ISSUES FOR THE PEACE CONGRESS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 95, 16 January 1919, Page 5

ISSUES FOR THE PEACE CONGRESS

MOST URGENT PROBLEM [ THE SITUATION IN RUSSIA AND POLAND SHADOW OF BOLSHEVISM By Telesraph—Press Association—Oopyneht (Rec. January 15,. 8.45 p.m.) Paris, January 12. Mr. Keith Murdoch, dealing with the matters for discussion at the Peace Conference, says: "The uppermost of the urgent problems is the situation in Russia and Poland. Its effect on Germany is clear. Indeed, Bolshevism is'casting a shadow which creeps over the whole conference. Trbtsky's army is variously estimated at from five hundred thousand to eight hundred thousand, and is marching westward. Though authorities differ regarding its- 'size, no one questions its object. It aims at .establishing Bolshevism in Germany and then creeping on. The conference will tackle this question immediately after the formal procedure is .settled, as the most vital primary subject. -.Meanwhile it can bo said that Britain never proposed the recognition of Lenin's Government, but was and is still in favour of finding out what Lenin., and other Russian Governments have to say about the future and what they propose." Mr. Murdoch adds: "It has been finally decided to admit Japan to the conference, with full power and fivo delegates, with: similar standing to her Western Allies."—United Service. SUPREME WAR COAL'S DISCUSSIONS STATUS OF RUMANIA AND SERBIA. : (Rec. January 15, 7.45 p.m.) London, January 13. At Paris the Supreme War Council discussed the . question of sending military assistance to Poland, , The Inter-Allied Command considers that two Polish divisions , which will be.sent should be supported, by an Allied detachment, enabling them to hold the Danzig-Thorn . railway. America, is -, of opinion that Poland needs more support, and is willing to send an army corps. : There is some uncertainty concerning Rumania's status. She entered the war at. the promise of .territorial gains, which apparently cannot now Btaud iu l the light of President Wilson's points, which have been accepted as tho basis of the armistice. , The Treaty of Bucharest, also raises a difficulty, but it is unlikely that Rumania's accept- , , ance of the treaty will be regarded as terminating Rumania's role of. an Ally. ......'•

The conference is also ,, obliged to decide exactly the status of new Serbia, which is supposed now to'includo Montenegro, but that has not yet been formally recognised by tlie Allies. 'It is hoped to settle all'such questions during tho week arid enable tho conference proper to begin work on January 20. Tho French Government takes the view that tho Inter-Allied Conforenoe should handle / all largo questions without waiting for the fulldress Peace Conference; for example, the freedom ■of the seas, tjjo reduction of armaments, national self-deter-mination, and also economic subjects like reparation, trade navigation, and transport. ■ ■. . ■, .

. Sunday's session of the War Council began at 2.30 p.m. The, armistice discussion occupied three hours. The discussion of conference preliminaries lasted an houi. The council will resume on Monday afternoon. ! ■Latest reports indicate that, there was no difficulty in reaching a decision respecting the Russian Bolsheviki. A soini-official exchange revealed that there was general agreement with. M. Pichon's standpoint. Among to-day's topics will be the status of the British .Dominions. It is not expected that any pbjection will be taken to the British Government's view on the question. The censorship question will also arise.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assu-.: :, LEAGUfPFJATIONS DECLARATION OF,/MAINTENANOE. Paris, January 12. M. Bourgeois, interviewed as the representative of France on the League of Nations Committee, says the .committee is urging upon, the Government, before opening the Peace , Conference, that the Allies should, make a solemn declaration j>hat they will maintain tlie league among themselves henceforward forever. Obligations must be inserted in the Peace Treaty whereby the nations assent to compulsory arbitration and the limitation of armaments. A universal conference, should be convoked immediately after- peace is' signed, to determine the titles and guarantees of all other States regarding their admission to the league.—Aus.-N.Z.. Cablo ; Assn. ■ ■ . , ■ ? - l ' ' 'TEATHE 1 VIDTITA IT VECTABI TOUCH LbAuUt, VIIUUALLi tMAliLlMltli SUPPORTED BY LEADING ■ . . STATESMEN. ■■, (Rec. January 15, 9.30 p.m.) New York, January 13. The United Press Paris' correspondent states that the League of Nations can now be considered virtually ' an established fact, as M. Cleme'nceau, f Mr. Lloyd George', and Signor Orlando are pledged to support President Wilson's basic ideas regarding the league. Italy, France, England, and the United States solidly support the league.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PROCEDURE aWhI CONFERENCE . PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS. London) 'January 14. The Press Bureau reports: A com'lmuiique from Paris states that the British Imperial Delegation, consisting of British and Dominion Ministers, and the Indian delegates, met this morning and discussed several matters in connection with the Peace Conference. An informal conference of tho Supreme War Council exchanged views regarding the procedure of matters connected with the Peace Conference, and decided ty hold the first formal meeting preliminary to the 'Inter-Allied Conference on January 18. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable A'ssn.-Reuter. r NUMBER OFDELEGATES EACH COUNTRY TO HAVE ONE VOTE. Washington, January lilt is officially reported that Britain, France, tho United States, Italy, and Japan will have five peace delegates at Versailles, and tho British Dominions two each, except New Zealand, which will have one.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Paris, January 14. The Peace Conference has decided that each country shall have only ono vote. Australia, Canada, South Africa, and India will have two delegates each and New Zealand and Newfoundland one ouch.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ADMISSION OF BOLSHEVIK DELEGATES STRONGLY OPPOSED BY FRANCE. . Paris, January 12. The newspaper "Humanite" states that the unauthorised announcement that divergencies osiet between Britain

and France regarding the admission of Bolshevik delegates to the Peace Conference has aroused intense interest and much comment. Opinion in France is strongly opposed admitting Boleheviki.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S SUGGESTION M. PICHON'S REPLY. . . London, January 12. The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at Paris states that there is much astonishment that the paper '•'Humanite," despite strict censorship, was able to publish the text of a diplomatic document showing that the British Government suggested to the Allies that all the 'Governments of Russia, including the Bolshevik and the various ami-Bolshevik Governments, and all other Governments constituted by the different Russian nationalities, should he invited to stop hostilities and arrange peace among themselves, and send delegates to the Paris Peace Conference. M. Pichon replied :\ "We cannot have any association with representatives of blood-stained tyranny." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DEPTSffiEBANJmiOLD RESERVE TO BE CONVEYED TQ FRANKFORT Paris, January 14. The conference has decided that Germany shall convey the Deutsche Bank's gold reserve to Frankfort. It also determined on the destruction of all submarines not yet surrendered by Ger-many.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FORMATION OF GOLD TRUST FUND MAY BE DISCUSSED BY PEACE DELEGATES. .Washington, January 14. The' Allies are discussing the possibility of forrhing a gold trust fund, deposited iin the Bank of England, with ■ the object of eliminating the shipping of gold between countries as the exchange varies. It is expected that the inattev will be discussed by tho Peace delegates while they are in Paris.— A'lis.-N.ii, Cable A&in. MEASURES FOR FEEDING EUROPE FINANCIAL ASPECTS DISCUSSED. Paris, January 12. The first meeting of the Allies' Supreme' Council for Supply and Relief to-day established a. secretariat and discussed tho financial- aspects of measures for feeding Europe.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.