Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-16
SCAPA FLOW ISSUE
TAKES NEW Berlin
EXPERTS TO PARIS
Supreme Council, Acting on
Note, Orders Conference
on Compensation.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PARIS, December ia new Ger
man delegation arrived In Paris this
morning to discuss compensation for
the sinking of the German warships
in Scapa Flow.
The delegation, which is presided
over by Councillor Seelinger. a mem
Der Of the commercial department OF
the German foreign ministry, consists
Of Rudolph Brohm. representative of
the Hamburg shipyards; Councillor
Bich of the ministry of public works
DR.. Pelzer. director of the Hamburg
American Line; DIR. Petens, director of
the Weser shipyards at Bremen: a
representative of the Hamburg gov
eminent and Paul Muller, represent
ing three groups of seamen. The
delegates arrived in a special car at
tached to the ordinary express train.
Takes Up German Note.
The German note in reply to the al
lied communication demanding the
signing Of the peace protocol was
taken up by the supreme council at
this mornings session. 1t was decided
that a meeting of allied experts with
the German shipping experts should
be held this afternoon. A portion OF
the German note was sent TO legal
experts for examination.
The councils consideration of the
German communication was of gem
eral nature. 1t was stated that re-
ply would be made after further eN-
animation of the document.
Method Of Compensation.
BERLIN, December 16.-The German
governments idea regarding compensa-
ton in the sinking of the Scapa Flow
fleet is to offer such harbor material
as can be spared without seriously dis
turbing Germany's economic life, &C
cording to the Morgen Post The re-
mainder of the amount OF tonnage de-
cided upon as compensation would be
delivered in installnents from the new
production Of the German shipbuilding
industry.
Features e& Note
PARIS, December is (by the AS
ISOLATED Press).-The German note in
reply to the entente, delivered TO
Paul Dutasta, secretary OF the peace
conference, today says:
The German government desires to
dissipate the misunderstanding that,
owing to the momentary absence OF
American delegates from the com
missions provided for by the peace
treaty Germany claimed modifca-
tions and dispositions of the treaty
concerning the eAtradition or per
sons charged with culpability in acts
contrary to military law or the re-
patriation of prisoners.
The German government, previous
to receiving the allied noto had al
ready explained the reasons why 1t
would appear necessary to modify the
conditions for the execution OF those
clauses, but the German government
never made its assent for the putting
into force of the peace treaty con-
ditional upon previous solution Oh
that question.
The German government maintains
its opinion that the best means 10
reach a solution of the Scapa Flow
incident would have been to submit
the case TO international arbitration
at The Hague. Such a measure ~oulu
not have delayed putting the treaty
into force or the signing OF the pro-
tocol thus modified.
DESTROYS. however. OF DONG ns
utmost for the early re-establishment
of peace, the German government de-
clares itself ready to make repara-
tions for the damages caused 10 the
allied and associated governments oy
the destruction of the ships
But the German government Is un-
able TO effect such reparations In the
,n,nner demanded by the protocol OF
November /, because the execution o.
the demands formulated in that pro-
tocol would compromise irretrieVapiy
Germany's economic life and also
render Impossible of execution the
other enormous obligations winch the
treaty imposes on Germany.
The German government VIII ior-
mulate. through experts. positive de-
tailed propositions showing MODE OF
reparation, which, although adding
new and heavy burden on Germany IN
its present situation, are not aito-
gether incompatible with its vital IN
terests."