Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-01-10

LlI1cdLlOnS.
conference to take such action. be-
ing followed in succession by
France. Italy and Japan. The Unit
ea States alone of the "big five" has
rot ratified the treaty. AS the list
shows, formal ratifications have
been given by most Of the smaller
powers signatory to the treaty.
China did not sign the document
because of her objections to the
shantung provisions, but proclaim
ed a state Of peace with Germany.
The all-important ratification by
Germany was given on July 9, 1919.
the day following which President
Wilson presented the treaty to the
United States senate.
Treaty Signed June 2S.
The making Of the peace, which
now becomes effective. was begun
shortly after the conclusion of the
armistice Of Nov. IL, 1918. The
treaty. of Versailles, as it has be-
come known, was signed in the his
torlc Versailles palace on June 2t,
1919.
The treaty not only defines the
terms Of peace with Germany, but
contains the League of Nations
covenant and the provisions for the
international labor organization.
The document comprises Is
parts with numerous annexes. It
provided that as soon as It lad been
ratified by Germany and three OF
the principal allied and associated
powers. process verbal of the de-
Iosit of the ratifications should be
drawn, from the date of which the
treaty would come into force, as
between the powers which had rati-
ned 1t. The treaty will enter into
force for each other power at the
date of the deposit Of its ratifica-
tipn.
Terms Met In October.
In October last, a sufficient num-
her of powers had ratified the
treaty to comply with the require
ments for its effectiveness. Be-
cause of the sinking of the interned
German warships by their officers
and crews at Scapa Flow, however,
and the failure Of the Germans 20
live up to some Of the armistice
terms the allies on Nov. /, demand
cd that before the treaty was put
INTO effect Germany should sign a
protocol providing for reparation
for the destruction of the warshtps
and guaranteeing the carrying out
OF the armistice terms.
Since that time the question Of
the protocol and particularly the
reparation provisions in it have
under negotiation. 1t was only
within the last fortnight that the
situation began to clear, and an al
.ustment of the tonnage demands
upon Germany being reached.
Commissions Start Work.
With the taking effect Of the
treaty, a number OF commissions
created by it spring into existence
Tic League of Nations will begin to
junction by the calling of the first
meeting Of its council and prepara-
.ons will be hastened for the TAX
ing of plebiscites to determine
whether certain territories shall
separate from Germany.
Probably the most important Of
the commissions Is the reparations
commission which will do great
amount of the labor incident to the
execution of the treaty. its special
dity being to regulate Germany 8
r.aymeut Of fndemnification during
tne next 80 years.
Important also will be the COM
missions dealing with the Carre val
| ley basin, Rhenish Territories, Up-
Der S;lesia; Teschen and Schles'
Wig. Boundary commissions which
ara to fix up the spot the new
boundaries Of Germany with bel.
GUM, the Sarre bassin, Poland aud
Czecho-Slovakia, c are to be appoint
| ed within Is days.
Demand Germans for Trial.
| A speedy development following
i tho action Of today is expected te
be the presentation to Germany o.
! the list Of war criminals to be de-
nanded by the allies for trial unde,
the treaty. 1t has been reported
| recently that this list has been GU
down from the originally proposes
200 names. 1t will still name ths
former German crown prince an.
Crown Prince Rupprecht OF BE-
yaria, however, 1t Is reported, whsi'
the treaty itself arraigns formel
Emperor William "for supreme Of
|feuse against international moral
li:y and the sanctity Of treaties.
aad provides for q special tribuna
10 try him after his surrender hal
been asked from the government o.
Holland.
/ FLU RAD IN JAPAN.
Toxic. Jan. l0.-lnfluenxa il
spreading throughout Japan with
4 - A1kA 81