THE PEACE CONGRESS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 76, 24 December 1918, Page 5

THE PEACE CONGRESS

ITALY'S CLAIMS

TERRITORIAL EXPANSION DISCUSSED

SPEECHES IN THE ITALIAN CHAMBER . By Teleerapli-Prcss Aesociation-Copyricbt Rome, December 18. Signor Tittoui, ex-Foreign Minister, declared in the Senate that if other Powers acquired territorial possessions in the Eastern Mediterranean, Italy muss also do 60. Owingtohcrlackof coal, Italy ought to have a prior claim to concessions in the coalfields of Heraklea. If France and Britain retained the wholo or part of Germany's African colonies, said llerr Tittoni, Italy should bo compensated by the enlargement of her boundaries in Libya, S'omaliland, and Erylrca.

The Premier (Signor Orlando) warmly approved the speech.—Renter. THE PEACE PROGRAMME i THREE MAIN PRELIMINARY CONFERENCES. (Rec. December 23, 8 p.m.) New York, December 22. The New York "Timos's" correspondent 6tates that there will be three main preliminary peace conferences: Firstly, meetings of members of missions from various countries to determine what their own countries want; tho second stage will be a series of coherences between England, America, Prance, and Italy. It is not expected that the smaller nations will participate in these conferences. It is expected that the "Big Four," will have agreed on a plan by the end of January. Tho smaller allies will have the month of February in which to state their cases and .present their claims, It ?s not proposed that Germany will have anything to say in tho formulation of 'the pence terms. Tho peace programme will probably be handed to Germany by the end! of March, to reject or necopt without argument. 'When Germany signs the peace treaty, other treaties will lie handed to Bulgaria, Turkey, nnd,AustrinHungavy for them to f.ccept or reject. It is not expected that there will be any rejections. After theso treaties are signal the League of Nations will be considered— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. REPORTED POSTPONEMENT. (Rec. December 2:1, 11.55 p.m.) New York, December 22. .Reports from Paris slato (hat M. Marcel Hutin says that, the preliminary Peace Conference hns been postponed till (he beginning of February at the,earliest, owing to President Wilson's visit-to England and Mr. Lloyd George's Cabinet reconstruct ioi!.--I?euter. CONTINUOUS SITTINGS OF THE BRITISH . WAR CABINET London, December 22. ' It is understood that meetings of tho Imperial War Cabinet will be held continuously throughout the holidays in order that those who 'are to represent Britain at tho Peace Conference at Versailles may bo in a position to speak authoritatively for the whole of the Em-pire—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. VENIZELOS AT THE~ PEACE TABLE. (Rec. December 23, 11:55 p.m.) ' New York, December 22. , Correspondents) describe M. Venizelos (Premier of Greece) as adeeming dominant figure at the Peace Conference.— Reuler. SPAIN AT THE PEACE TABLE . ■ London, December 22.' The Exchange Telegraph Company's Madrid correspondent states that Senor Eomaiioues has gone to Paris at President Wilson's request. »• The friendly intervention of Britain will result iii Spain being admitted to the "peace negotiations. The leader of tho Catalonian Independence Party has also gone to 'Paris.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

BREAK WITH GERMANY. Madrid, December 22. . Spain has broken off her relations with Germany, and will not recognise the present German Government. Spain is also dissatisfied with Germany's conduct since 1914.—Au5.-N./i. Cable" Assn. THE LEAGM NATIONS SHOULD THE QUESTION BE DEFERRED? Washington, Decmeber 22. Senator Lodge, addressing the Senate. strongly demanded the postponement of the League of Nations until after the Peace Conference. It was impossible, he said, to discuss the Question until peace was properly established.—Ans.N.Z. Cable Assn. LORD NORTHCLIFFE'S VIEWS. (Rec. December 23, 10.30 p.m.) New York, December 22. The New York "Times's" Paris correspondent interviewed Lord Northeliffe, who said that the League of Nations appeared to him to be a somewhat abstract academic subject. He said the proposed league would receive powerful backing from all political parties in England, and was apparently warmly endorsed in France.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

l FATE OF THE GERMAN FLEET SHOULD'THE SHIPS BE SUNK? New York, December 22. The Washington correspondent of the New York "Times" states that Press dispatches firom Paris say that the American delegates, with British support, suggest the sinking of surrendered German fleet as the solution of the problem of its disposal. No information could be obtained from the State Department or the Navy Department. Mr. Daniels (Secretary of the Navy) said lie had not heard the suggestion officially. At Ihe State Department it was learned that so far as was known i.o such proposal was included in the American pence programme.

The Press, in commenting on this matter, says it would bo belter to sell the material in the German ships and employ the money to rebuild the devastated parts of Franco and Belgium. They point out that they might as well sink the George AVashington and the Leviathan, and other ex-German shins taken over by the United States.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. REPORT DENIED. (Rec. December 23, 11.55 p.m.) New York, December 21. Paris cablegrams deny the report that tho United Stales ■ delegation has advocate! (he sinking of the surrendered German Ploet —■Renter. THE FOURTEEN POINTS BITTER ATTACK ON THE PRESIDENT (Roc. December 23, 11.35 p.m.) Washington, December 21. Senator Lodge, in the course, of a bitter attack on President Wilson's' fourteen points in his speech in Hie Senate, said I hat these would he certain to. lead (o divisions amongst the Allies.. Though the Government had taken control of the cablegrams, he hoped that the fact that the Uniled Slnles Congress had sonic power of ratifying treaties would penetrate as far as the IVano Conference at Paris. II was a singular development nn I he pari of the United States to begin a ciiinpdilhin in naval armaments with Britain. There was no further danger to the United Slates on I he Atlantic, but n powerful fleet was needed on the Pacific. The signatures to the peace document? would I,? worth HI lie. Germany was ready to sign anything and break it when it suited her. Such guarantees ought lo be established as would satisfy

the nationalities of Europe that Germany would never be able again to use her populations to her purposes. Indemnities must also be demanded from Germany in which the United States must sliaro. The colonies ought not to Ire returned to Germany under any circumstances. Any attempt to form the League of Nations at this juncture would only embarrass the. peace settlement. Was the United Slates, he asked, preimred to allow any association of nations by a majority of votes to order American troops and ships to go to war? If the freedom of tho seas meant tho abandonment "of tho belligerent's right of blockade, then the United Slates- would think twico before, agreeing lo relinquish such a vital weapon. Regarding Russia, that which called itself a Government was no more tit to bo dealt with than a band of anthropoid apes. United Slates troops there were wholly inadequate for their purpose.— Ans.-N.Z.. Cable, Assn.