THE PEACE CONGRESS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 70, 17 December 1918, Page 5

THE PEACE CONGRESS

PRESIDENT WILSON FETED

IN FRANCE

SPEECHES AT THE ELYSEE

PRESIDENT POINCARE ON

PEACE AIMS

By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright Paris, December 15. j President Wilson was greeted in Paris with a tfiunder of guns and the music of military Lands. Tho people gave him a great ovation, and vast crowds welcomed him. President. Poincave and President Wilson have accepted King George's invitation to visit London. At a luncheon in the Elysee. President Poincaro toasted President Wilson, and, alter eulogising tho Americans, referred to the devastation in France, and promised to coniniunicato the German General Staff's cynical instructions Tegarding destruction. Should these misdeeds go unpunished, he said, the sacrifices which France had made would have been in vain. "We have now to build up together n peace such as will prevent the reconstitution of an organisation for conquest and oppression, a ,ieace which will mako amends for tho miseries and sorrows of yesterday, and bo a guarantee against tho dangers of to-morrow. While whatever safeguards are established it will 'be impossible, alas, to assert that 4 mankind will for ever be t pared the horrors of war, peace must inciude all the conditions of justice and all tho possibilities for duration which it is possible to incorporate. France is with the fullest confidence, to work with you to this end."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable AssnReuter.

INDIAN DELEGATES ARRIVE. (Rcc. December 16, 7.43 p.m.) London, December 15. The Indian delegates to the Peace Conference liavo arrived in London—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-fieutcr.

CONFERENCE MAY BE EXTENDED AND GERMAN ' STRATEGIC POINTS OCCUPIED. London, December 15. The "Daily Telegraph's' ?aris correspondent states that because there is jio sign of a permanent Government in Germany, it is likely that the Peace Conference will be extended, and will become a council for the government of Centra! Europe. TJio' Allies will occupy strategic points in. Germany, possibly for from 20 to 30 years, inasmuch as the North German Confederation will not be permitted during that period to maintain an army or navy; and the burden of administration would be thrown upon tho Allies. Similar situations exist in Russia and Austria. It is most significant that there has been no attempt in Germany to form a conference to present a case to tho Allies, and this suggests an even weightier burden for tlie Peace Congress.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE GERMAN COLONIES' QUESTION FOB LEAGUE OF NATIONS. Philadelphia,' December U. Mr. W. 11. Taft, on being interviewed, said that doubt has been raised as to whether England will adhere to the attitude that she is not seeking territorial gain from the war. Germany's treatmen of the natives in her Pacific and African colonies demonstrates the fact that the colonies must not 'be returned to her, and tho question arises, under President Wilson's Fourteen Points, as to who shall administer these colonies. Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa wish the colonies to be incorporated with the British Umpire, but this would cause a cry of Imperialism to bo raised against Britain. The best course is for tlieso colonies to be administered by the League of NalioJiß.—Au.s.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE NEGRO CLAIMS. New York, December 11. Several newspapers, commenting editorially on the desire expressed by the negroes to rule Germany's African colonies, say it would be hard lo jmagine a more foolish notion llian the suggestion t-lmt the colonies should be returned to the natives without foreign supervision. It is tho reductio ad absurdum of the principle of self-determination,—Aus.-N.Z." Cable Assn.

"FREEDOM OF THE SEAS" AS INTERPRETED BY VISCOUNT GREY. London, December 15. Viscount Grey, in a speech at Dewsbury, said that until Presidont Wilson had'defined the phrase "Freedom 9f the Seas," and came to discuss it, he did not think we need anticipate any difficulty • about an agreement as to what it meant. Probably what was in President Wilson's' mind was that the freedom of tho seas should be socwred to- any nation which observed the covenants of the League of Nat ions and denied to any nation whioh 'broke If that was so, then tho League of Nations was the solution of the whole question.. He could not see why Britain should not accept the formula that if the Lengue of Nations was formed there should be complete freedom of the seas so long ns.tjio covenant? of the league were observed, but if they wero broken tlion there should be no freedom of the seas,- and every means should bo used against the Power which broke the covenants.—Router.

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS MOVEMENT PRESIDENT WILSON "MOST KEEN" ABOUT IT. London, December 15. Tho League of Nations Union has canvassed 1500 electoral candidates, and claims that 528 are in favour of tho league. ' An American correspondent travelling with President Wilson states that tho President it most keen for Ihe Leagno of Nations, and is in favour of Ihe punishment. of the Kaiser.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

MR, ROOSEVELT'S .VIEWS. (Rcc. December IC, 9.45 p.m.) New York, December 14. Mr. Roosevelt, in tho course of an article on tho League of Nation", says: "Germany and Turkey 'miwt not be adiuiteed to tho ■ league • for many years. Some or Russia's actions last year mnko any international guarantee on her part worthless. Tho league should only include tho present Allies and Iho United States, and must explicitly reserve its rights regarding territorial possessions, the control of immigration, citizenship, and domestic problems generally. Wo must bo careful about guaranteeing to interfero on behalf of iinpbtont disorderly nations wlicn they lie outside out sphere of interest/' Mr. Roosevelt further [Mints out that it would too absurd to iwludo in the league-on an equality with 'he United Slates and Japan such countries as China, Mexico, Hayti, San Domingo, and many others in the (aiiio category. -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

SOATTOINAVTA AND THE LEAGUE. Copenhagen, December 15. The Governmciit proposes that Hip Danish ami Swedish Government* should lake -steps to secure veprcsont lit ion for Scandinavia at tho Pence Conference, es-IKH-ially in repaid to the l.ea«ne of Nalions proposals; him! tho fjiie>lion of compensation for maritime Avar losses. Aus.N.Z. Cable A~su-

CHINA'S AIMS Tilt: RF.Tt'RN OP TSTXGTAt I '. Honolulu, December 15. The Chineso delegates, en -route to the Peace Conference, said that China had joined in the war unselfishly, and would ask for right mid justice in the Far East. Sho would urge that Japan should

return Tsingtau. The delegate added: "We wish for an open door to all the world, but whether Japan is entitled to a preferential foothold is a question for tho Peace Conference to decide."—Renter. BELGIUM SEEItS DUTCH TERRITORY London, December 15. The Brussels Chamber of Commerce lias resolved in favour of Iho annexation by Belgium of the Zcelrmd and Maestiicht Enclaves.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [The "Enclaves" referred to aro presumably—(l) the portion of Holland on the mainland west of Antwerp; and (2) the southernmost portion of Holland.]