Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-05-15
Delegates Arrive at st. Germain
to Learn What II Cost the
Dual Monarchy to Help Ger
many in World War
NO GERMANS PRESENT
Count Renncr, Leader Of Delegation,
Wears Pleasant Smile When He
AliGhts from Trnin-French Accord
Some Friendly Courtesy to ENJOYS
(B the Associated Pess.)


And now it is the turn of the Austrians
to learn from the allied governments what
is to be the cost to the former empire
Of its association with Germany and her
allies In the world war.
The Austrian delegates who are to re-
ceive the peace treaty drawn up by the
allied and associated governments have
arrived in the village of st. German, near
Paris, where they are to await the sum-
mons of the peace congress to appear
before it.
Unlike the reception given the Germans
on reaching Versailles, that accorded the
Austrians had some elements of friendly
courtesy on the part of the French rep
resentatives charged with the duty of
meeting the visitors. On the face of the
leader of delegation, Count Renner was
there was pleasant smile when he alight-
ed from the train, in contrast with the set
faces of all the Germans when they ar
rived at Versailles.
1t was evident that the request of the
Germans for permission to go to St. Ger
main and greet the Austrians had been
denied, for no Germans were present
When the first meeting of the Austrians
with the allied peace delegates is to take
place has not yet been announced.
u
to the suggestions Incorporated in notes
from the German delegates regarding
labor and the repatriation of prisoners.
Three additional German notes have
been delivered to the council, and Count
Won Brockdorff- Rantzau and his asso-
ciates are said to be drawing up fur
ther lengthy proposals looking to the
amelioration of the peace terms given
Germany.
One of the last notes of the Germans,
which deals with the economic clauses
of the treaty. asserts that enforcement
OF the terms will mean the ruin Of Ger
many. Another note touches on the
Sarre valley arrangement, the transfer
of German territory to Belgium and the
evacuation by Germany Of Schleswig.
No protest is made by Germany to
affording reparations for damages to
Belgium and northern France. but one
of the notes asserts that Germany will
not pay for damages OH the- e-principle that
she was responsible for the war.
A member each from the British,
| French, American, Italian and Japanese
delegations has been appointed by the
Council of Four to deal with the objec-
! tions and proposals of the German
| plenipotentiaries.
Efforts are being made by the British
peace delegation for the pooling, on the
basis of. tonnage lost during the war, of
| former German merchant vessels seized
by the allies Such distribution would
materially affect the ownership of Ger
man vessels, including some of Germany's
greatest transatlantic fliers, interned in
the United States prior to this countrys
entry into the war and which later were
seized. Poland is making claim to some
of the warships surrendered by Ger
many.
The Italians are declared to be landing
large forces on certain portions of the
Dalmatian coast, who are fortifying the
ridges and mountain passes to the east.