The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-01-27
COUNCIL OF TEN
RESUMES WORK
In Executive Session. Studies
Abolition of Conscription and
Reconstruction of Germany.
RAPID PROGRESS AHEAD
German Delegates May Be
Summoned to Paris Early
in April.

Paris, Jan. 27.--The supreme coun-
Gil of the peace conference met at
1880 o'clock this morning. There
was a full attendance of the mem
bers. A number of technical ad-
visers on colonial matters, including
three Americans. accompanied the
various delegations as they entered
the foreign office for the days ses-
sion.
The council OF ten, as the French
now call the ministers of the five
great powers, has before 1t for con-
sideration today in executive session
among other things the questions OF
territorial adjustments, the abolition
OF conscription and the economic re-
construction of Germany. These
questions. in accordance with the
settled method of procedure, will be
referred by the council to suitable
commissions.
There appears every prospect the
peace conference will make rapid
progress from now on with the work
of fixing the peace terms for Ger
many, as the conference appears to
have got into it's stride. A high
French Diplomatic authority Is quoted
by the Paris edition Of the London
Daily Mail as estimating that the
conference will have the peace terms
ready for submission for ratification
by the various national governments
between the middle and the end of
March. If this Is accomplished, the
German delegates will be summoned
to Paris early in April for the con-
clusion of the peace.
The delegates of the small powers
will meet at the foreign Office this
afternoon to choose their represent
atlves to sit on the commissions
provided for in the resolutions
adopted by the peace congress on
Saturday. It was understood this
morning that the great powers had
undertaken TO reconsider the de-
cision that the small powers shall
have between them only five mem
bers on these commissions. Without
waiting for a decision on this ques-
tion, however, the commission will
get to work at once.
Fate German Colonies.
One of the questions which 1t was
expected the council would take up
today was the ultimate fate Of the
German colonies, France and Great
|sBrftafns'it IS deeiered, are asfeed
upon at least one feature of the solu-
tion of the problem which is that
under no consideration shall the
colonies revert to Germany. The
reasons advanced for such a decision
are various, but prominent among
them is that it would render it i'm
possible for Germany to establish
submarine bases in her colonial pos
sessions. The American attitude is
as yet unrevealed.
A prominent official declared to the
Associated Press today that should
the Franco British viewpoint prevail
the German Kamerun would be taken
over by the French IN accordance
with an agreement reached by Great
Britain and France. Belgium lays
claim to that part of the Congo
which she conquered by force OF
arms, the Belgian troops having cap
tured Tabora and the territory lying
beyond the western slopes OF Lake
Victoria Nyanza. The Belgians also
desire a strip OF territory along the
left bank of the Congo. the delimita-
tion oN course To be settled amicabIy
with Portugal, territorial compensa
tion being given the latter.