The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-16
2 MAIN QUESTIONS
HOLDING UP TREATY
Naval. Military and Air Terms
Settled; Rcparations and,
Indemnities Undecided.
STATUS OF COMMITTEES
League Conferees Only Ones to
Report So Far-Many
Problems for Others.
Special Cable Despatch TO TIE Sun from ths
London Times Service.

London Times Service.
Copyright. 1919; all riohfs reserved.
PARIS, March 15.-President Wilson
has returned to find the labors toward
peace very considerably advanced. II IL
true that a vast number of questions arc
still In suspense; that OF the i've COM
mittees appointed by the conference only
that on the League OF Nations has had
It's report discussed by a plenary confer
ence: that OF the other committees ap-
pointed by the Council OF Ten TO con-
slider territorial questions affecting tho
smaller nations of the alliance only
those dealing with Poland. Czecho-slo-
vakia and Greece are ready. The Bel
gian Commission, TO which also has been
referred the question Of Schleswig, is
drafting Its report. and the Rumanlan
Commission, which also has Serbian
questions within its competence has not
yet reached that stage
President Wilson nnds that the naval,
military and air terms Of the preliminary
peace treaty. as the result OF two months
conversation and upward OF fifty meet
ings OF the Council OF Ten, have been
settled. While. doubtless, in conversa-
tons between Premier Clemenceau,
Lloyd George and Col House, the west
ern frontiers OF Germany have been
practically agreed to, there II still no re-
port on the subject from the Central
Territorial Committee. whose duty II II
to look upon the territorial question
from world point of view.
In the preliminary peace treaty which
will have 10 be signed by Germany as
well as her allies there are five main
points. The naval. military and air
terms have been agreed to, but Il will
also have to include some mention OF
rnaa tINf Ia o.. a
atrocities and some general Indication.
at the very least as to the amount to
be demanded Of Germany, particularly
in the shape OF reparaticns and In
IDENTITIES
Preparations Plan Undecided.
This question Of reparations and IN
IDENTITIES is really In many respects
the most important TO be settled The
peace meetings in Paris have. like other
ASSEMBLIES and bodies, followed the
line OF least resistance and have left 70
the last the consideration Of the thorni-
est problems. AS far as France is con-
cerned-and II Is true to some extent
or other countries-this question 4 OF
reparation Is all important,
1t would be well for the moment TO
pay no attention to various figures
which are mentioned as representing al
lied claims Of this nature upon Ger
many. No figure has yet been fxed.
The French. quite naturally and justin
ably are urging that reparation for
war damage shall have priority over
claims for indemnity on account of war
debt With equal Justice other countries
or the alliance are taking the opposite
view OF the questions.
Indeed, certain statesman, who
snail DO nameless and who Is specially
interested in indemnities, when asked
how the matter stood replied by quot
Ing the story about a farmer named Joe
Thomson, who having had to call in a
veterinary surgeon to attend one OF
his cows said TO him in discussing his
fee: 'Tt It's a calf you'll get IL, but II
It's only cows Imagination you'll only
get 10 shlllings."
This financial question is OF the very
greatest Importance and delicacy, and in
It alone lies perhaps the seed OF further
delay in drafting the terms of preiimi-
nary peace. for no peace, preliminary or
other, can be helpful which does not in.
clude some provision for reparatIon, al
any rate by the Germans. for the dam
age done. The French view Ia that Il IL
all very well TO try to night Bolshe vism
in Germany by letting the Germans
have food so long as you do not encour-
age similar movement IN France by
failing TO exact from the Germans the
utmost they are capable OF paying.
Might Divide Indemnity Pro Rata
Other countries OF the alliance are
taking the opposite point Of view. VIVA;
may probably be done ia this: That an
estimate will be formed OF total ca
pacity OF Germany to compensate the
world for damages inflicted upon II and
an allotment Of the sum obtained among
various allied countries vii! be left over
for later consideration.
1t would be well that the importauc.
Of The German situation should not draw
public attention entirely away from the
fact that within a very short space OF
time tho Allies will also present pre-
limirary peace treaties to the Cernans
allies Presumably the principles urged
by Premier Lloyd George for the dis.
armament OF Germany. which have beer
adopted by the Council OF Ten, but have
rot yet taken their final form, will b,
adapted for inclusion in the preliminary
Ieace treaty with Germany's allies.
Those preliminary peace treaties prob
ably will not be completed as quickly
as will that which the Allies will presen
to Germany. There arc a number n,