with labor ques-
tons, Count Won Brockdorff- Rantzau
says that the German Government
agrees with the allied and associated |
governments that the greatest atten-
ton must be paid to these problems.
internal peace and human prog
ress depend on how these questions are
handled" the note says. "The de-
mand for social justice repeatedly
drawn up in this connection by work.
ers Of all lands only partly find in
dorsement in principle in this section |
of the allied governments draft of |
tha rouna far,,ar Thaeo L.r,l |