Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1919 — WILSON COLONY PLAN ACCEPTED [ARTICLE]

WILSON COLONY PLAN ACCEPTED

Great Brlllan and Franco Have Agreed in Principle Upon Scheme. RULE FOR HUNS' LOST LANDS Acceptance Is Subject to IxMU-niiqj Under What Conditions the Plan Will Me Carried Out—To Hurry League of Nations. Paris, Jun. 81.—The British and French governments buve accepted In principle President Wilson’s plan concerning mandatories from the league of nations for the administration of captured territory. It was stated by CApt. Andre Tardleu of the French peace conference delegation. The acceptance, however, is subject to learning under what conditions the plan will be carried out. This plan in Its practical application now Is nnder examination before the supreme council of the peace con-* ference. Captain Tardleu made the announcement during his conference with th® correspondents at the foreign office.

All Eager to Agree. The discussion x>n the subject of mandatories over the German colonlew was proceeding among all the power* with a unanimity*of sentiment and the desire to reach a unanimous agreement, snid M. Tardleu. This applied to Japan ns well ns to the other pow ers with colonial Interests, he continued, as nil were Inspired by the same purpose, which was to rev ch an agreement in common. Asked concerning the French Inter eats. In the former German colonies. Captain Tardleu said that France desired the Kamerun and To ‘' o, " which, owing to the character of their population and the proximity to the French colonies, Frnnce was In thtf best position to administer. The direct annexation of the colonies would have been preferred by France, Captain Tardleu said, but the Idea of mandatories was being carefully exj amlned with a glow to determining how It could he applied practicably. Ilespondlng to Inquiries, Captain Tardleu said the time required for defining the method of applying the system would not delay the formation of the league of nations or postpone th® signing the peace with Germany. The allied and associated powers, he said, would first establish a full agreement on all points, and It would not be until this agreement was effected on the league of nations and the various questions of the war settlement that Germany would be called in. No Distinctive American Plan. No distinctively American plan will be submitted Initially to the committee of the peace conference appointed to work out the details of the constitution and >the functions of th® league of nations, as had been suggested, it was learned. The American representatives. It appears, believe It will be easier to obtain the results desired by them nnd Insure the energetic promotion of an acceptable plan If some other power than the United States stands sponsor for the scheme. The American plan is to occupy a receptive position, favoring such portions of the different projects advanced as seem desirable, though It appears to be accepted that the basic plan will be that which was framed by Lord Robert Cecil nnd Is to be proposed by Premier Lloyd , George. An effort Is being made to hurry that consideration of the league of nations plan of organization by the special committee of the conference, but,lt I® not expected that the committee wilt be ready to report at the next plenary session of the peace-making body.

Dominion Premiers Silent. % Premier Hughes of Australia and Premier Massey of New, Zealand showed the greatest reluctance to discuss the attitude .of the peace conference toward the German colonies. Mr. Hughes wps asked: “Are Premiers Botha, Massey and yourself satisfied with the situation?” “I prefer not to answer," Mr. Jlughes replied, after a pause. Most of the claims presented were based on the -Idea of outright annexation by fight of conquest. While Mr. Wilson had previously obtained assent to the formula for the Internationalizing of colonies there are various schemes whereby it fan be carried out which amount to the same thing as annexation. * Mr. Wilson dramatically called attention* to the fundamental principles of justice, which were accepted by all the governments in the 14 points, and the necessity of making the action of the conference square with the expectations of the masses throughout’ the world, and that this peace should be unlike the congress of Vienna, when peoples were handed around like property.