The Dominion THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1918. THE DOMINIONS AND THE PEACE CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 42, 14 November 1918, Page 4

The Dominion THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1918. THE DOMINIONS AND THE PEACE CONFERENCE

$ Now that tho actual fighting is over the world will anxiously wait for the announcement of the terms of peace. The dominions have been assured over. and over again that their representatives will be taken into the confidence of the British Government, and will be consulted step by step.' British Ministers have stated in the most explicit manner that the consultation with the dominions will ,be effective—that it will take place- before and not after decisions affecting the- interests of the whole Empire are made. We believe that these promises will be fully and •faithfully carried out; but it is the duty'of our Government to keep a very careful watch on the progress of events in this connection. Every precaution must be taken to guard against mistakes and oversights. It is reasonable to assume that Ms. Massev and Sir Joseph had a clear understanding of the method of -procedure as regards tho peace settlement before they left England, and in view of the fact that they have refrained from asso-; dating themselves with Me. | Hughbs's complaint that the dpminions were not represented at j the (Versailles Conference we must conclude that they are satisfied that nothing has been done that can fairly be regarded as an infringement of any of the legitimate rights, or privileges of the dominions. We understand that the New Zealand Government is satisfied that only military points were dealt with at Versailles, am! i-hat the hands of the Peace Conference will.not be tied by the decisions arrived at. It is, however, impossible to keep the political and military aspects of the iva.v entirely separate, and the difficulty of drawing the line is no doubt partly responsible for the misunderstanding that appears to have arisen. The note of alann sounded by Me. Hughes has emphasised' the fact that due weight must-,be paid to the views of the dominions, and it has evoked the positive assurance of the British Government that the effective attainment in the final peace terms of any specific objects to which the attention of the Imperial War Cabinet was drawn by the representatives of the dominions has not been precluded nor prejudiced. Mr. Hughes takes objection to the ciause in President Wilson's peace points which deals with economic Tbarricrs. He seems to contend that the Versailles Conference has_ committed the Empire to a policy ■ which would compel the dominions to give to Germany as favourable economic, 'treatment as to France. If this contention were correct, • Me. Hughes's protest would be justifiable. But his interpretation of the position is neither the most natural nor the most reasonable one. The Peace Conference, is not in any way bound to endorse every ofie of President Wilson's fourteen points. It is not at all likely that the delegates or their Governments would agree to such arestriction of their powers. It is impossible to believe that President \yiLSON himself expects that the declaration of war aims made by him in January last will bo accepted by all the Allies as the final and conclusive statement of their policy. It would provide a coni yenient basis for discussion, but if it were , as unalterable as the laws •of the Medes and Persians, and had to be accepted or rejected without the smallest modification, the Conference would hardly be necessary. _ In his proclamation announcing the armistice the President states that it is now the duty of America- "to assist by co-opera-tion and friendly example in the establishment of a just democracy throughout the world." This puts the p'osition as clearly and fairly as any < reasonable person could wish. It means that at the Peace Conference the American delegates will co-operate on equal terms with the representatives of all the Allied countries in framing a just settlement. Any proposals or suggestions they may make are sure to receive the fullest attention, but the idea that the Conference will have to accept the fourteen points en bloc is, of course, utterly unreasonable. Many things have happened since President Wilson's "points" were first announced, and the logic of events has probably caused him ] to alter many of the opinions he i then expressed. . It is veil known ■' that a large and influential section ] of his own countrymen do not re- i gard his January declaration as c satisfactory in all its parts, and «' even f.he American delegates' may t not be required to adhere strictly r and slavishly to any or every one t of its clauses. Taking all things i into account there is no reason, why t we should not rest securely on Mji. I Lloyd Geo'iigb's promise 'that the 1 dominions will have a voice in the f Peace Conference equal to their f sacrifices, and on his assurance that \ nothing was done at Versailles to * preclude the British Government '<■' from pressing all the claims of the c dominions as it intends to do. r