The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-19
Allies Discuss Program for Pre-
liminary Peace for Hun.
Hope To Have 1t Ready for
Discussion by April.
OUTLINE READY FOR WILSON
Discussion of Boundaries Will
Take Up Time Now.
Several Allies Have Claims of
Territory for Examination.

Paris, Feb. 19.-American, British,
French and Italian delegates discussed
the program for a preliminary peace
today with the intention of having the
outline completed soon after President
Wilson's return to Paris. Belief was
expressed that the pact might be ready
for final discussion by the middle of
April.
The terms would include delineation
of German boundaries, definite estab-
lishment of her military, naval and
economic status and fiXation of the
amount of reparation and of the
method of payment.
Stop Conscription BY Hun.
One plan has been suggested and is
said to be meeting with favor for
abolition of CONSUMPTION in Germany
for period of ten years with Simul-
taneous reduction of her fleet This
not only would be expected to have a
good effect in Germany, where every
energy could be bent on rehabilitation
tions might find that conscription is
unnecessary and would lose the war
habit"
Further steps toward fixing a basis
for preliminary peace will be taken
in the new armistice conditions which
may be presented to Germany within a
week. These are expected to include
reduction of her army to twenty-five
divisions, possible dismantling of the
Rhine forts, prohibition of mobiliza-
ton on the west front, further reduc-
tion of her navy and the surrendering
of all submarines. More than a score
of Uboats which have been partially
built since the armiStice was signed
will have to be turned over to the al
lies. These craft are said to have been
constructed solely thru fear of the
government Of discharging the en-
ployes of the submarine works and
adding to the discomfort attendant OF
unemployment. There is a growing
sentiment for complete abolition of the
submarine as weapon of warfare
the Americans taking the view thai
it is a force that cannot be controlled
and if used is bound to be piratical.
i The length to which the sessions will
continue after the Germans are called
are hopeful of effecting- the peace
| settlement by June. allowing for de.
lays that possibly may be necessitate6
by the Germans desiring to refer
certain questions to their government
In the meantime, discussion oil
| boundaries in which the allies are con-
| cerned will continue. but it is moi
| necessary that an agreement will have
! been reached before the preliminary
peace plan is presented.
Case of Wilhelm Heard.
The committee on responsibility fol
the war was reported today to be en-
countering difficulties in considering
the case of the former kaiser, as there
is no precedent on which to proceed
The question of possible eXtradition
for instance, necessitates the closes
| examination. There is no desire tC
take action that might possibly result
in Wilhelm being cast in the role of g
martyr.
| The old strategic boundary idea ha.
again bobbed UP thru presentation OF
| Serbia'S claims. The Serbs want
stretch of territory fifteen to thirt,
kilometers (nine to eighteen miles)
wide along the Bulgarian frontier
claiEsing it necessary for protection O
an important railway line.
/ Italy's refusal to arbitrate her dis
pute with the Jugo-Slavs over Dal
malta has not created a ripple, as i
is based on the grounds that all terri
torial claims will be examined by th'
conference and that there is no reasor
why special rule shall be made il
this specific case