PEACE CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16422, 16 January 1919, Page 7

PEACE CONFERENCE.

REPRESENTATION AND VOTING POWER. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright, (Australian and K.£. Cab>e Association.) WASHINGTON, January 14. It is officially announced that Great Britain, France, tho United States, Italy, and Japan will each have five peace delegates at Versailles. Australia, Canada, South Africa, and India will liavo two each, and New Zealand and Newfoundland one each. Each country will have only one vote. BRITISH DELEGATES CONFER. (Australian and N.Z. Cable (Beuter's Telegrams.) LONDON, January 14. The Press Bureau has issued a communiquo from Paris, stating that the British Imperial Delegation, consisting of British and Dominion Ministers and Indian delegates, met and discussed I several matters connected with the Peace Conference. An informal conference later exchanged views regarding procedure m other matters connected with the Peace Confere'nce, and decided to hold tho first formal meeting of the preliminary Inter-Allied Conference on January 18th. STATUS OF DOMINIONS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received January 15th ; 7.20 p.m.) LONDQN, January 13. Among to-day's topics will be the status of the British Dominions. It is not expected that any objection will be taken to the British Government's views in regard thereto. The censorship question will also come up for discussion. BALKAN PROBLEMS. (Received January 15th. 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, January 13. The discussion of Conference preliminaries lasted an hour, and will be resumed on Monday afternoon.

Tlioro is some uncertainty concerning Roumania's status. She entered the war at tho promise of territorial gains, which apparently cannot now stand in the light of President Wilson's fourteen points, which have been accepted as the basis of the armistice. Tho Treaty of Bucharest also raises a difficulty, but it is not likely that Roumania's acceptance thereof will bo regarded as terminating Roumania's role as an ally. Tho Conference is also obliged to decide exactly the status of the new Serbia, which is supposed now to include Montenegro, but has not yet been formally recognised by tho Allies. It is hoped to settle all such questions during the week, and enable the Conference proper to begin work on tho 20th. The French Government takes the view that the inter-Allied Conference should handle all the large questions without waiting for the full-dress Peace Conference, for example, the freedom of the seas, the reduction of armaments, national selfdetermination, and also economic subjects like reparation, trade, navigation, and transport.

1 ADMISSION OF BOLSHEVISTS. r — 5 ENGLAND AND FRANCE DISAGREE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) ' PARIS, January 12. An unauthorised announcement in ' "Humanito" of divergences between • Britain and Franco regarding the admission of Bolshevist delegates to the Peace Conference has aroused intense interest and much comment. Opinion in France strongly opposes admitting the Bolshevists. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Reuter's Telegrams.) LONDON, January 14. The Paris correspondent of the "Daily Chronicle" reports that much astonishment prevails at "Humanite," in spite of the strict censorship, being able to publish the text of a diplomatic document showing- that the British Government suggested to the Allies that all the Governments in Russia, including the Bolshevist and various anti-Bolshevist Governments, and all other Governments constituted by different Russian nationalities, should bo invited to stop hostilities, arrange peace among themselves, and send delegaf.es to the Paris Peace Conference. M. Pichon replied: "Wo cannot have anv association with representatives of blood-stained tyrants." (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) WASHINGTON, January 13. The State Department explains that a copy of the British memorandum relative to Russia was not forwarded to the American delegates at Paris, as it was expected that a v similar proposal would be presented by the French authorities. M. PICHON'S ATTITUDE UPHELD. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received January loth, 7.20 p.m.) LONDON, January 13. Latest reports indicate there was no difficulty in reaching a decision respecting the Russian Bolshevists. A semi-ofneial exchange of views revealed a general agreement . with 31. | Pichon's standpoint. AN URGENT QUESTION. ("United Servicc.) ' (Received January loth. 8.55 p.m.) PARIS, January 12. Mr Keith Murdoch, in a despatch ■ dealing with matters l'or discussion at the Peace Conference, says that one i of the most urgent problems is the situation in Russia and Poland. Its effect on Germany is clear. Indeed, Bolshevism is casting n shadow which 1 creops over the whole Conference. M. ! 1 Trotsky's army, which is variously es- • 1 tiir.ated at from 500,000 to 800,000 } strong, ia marching westward. I'hotigh authorities differ regarding its size, none questions its object. It aims at establishing Bolshevism in Germany, and then creeping further on. The ' j Conference will tackle this question iw- ( mediately after formal procedure is t

settlod as the most vital primary subject. Meanwhile it can be said that Great Britain never proposed the recognition of Lenin's Government, but was and is still in favour of finding out what M. Lenin and the other Russian Governments have to say about tho future, and whnt they propose. Mr Murdoch adds that it has been finally decided to admit Japan to tho Conference with full power and five delegates, on a similar standing to her Western Allies. America has ofFere.l to send two full-sized divisions to Poland to assist Polish troops in tho immediate establishment of a DantzigTliorn zone, with the'immediate occupation of tho Thorn railway station, through which Polish and eventually Allied troops and supplies will bo enabled to pass without interference. LEAGUE OF NATIONS. PAHIS, January 12. Bourgeois, interviewed as tho representative of Franco on the League of Nations Committee, said the committee is urging on the Government that beforo the meeting of the Peace Conference tho Allies siiould make .v solemn declaration that tliey will maintain a League among themselves henceforward and for ever. Obligations must bo inserted_ in tho peace treaty whereby the natjonß will assent to compulsory arbitration and limitation of armaments. A universal conference should be convoked immediately peace is signed, to determine tho titlos and guarantees of all other States regarding their admission. to the League. "VIRTUALLY ESTABLISHED." (Australian and N.Z. Ofl'ble Association- 4 (Received January 15th, 9.30 p.m.) • NEW YORK, January 13. Tlie United Press Paris correspondent states that the League of Nations can now bo considered virtually an established fact, as M. Clemenceau, Mr Lloyd George, and Signor Orlando are pledged: to support Mr Wilson's basic ideas regarding the League. Italy, Franco, England, and the United States 6olidly support tho League.