PEACE CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16425, 20 January 1919, Page 7

PEACE CONFERENCE.

DOMINATING QUESTIONS

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.} (Australian &nd Cabl® Association.) NEW YORK, January 15. The United Press Paris correspondent states that three questions cerning tho opening session of the Peace on Saturday dominate interest, namely: Will the session be secret? Will the Bolshevist problpm or the League of Nations be first considered? Will M. Clemenceau or President Wilson preside? It is impossible to learn whet&er the session will be secret. It is expected that tho question of the League of Nations will lie first considered, since M. Clemenceau has pledged himself to that effect. It is "likely that M. Clemenceau will preside, since President Wilson will attend merely as a member of the American Delegation. ALLOCATION OF DELEGATES. LONDON, January 15. The Paris correspondent of the "Daily Express" says tho statement of the number of delegates allotted to the various countries is premature and inexact. The British delegation will consist of a variable panel, enabling the Dominion statesmon to be included from time to time. The tentative decisions regarding the delegates have aroused dissatisfaction in Paris, particularly at the fact that Belgium has fewer representatives than Brazil. Belgian diplomats are surprised and disappointed at the reduction, and many caustic comments are made that the American delegates at the Conference have failed to realise | the tremendous sacrifices that Belgium, France, and Great Britain have made for victory. The great hotels and bureaux in Paris are a babel of world politics, in which plans, long-pondered over, are boing modified and made ready for the meeting of the Peace Conference. It is disclosed that Mr Lloyd George and Mr Bonar Law have had several conferences with Mr W. M. Hughes, Sir Joseph Cook, and other Dominion Ministers, in order that each o f the latter may be able to sit at the Conference' table in turn as full British representatives, if Mr Lloyd George and Mr Bonar Law are compelled to return to London in connexion with the opening of Parliament, as is likely. Though the fact that the British Empire has 13 spokesmen is arousing criticisip, the importance of the matter is easily exaggerated. Tho number of delegates has no connexion with the voting power. The voting will probably not play a large part in the Com ference, otherwise, it would bo impossible to reconcile the fact of Britain having six rotes and the United States one. ANALYSIS OF REPRESENTATION. (Received January 19th, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, January 17. M. Poincare delivers tho inaugural address on Saturday afternoon, to which President Wilson will probably respond. It iB expected the Conference will forthwith deal with the question of a League of Nations and the formation of new States. An analysis of the Conference's geographical groups shows the representation and voting power to be as under: Members. Votes. North and South America 16 9 Europe ... ... 29 10 Asia ... ••• ••• 10 4 Africa ... ... 3 3 Oceania ... ... 3 2 . Politically Great Britain has 14 delegates and six votes. France has only one vote, as none of- her colonies secured! representation, although this is likely to be remedied.

The United States, with Central America, Cuba, and Liberia, has eight votes. It is practically cortain that M. Clemenceau will be the permanent President. NEW ZEALAND'S VOICE. (United Service.) (Received January 20th, 12.30 a.m.) | PARIS, January 17. There is general regret that New | Zealand's representation at the Peace Conference is limited to one, but it is pointed out that when Mr Massey attends as a British delegate Sir Joseph Ward can attend as New Zealand's delegate. French will be the official language. ADMISSION OF JOURNALISTS. PARIS, January 16. Regarding the representation of British journalism at the Peace Conference, it is stated that they favour one of their number attending the Conference and furnishing semi-official statements daily. The Americans are appealing for an open Conference. (Received January 19th, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, January 17. Mr A. J. Fraser states that the conference was mainly occupied to-day with discussing Press suggestions for publicity. The journalists' conference demanded actual representation at the sittings, but the French journalists dissented, and withdrew. The British, American, and Italian Pressmen then submitted proposals, and the Peace Conference, after a prolonged sitting, agreed to admit the Press, with reservations in regard to sittings in camera. COMMUNIQUES TO BE ISSUED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received January 19th, 11 p.m.) LONDON, January 16. It is officially stated in Paris that the only authorised accounts of the Conference proceedings will be communiques. Delegates are pledged not to divulge details of the proceedings. There is some doubt about the meaning of the announcement. Several London newspapers interpret it to mean that unofficial reports must not be published. The "Daily Express" states that French newspapers have been threatened with severe penalties for publishing unauthorised reports. The prohibition was a French proposal. Only President Wilson resisted the British correspondents, who strongly and unitedly protested to Mr Lloyd George. It is likely the Conference will issue daily a supplementary report. Several English newspapers strongly protest against the ban on news after the expense of arranging special reporting staffs on an unprecedented scale. THE PROBLEM OF RUSSIA. PARIS, January 15. The results of the first day's pourparlers are far from satisfactory. It is evident that Russia is the most thorny problem. Nono of the Governments has really reliable information as to what is passing in Russia and Poland. The "Echo de Paris" states that Mr Llovd George has not changed his opinion respecting the desirability of entering into relations with the Soviet Government and permitting its repre-

sentatives to attend the P e i? c ? once. It is announced unofficially that von Hindenburg is taking command of the Germans in the east against P °M. S *Noulons, French Ambassador to Russia, has explained the sussiap®f5 ussia p® f " tion to members of the Peace ence. FRENCH DEMANDS. LONDON, January 14. The Paris correspondent or tne .- change Telegraph Agency states that France has formulated the faHowi:n„ mands:—The enemy shall bear the burdert of the French war loans .ina pnsions, repay the fines, impost, an levied on the occupied torritor. , P d . general indemnity for all war desiruction (for example, machinery, tool.-., a id securities), and indemnify col ' lieries, factories, 1 and lurcl s, and -.. rm, r s for the period during which then .ayital was unproductive. GREEK ASPIRATIONS. PARIS, January 15. M. Venizelos states that Greece hopes to realise the Greater Greecc based on nationality, by the acquisition ot ern Epirus, Thrace, Asia Minor, ana the iEgean Islands. There are nearly 3,000.000 Greeks in South-East Jiurope outsicle the boundaries or Greece. Though the claim to Thrace cuts off Bulgaria from the jEgean Sea, Greece is willing to provide an outlet. Greece historically can claim Constantinople, [but an international solution is best. | (Australian and Ca-blo Association.) (Received January 19th, 11.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, January 16. The United Press Paris correspondent states that Greece will request that Constantinople bo made the capital of Greece, or tho international capital of the League of Nations. AUSTRALIA'S WANTS. LONDON, January 16. Mr Hughes declares that Australia does not want promiscuous immigration. Australia favours the League of Nations, and. demands the right to make whatever economic arrangements she pleases. She also opposes freedom of the N seas, an arrangement that would limit Great Britain's supremacy. Mr Hughes favours military support for Poland. He says Australia want v s the German Islands in the Pacific and indemnities. She does not favour intervention in Russia. A JUGO-SLAV PROTEST. , PARIS, January 17. Mr A.. J. Fraser writes that the Jugo-Slav Committee at Paris has protested against the admission to the Peace Conference of the Serbian delegates, to the exclusion of Jugo-Slav delegates from the Austro-Hungarian provinces now incorporated in Serbia. The Committee claims that the transformed Serbia possesses no purely Serbian Government. As British Ministers will frequently be travelling to and from England, their places on the delegation are likely to be filled by overseas representatives. Each delegation is a unit, and the number of its members does not influence its voting or status. LEAGUE OF NATIONS. NEW YORK, January 17. A message from President Wilson states that the prospect of an agreement ou the League of Nations is at present most favourable. BRITISH PLAN FAVOURED. (Australian and N.io. Cable Association.) (Received January 19th, 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, January 15. The United Press Paris correspondent states that Lord Robert Cecil's plan for a League of Nations will probably be adopted by the Conference. (Received January 19h, 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, January 16. The United Press Paris correspondent says interest is attached to tho American plan for a League of Nations, which it is expected-President Wilson will announce at the opening session, of tho Conference. Lord Robert Cecil has declared that the French plan is the most dependable.

CHINESE OPINION. NEW YORK, January 16. Mr Carl Ackerman, the Peking correspondent of the "New York Times," interviewed Hsu-shiu-Chang, President of China, who said: "If the League of Nations does not become a reality, the world's greatest aspiration, peace, will be unfulfilled. The Far East may become a region dangerously affected unless the Great Powers check tho inordinate ambitions of the militarists throughout the world." Mr"'Ackerman adds that it is impossible to travel in the Far East without realising that while the great war is ended in Europe, another is rapidly approaching in the Pacific, where there are conflicts of interest and opposing policies in Siberia, Manchuria, and China, which can be peacefully adjusted only if the facts are placed before the Peace Congress. ' COMMISSION TO REPORT. (Received January 19th, 5.5 p;m.) PARIS, January 18. The Peace Conference decided to refer the question of a League of Nations to the Inter-Allied Commission for an early report. Germany will not be represented until everything of importance has been settled. M. CLEMENCEAU TO PRESIDE. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) (Received January 19th, 11 p.m.) PARIS, January 18. On the motion of President Wilson, seconded by Sir Lloyd George, M. Clemenceau was nominated as chairman of the Conference. TRIBUTE TO BRITAIN. (Australian and N. 16. Cable Association.) (Received January I.9th, 11 p.m.) PARIS, January 18. M. Poincare, at the opening of the Conference, outlined the German aggression and the shameful bargain offered to Great Britain by Germany in seeking her neutrality. M. Poincare eulogised Great Britain's decision and the magnificent part played by her in the war. FOOD FOR GERMANY. (Australian *nd N. 2. Coble AsEociation.) (Received January 20th, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 16. The "Morning Post's" Paris correspondent states that President Wilson, at a recent session of the Conference, urged the despatch of food to Germany as the only means of combating Bolshevism. He considers tho matter vital. Other members did not see tho matter in the same light. The situation resembles an impasse. If no solution is found, President Wilson mi/*ht return homo.