The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-17
ATTITUDE OF THE POWERS
How They Stand on the Peace
Treaty With Germany.

Paris. April 1.-THE attitude of
the five great powers toward the
peace situation today appeared to be
as follows:
notified to appear in Versailles on April
p, the treaty must be whipped into shape
as speedily as pc sstble-always keeping In
Great Britain-Premier Lloyd George. in
his address to parliament yesterday, made
plain that the allies have reached COM
plete understanding on the great funda-
mental peace questions" The British are
In favor Of quick peace. so song as ami:
able relations are maintained among all
the allies.
France-The country is strongly behind
evidenced by the vote of confidence in the
present government passed by the cham
ber of deputies yesterday. so to 1GG.
continues to stand by Its territorial claims,
based ON the pact of London. reiterating
its threats that it will withdraw. ualess
awarded Fiume. In this connection the
Americans insist that all secret treaties
were nullified by notifications of the arlni-
italian aspirations win be settled without
a rupture
reply to their cable to Toxic asking in
structions from the Japanese government,
but expect to bring up their racial equal
ity amendment to the league of nations
covenant at the next plenary session when
the covenant will be openly debated
France Gained Some.
Considerable mystery continues to sur
round the statement made to the United
Press yesterday that France has gained
stronger guarantees of protection in the
event she should again be attacked by Ger
many than any that have heretofore been
provisions of the league of nations.
WHAT these guarantees are is being kept
secret. but from additional Information OBJ
tanned today it would seem that some form
of an alliance" has been agreed to.
Whether this takes the form Of a de-
fensiye agreement, under the league of ma
of allied powers will be continued until
Germany complies with all the peace terms,
it was not learned, however. 1t was
pointed out in connection with a possible
defensive alliance, that nothing In the
league covenant prevents such an agree
ment
Article Of the covenant is intended to
obviate the necessity for such agreements
but if group of nations desires a de-
fensive alliance, in addition to the league
charter, they could formulate such n
treaty so long as it did not interfere with
the laws of the league. 1t would, of course,
the league and made public. thus safe
guarding the world against secret often
sive alliances" What part America has
in the guarantees to France, if any, could
not be aScertained.
One of the explanations advanced was
that the entente treaty as it stands. he
| the league of nations, wherefore a new
agreement guaranteeing enforcement OF
tion for France while the league begins to
| function and France is recovering from
the war, was found to be unobjectionable
Wilson Opposed 1t,
President Wilson, it Is understood, OPP
| posed the French proposal for a formal
alliance when it came up before the big
! affords sufficient guarantees. Whether he
| opposes an AngIo-French alliance. is not
! known, but it is certain TINT both the
| British and French want America I'm
| Guided in any defensive scheme.
Announcement of just what these new
, guarantees consist of is expected within
! day or two, when Premier C9emenceau
! addresses the chamber of deputies
The big FOUR in addition to consider
cussing the question of manufactures uni
der the league of nations. Both the Brit
1 ish and French are understood te3fav6f
| designation of the United States as manda-
| tory for Constantinople and Armenia.