PEACE CONGRESS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16428, 23 January 1919, Page 7

PEACE CONGRESS.

POSITION OF RUSSIA

(By Cable.—Press Association.—ICopyright-)1 Copyright-) (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Associa.ion. WASHINGTON. January 21. In tho Peace Conference dopatc m reference to tho Russian situation, - . Scavenius, Danish Foreign Minister, urged -tho conference to decide on tervention in Russia as the onlj means of saving the country. , It is officially announced that good progress has been made witli the t » enssion on Russia, and concrete pi posals are expected to result from a other session. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received January 2nd, 8.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 21. Tho Peace Conference has greatly progressed towards agreement on t io Russian question. Concrete pioposa s are expected on Wednesday. Mr A. J. Frasor says the conference of Allied Ministers received a statemont from M. Noulens, French Ambassador to Russia, concerning the situation there. M. Scavenius was formerly inclined to viow tho Bolshevist policy as not dangerous, but events latterly had changed his view. It may be assumed that his evidence will carry considerable weight, being tho most recent which the Conference will be able to obtain on the Russiiin situation. GERMAN DELEGATES' INSTRUCTIONS. LONDON, January 19. An Amsterdam message states that tho German Government has instructed its delegates to tho Peace Conference to work for the abolition of all economic war In to. Agreements must immediately be made concerning the import of raw material and foodstuffs. Germany is ready to disarm on land and sea and in the air, but Germany's right within tho scope of President Wilson's programmo must be recognised. _ Germany recognisos tho great principle of the people's freedom of self-determina-tion, especially with regard to Poland and Alsace-Lorraine. Tho delegates must work for a League of Nations. LABOUR AND THE SETTLEMENT. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) LONDON, January 19. Mr J. R. Clynes, speaking at Oldham, warned the Government of tho graviy of the situation. Speaking of the pledge to send a Labour representative to the Peace Conference, he said it was a breach of the Prime Minister's pledge at a moment of grave labour unrest and suspicion. It- would increase the people's suspicions and breed Bolshevism faster than it oould be destroyed. Mr Gompers and four other American Labour delegates have arrived. They intend conferring with the British and French Labour leaders for the purpose of founding a new international organisation which will influence the peace terms towards improving the standards of life of the workers in all countries. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Reeeivod January 23rd, 11.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, January 20. Tho United Press Paris correspondent says it is understood that tho American Peace delegation will ask for tho incorporation in the treaty of tho following vital labour principles—international child labour law, protection of women workers, and uniform working conditions, including fixed hours of labour. SECRECY MAINTAINED. (Received January 22nd, 10 p.m.) PARIS, January 21. Mr Fraser states that although the Press asserted the principle of an open conference, yet in practice the conference is largely secret. It has already constituted a close committee of the Great Powers, which sits in open conference with full, delegations at certain intervals. The Conference does not meet again before Thursday. Meanwhile tho Groat Powers continue to wrestle with the Russian problem. A special commitfee will be appointed to investigate international labour conditions, with a view to securing a basis of uniformity in all countries with regard to employment and the treatment of workmen. A surplus of food is now available, and it is expected that enemy countries will receive supplies within a month. (Received January 22nd, JO p.m.) LONDON, January 21. The representatives of the Dominions aro unanimous against super-secrecy at tho Conference. j FEDERATION OF ARAB STATES. REQUEST' TO CONFERENCE. (Australian and N. 4. Cablo Association.) (Recolved January 22nd, 10 p.m.) PARIS, January 21. Emir Feisul, son of the King of the Hedjaz, is here awaiting his father's instructions regarding the two delegates to represent the kingdom at the Peace Conference. Colonel Lawrence, Feisul's aide-de-camp, is expected to be chosen as the first delegate, in order to give greater weight to tho proposal to be submitted to the Conference asking for the formation of a federation of all the Arab States from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf, free of Turkish domination, and undor tho protection of the United States. REMOVAL OF RACE BAR. (Received January 22nd. 11.10 p.m.) TOKIO, January 20. The Press is displaying little interest in the Peace Conference. They take it for granted that Gormany's colonies will never be returned to her. Popular interest centres in the quostion of racial discrimination, by which Japanose are excluded from America and Australia. The newspapers urge the delegates to insist on the removal of the race bar as one of tho fundamental conditions of a League of Nations. LEAGUE OF NATIONS. DOMINIONS SEEKING ADMISSION. PARIS, January 20. Xt is understood that the are asking for admission to the League of Nations with the status of individual nations whose sovereignty is admitted, although the right of Great Britain to control their foreign affairs remains uncontested. AMERICAN PLAN FORMULATED. (Audtralim and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received January 22nd, 11.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, January 20. The United Press correspondent says the Amorican plan of a Loague of Nations embodies many of the features contained in the plans of General Smuts and Lord Robert Cecil. It is . understood Germany and Russia will bo ( allowed to join only aite r stabilising their Governments. I

A COMBINATION OF IDEAS. FRENCH UNENTHUSIASTIC. (Roceived January 23rd. 1.25 a.m.) LONDON, Janxiary 20. Tho Paris correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency states that President A\ ilson has completed his draft scheme of a League of Nations. It is based on a study of tho ideas of tho various Allies and embodies the most important French and British features, also some suggested in General Smuts's recent pamphlet. The general result is rather a combination of ideas than an exclusively A\ ilson plan It is understood that under the scheme the present Allies will form the nucleus of a League to which every freo nation shall have access, provided it agrees to compulsory arbitration for disputes. President Wilson shows how the development of a new world spirit will prevent futuro war with Germany and Russia. He • considers the peace settlement will be useless if it leaves half of Europe aflamo. It is understood that JVLr Lloyd George outspokenly agrees with President Wilson. Tho "Morning Post" states that the logical minds of Frenchmen refuse to believe that President Wilson's idea will give them any protection. Thoy fear that France may be sacrificed on an altar of impossible, impracticable ideals. Tho French idea is an alliance of tho Allies against Germany. They realise the idea of a League which would enable Franco to dispense with a standing army, though this is the basis of the American scheme. Great Britain's ooncepticn of tho Loague is an elaboration of the old Concert of Europe. It certainly is necessary to put manv railways, straits, ports, and even countries under international control, and tho "Morning Post"- considers that probably along modest lines of international co-operation lies the best chance of testing the workability of a Loague of Nations. MR TAFT'S VIEWS. WASHINGTON, January 18. Mr faft, in a speech at Washington, said the Gorman colonies must not be given to Groat Britain or any othor Power, but must bo internationalised and placed under the control of tho League of Nations., Gormany had forfeited her title to the colonics by her maltreatment of them. If the German colonies worei given to Britain or France, suspicion might ariso that they were boing exploited for selfish interests. Constantinople must be internationalised and administered by tho League. Tho Dardanelles, tho Sea of Marmora, and the Bospliorus must bo placed under tho guardianship of a Government representing tho Allies. The Monroe doctrine and tho sovereignty of all nations would be strengthened by tho Leaguo. The projected new republics in Ukraine, the Baltic provinces, Finland, Poland, and Czechoslovakia, must bo protected bv the Leaguo. Tho now republics would hem in Germany and prevent her expansion towards Russia, and the Near East. MR WILSON IN EUROPE. REALISM T . IDEALISM. The special correspondent of tho Sydney "Sun," cabling from London on tho sth inst., says:— Europe has not yet decided how to take President Wilson. He is having regal roc-options and is feted everywhere. He travels in tho most sumptuous trains and steamers, attended by Allied war leaders, princes, and statesmen. Courtesy and kindness Could go no further. But this, with the masBive though undemonstrative public receptions, has been more the Allies' greeting to a gallant associated nation than an endorsement of Mr Wilson's policy. He has lost no opportunity of emphasising his .policy, standing out as the apostle of a new oode of international morality. He stands to-day in the public imagination as a figure urging, imploring, and beckoning Europe into a now condition of things in which morality will be enthroned by mutual acceptance of some international tribunal's decision. Mr Wilson's claim to the "Freedom of the Seas" is regarded as a rod herring, but it seems to havo been effective in diverting British attention from more practical things. It is argued that the "Freedom of the Soas" is only possible if sieges and trench blockades are abolished from land warfare, which is manifestly impossible. Mr Wilson's huge naval programme is regarded as a bluff to frighten Britain into accepting the "Freedom of the Seas." There is the best reason to believo that Britain stands uncompromisingly for freedom of the seas, and has informed the President that if she must build against Amorica, then she will do so; but it is considered unlikoly that Mr Wilson will press this point. In any case, the actual position is that Britain and France can make what peace terms they choose. President Wilson is powerless. The peace discussions rapidly are ■reaching a point whero certain sentences could bo written down. Mr Wilson's talk to-morrow with Signor Orlando and Baron Sonnino finalises the first stage in which each of the four Great Powers learns each other's most intimate views. The next phase is tho leaders' joint secret meetings in Paris, after which it may be expected that the world will be taken into the confidence and the actual debates begin. Thero is a possibility of the full text of most of tho debates being issued. It is understood that France is opposed to publicity, fearing controversies and uninformed criticisms and agitations. President Wilson wishes the opon door, and Mr Lloyd George thinks that the best way to avoid ignorant agitations is to announce all facts decided, and not to exercise tho British censorship. THE INDEMNITY QUESTION. Great sacrifice is likely in order to meet, the Americans' wishes and preserve and develop the Anglo-American friendship which idealists regard as the hope of the world. Mr Wilson continues to urge the Allies to be bound by the armistice to> the basis of peace then outlined. _ Britain accepts this bond. The question is its interpretation. Already the Germans, particularly Erzberger and Ebert, loudly are claiming that the armistice binds the Allies to no indemnities, insisting that payments are restricted to the reparation of war damages, each country paying its own bill. _ Hopes of large payments seem to be disappearing. "The Times" makes the interesting commont that Mr Wilson's scheme or the League of Nations is supported by the success of the Imperial Conferences and the Imperial Cabinet,_ which, with its new permanent secretariat, has proved the possibility of a union of democracies by constant friendly intercourse. Although there is a widespread feeling of regret that President Wilson mentioned no single word about the first task, justice and the punishment of Germany, and has taken no opporpaying tribute to the sacrifices of the heartbroken British Empire and France, or to the predominant work of the British fleet, there is no disposition to sneer at his idealism. He is rather accepted and_ admired as the voice of a new America, perhaps young and inexperienced, certainly endowed with space, riches, and freedom from frontiers and hereditary jealousies, but none the less likely to give

the world a priceless leap forward in international organisation. Ho hammers incessantly, with immense publicity, and assisted by n corps of propagandists, upon the note of the new morality. CLEMENPEAT'S CREED. To-day's position is like a stream in which two main currents are running, the French . realism and the Wilson oalism. with the steady-going, caucus British experience merging them •vl preventing the clash. Frcnch newspapers liken it to a political chamber in which President ilson leads the loft and Clemenceau the right, with Britain ns centre. There is no doubt of a general puzzled feeling about President Wilson's attitude. Clemeneeau's blunt and carefullytimed announcement of his loyalty to the historical commercial unions, and the balance of power, is regarded as an important move in the inner manoeuvring now proceeding.