Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-24
Purpose OF Proposal |. To
i Prevent Confusion Among
!. The Beligerent Nations
Which Might Fix Different
. Date. In Various Rati6ca- i
tions.


ated Press.)-A clause has been
drafted for insertion in the peace
treaty fixing the date for the transit
ton to a state Of peace sixty days aft
er the signing Of the treaty. II the
treaty is signed about May Is, peace
thus will become effective through
out the; world on July Is.
The purpose Of this provision is to
prevent confusion among the more
than twenty belligerent nations.
which might. AK different dates in
tneir various ratifcahons. According
to the present plan each nation will
ratify the treaty according to it's own
laws but all will unite in a common
date which will become universal
daya;6 peace.
This follows the precedent estab-
lished at the conclusions of previous
wars but it is increasingly necessary
In the present case,, owing to the large
number Of nations signing the treaty.
It is being considered whether the
United States, as an associated power,
but not an ally. should sign separate
treaty Of peace with Germany 1t
would be the same treaty as that
signed by the Allies and would be
signed at the-same time as part of the
same ceremony but the effect Of the
the position, Of the United States as
an associated instead OF an Allied
power and would be direct engage
ment between the United States and
Germany instead Of between the
United States and a large number OF
other Allied powers.
Count Won Brockdorff-H Hantzau, in
his last reply, stated that the German
plenipotentiaries had been designated
with the idea that pourparlers will
occur simultaneously with the deliv-
cry of the preliminaries of peace" "
This expectation to engage in discus
sions from the outset is leading to a
careful scrutiny of President Will
sons ia points, as intimations have
been received that the chief discus
sion will be whether the treaty ac-
cords with those, points,. One expert
engaged in this scrutiny says the prin-
fifth point, relative to the German
colonies, and the second. which apro-
vides for. .free, open and absolute
freedpm of the sean.''; ~ sy52.9:
The Afth point provides for "free,
. open an& ahaplntelys impartial adjust
The. treaty ends aerna1y's control
In uSE 1OII8aStsFss, OhUAAe6,E WALL tuo
league Of nations estab blishing manda-
tories. Whether this accoris with the
provision for free and open adjust
ment" Is expected to figure in the
pourparlers. The second point con-
corning the freedom Of the seas, has
not figured during the discussion of
the treaty and the attitude to be final
" adopted has not been announced.
One Of the men drafting the treaty
has expressed the belief that 1t would
be impossible to complete the instru-
ment in time for the arrival Of the
Germans and that it might even take
until May is to consummate the tre-
mendous task. This leads to some dis
cussion Of presenting parts of the
treaty already completed such as the
league Of nations and the reparations
provisions but is understood that
President Wilson and Premier Lloyd
George insist that no parts be pre-
sented by themselves and that the en-
tire document be presented. This
may lead to some revision in plans for
the delivery Of the treaty with Ger
many and there may be a brief period
of inaction until the document il
ready. } =