Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-10-30
CHAPTER XIV.
The Allied Generals In Session


On October 2J. Marshal Foch sum
mons to Sealis, General Petain, Mar
shal Haig, General Pershing and Gen
eral Gillian, chief of staff Of the Bel
gian army The latter, however. i
delayed and does not attend the meet
I ing. The commander in chief read
the correspondence to them and ask
their advice None of them propose
to refuse the armistice. On the terms
of the armistice their opinions are di
vided. Field Marshal Sir Dough-!
Haig speaks first In his view rh'
armistice should be concluded and con
cluded on very moderate terms. The
victorious allied armies are extenuat
! ed. The units need to be recognized
| Germany is mot broken in the military
sense. During the last weeks he,
armies have withdrawn fighting very
/ bravely and in excellent order. There
fore. if it is really desired to conclude
an armistice--and this in his view is
very desirable-it is necessary to
grant Germany conditions which she
can accept That is to say the evacu-
alton of the invaded territory in France
and Belgium as weH as Alsace-Lor-
raine, and the restitution of the rolling
stock taken at the beginning of the
war from the French and Belgians
If more is demanded, there is risk
of prolonging the war. which has al
ready cost too much, and of exasper-
ating German national feeling, with
very doubtful results For the evacu-
alton Of all invaded territories and
of Aisace- Lorraine is sufficient to seal
the victory.
Co,,oroI Dorcbipr Sovc fhof ahi of
of the American army in France. he
desires first to hear what General
Pctain has to say and to give his opin-
ion afterwards. General Petain is Of
the opinion that if an armistice is con-
cluded it must be a real armistlce com
plying fully and completely with the
definition laid down by President Will
son in his note of October %; an
armistice making it impossible for the
enemy to resume hostilities aud per-
mtting the allies TO impose their own
terms of peace. For that, two things
are essential: The first is that the
German army should return to Ger
many without cannon or tank.
and with only its carrying arms. To
attain this. he makes practical sug-
gestions. The specification of time
for withdrawal SO short that it will
De maternity 'HHpossiOle IoI lHc eAe~
my to carry away his war material.
In addition to the evacuation by the
Germans of all invaded territory and
of Alsace-Lorraine, the occupation by
the allied armies not only Of the left
bank of the Rhine but of zone so
kilompters wide on the right bank; at
the same time the delivery Of 5000
and 100000 cars should
be demanded. General Petain adds
however that, although these condi-
tions are indispensable in his opinion,
it is hardly expected that the Ger
mans will accept them.
General Pershing, in few words,
says that he agrees with General Pc
tain. Marshal Foch thanks his guests
for their suggestions which he will
consider. The conference ends. The
next day, October 26, Marshal Foch
his final conclusions to
M. Clemenceau by letter. Extracts of
this letter have been published: 1t is
well to quote it here in its entirety as
far as the western front is concerned.
After having consulted the command
ers in chief Of the American, British
and French armies, have the honor
to make known to you the military
conditions under which can be granted
an armistice capable" Of protecting
absolutely the interests of the nations
and assuring to the asso-
.iated governments unlimited power to
safeguard and impose the conditions
If peace to which the German govern
nent has consented.
l. Immediate evacuation Of all ter
.itory invaded contrary to law: Bel |
yium. France, Alsace-Lorraine, Lux
,mburg.
Immediate repatriation of their in
labitants.
Surrender Of part of the enemy war
in the evacuated regions.
This evacuation to be effected with
! degree Of speed that will make It /
for the enemy to remove
J large part OF the war material and
<Continusd on Psss Three.)