The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-03-17
FINAL.
ACTIr
0DAY
Military Ter Peace Treaty
WrittenS Afternoon
by Supreme War
Council.
TWO MONTHS TO RATIFY
Armistice Terms Continue Effective
Until Treaty Has Been Finally
Adopted by All
Nations.
TBy Fred S. Ferguson, United Press
Staff CnrrASnOndent.l


Staff Correspondent
PARIS. March l7.-Final action on
the military terms Of the prliminary
peace treaty with Germany was TO
be taken by the supreme war coun-
ell this afternoon. The treaty Will
be presented to the Germans about
March 25, according to general
opinion today. This slight disar-
rangement OF previous plans Is due
to the necessity for Premier Lloyd
George to return to England the last
of this week He is expected to re-
turn to Paris next Monday
While the forth coming treaty with
Germany is termed parliamentary, it
is to all intents and purposes final.
1t fixes that country's military and
naval status, defines it boundaries
and disposes of the questions of rep
Grafton and economic freedom. 1t
will not be effective however, until
It is ratified by all or a fixed per
centage OF the signatory nations!
The period for ratification by the
allied nations may be at least forty
to sixty days. This will give an OPP
portunity for the calling of a special
session of the American congresses,
enabling the senate to act. Germany
probably will be given much
shorter period in which to accept the
terms.
Following this preliminary peace
with Germany there will be separate
treaties with Austria, Turkey and
Bulgaria; then the general treaty
which will clean up all loose ends,
coordinate the separate pacts, estab-
Icb ror al iy1i iY1cp n tnr-nl1jp1 hn1In-
daries, etc.
1t was apparent today that some
of the peace delegates have over
looked the resolution passed by the
plenary session of the peace confer
enoe cited by President Wilson Sat
urday, as statements from French
and British sources during the past
few days have been to the effect that
the league will not be included in
the preliminary peace.
The apparent assumption that only
the final treaty can carry the league,
proba bly, has been influenced by
American opposition rather than
European, according to the opinion
prevailing in American circles here
The president, following issuance Of
his statement that the league will be
lllCluuCo Ill llic II tdLyB tohiOAiSu W LII
Lord Cecil yesterday to discuss the
program for handling the work OF
completing the league constitution
simultaneously with framing the
| treaty.
Backers of the plan for including
the league in the preliminary treaty
pointed out today that the present
covenant was drawn up IN thirty
working hours and that even If num-
erous amendments are submitted the
final draft can be quickly perfected.
1t is believed, however, that when
the time comes for submitting amend
ments there will be comparatively
few.
Neutral nations, in response to the
invitation to have representatives
confer with the league committee
here March 20, already have been be-
gun selection of their delegates.
Sweden Is understood to have picked
Hjalmar Branting, socialist leader.
| Between the date of submission OF
I the preliminary treaty to Germany
and it's ratification by the allies, the
J armistice terms will continue effec-
/ tive. Germany's commerce will be
regulated according to the agree
ment reached at the recent Brussels
conference. The blockade commits
sion was scheduled to submit to the
/ supreme economic council today, it's
recommendations for easing the
blockade of Germany and Austria.
The war council also was expected
/ to discuss recommendations of the
allied commission to Poland this
afternoon. 1t was believed the coun
Gil will approve establishment of q
/ Corridor" sixty miles wide, running
northward to Danzig, cutting off
(Coptinuad on mage cA