WILSON'S IDEA OF A GENERAL TRUSTEESHIP

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 108, 31 January 1919, Page 5

WILSON'S IDEA OF A GENERAL TRUSTEESHIP

(Rec. January 31, 1.35 a.m.) London, January 23. The "Daily Chronicle's" Paris correspondent snys:—"The disposal of the German colonies is a characteristic problem, the discussion of which makes an admirable introduction to others in which' there may bo mqro marked divergencies of spirit and opinion. It is true that a certain difference exists between President Wilson and Mr. Hughes's ideas, but it would be a mischievous distortion of Hie facts to say that any conllict exists. President Wilson's idea of a general trusteeship has seized (he great minds working in behind the Conference with wonderful rapidity, ft has certainly come to stay, though it must be only tentatively applied at first. The British Ministers feel that the idea gives great promise, but they do not wish to risk the future of it by wholesale arbitrary application."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

FIRST- REAL TEST OP THE LEAGUE' OP NATIONS. (Rec. January "31, 1.20 a.m.) London, January 29. General Maurice, writing to the "Daily News" from Paris, says that tho first real test of the League of Nations is now proceeding in the settlement of tho German colonies. He has not found confirmation 'for the report that the five great Powers intend to finally 'settle the question. It may bo presumed that they will submit recommendations to the plenary conference. It may be taken that President Wilson, Mr. Lloyd George, •md M. Clemeneeßu will be certain earnestly and sincerely to attempt to apply tho principles of the League of Nations to the settlement of the colonies, also to the conquered Adriatic territory. President Wilson has definitely proposed that these possessions be entrusted to the nearest Power, who will administer them on behalf of tho League General Maurice understands that Britain is prepared to accept the proposal ' where she is nblo to do so with full authority, but unwilling to interfere with the views and rights of the dominions.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Awn.

THE TERRITORIAL QUESTION

SCRAPPING OF SECRET TREATIES.

(Rec. January 30, 8.25 p.m.) London, January 28.

Mr. Keith Murdoch states that "Signor Orlando (Premier of Italy) is claiming parts of Somaliland and 'Djibouti. The territorial question is resolving itself into a definition of the mandatory system and the scrapping of secret treaties. These include the Anglo-Japanoso agreement concerning the Marshalls and the Carolines, the general treaty covering Italy's claims in tho Adriatic, and the British-Hejaz treaty giving Damascus to Hejaz. The idea is that- Palestine shall be a British protectorate for tho Jews, and that the Arabs shall get the independence of Syria. Damascus is on the lino of the Franco-Arabian apheres.—United Service., PATE OF THE AFRICAN COLONIES. (Rec. January 30, 9.10 p,m.) Paris, January 28. The "Matin" states that it has already been settled that German South-Wast Africa shall be incorporated in ihe South African Union. The fate of ihe other colonies is unsettled. Probably the greater part of .the Cnineroons will bo French.—Aus.-N.Z.' Cable Assn.

THE LEAGUEJOF NATIONS PRESIDENT WILSON'S OPENING SPEECH. New York, January 28. President Wilson's speech at the opening of the discussion on the question of Hie Lenguo of Nations urged the necessity for such a league, not only for present settlements, but for the maintenance of such settlements. Many of tin , present decisions will need alteration in some degree, but it is necessary to set up machinery by which Hie work of the conference can subsequently be rendered complete. The conference consisted of representatives not of Government?, but <if peoples, and it must satisfy the opinion ui mankind and make it unnecessary for the peoplo who have borne tho burden of the war again to make such sacrifices. EeferriiiE to tho utilisation of scientific discoveries for war and destruction, he said that only watchful and continuous co-operation caft see to it that

science, ns well as armed' men, ia kept wilhin the harness of civilisation. In entering the war, the United State? never thought for a moment that slio was intervening in the pontics of Europe, or of Asia, or of any part of the world. | Her thought was that all the world had taome conscious that there was a- single cause of justice and liberty for men •o! every kind and pln.ee. The United States would feel that its part in the war had been played in vain if there ensued upon it a number of European settlements, It would feel that it could not participate in guarantee-ring these settlements unless that guarantee involved a continuous guarantee of the world's peace and a continuous and vital watchfulness upon the interests of nations. "The hope of the peoples cf the world," snid the President, "i.s centred in such a. league. Select classes of mankind are no longer .the governors of mankind. Tho fortunes of mankind are now in the hands of the plain people of Hie whole world. Satisfy them, ami ?ou have justified their confidence. Fail to satisfy yieni, and no arrangement you can make will either set up or maintain the peace of the woi'id. America :'s. pledged to this objective without compromise. Wo are here to see that every people in the world shall choose its own masters, and govern its own destinies; to see,that even- foundation of this war is swept away. These foundations, were the private choice of a small coterie pf civil ritilers and military staffs, the aggression of great Powers upon small; the holding tosetlipr of Empires of unwilling subjects by duress of arms: and the using of mankind a« pawns in the game. Nothing less than the e-mancination of the worid from these things will accomplish pence." The President co ic'uchd: "The very pulse of the world-seems to beat on the surface of this enterprise."—Aus.N.Z. Calrla Assn.

REPARATION PROEMS London, January 2". The "Daily Telegraphs" correspondent at Paris says that thr , Separation Committee has reached n.n agreement in such cases as Alsace-Lorraine. German Routh-West Africa, and New Guinea. When there ie no qiwrtion of the return or internationalization of ls-ud that contains mineral or other wealth, *he land will be held as a e.ev-off against the ciaim of the Allies in general and of the annexing State in particular.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. REGULATION OF LABOUR DOMINION REPRESENTATIVES PREPARING A SCHEitE. London, January 29. Mr. G. N. Barnes lias concluded a conference, which occnpie.l three days, with the British trade unionists. The Dominion representatives are prepariug the draft of a scheme for the international regulation of conditions of epiployment. The scheiiie will embody the views of British trade unionism, and wilt be submit, ted to the International Commission on the Regulation , of Labour.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AMEWCANPOUCY ATTACKED IN THE SENATE. Washington, January 29. Senator Johnson, speaking in the Senate, attacked the American policy as to intervention in Riissia, and also the delay? at the Peace Conference. Britain, Japan, France, and Ital.v, Jie said, had already decided what was'going to be done, nnd hnd the agreements hidden in their pockets, while the United States was merelv expected to. ratify them. The freedom of the seas was lost in mystery. It was ■ Hie President's duty, said the Senator, to comnel a revision of all secret treaties.-Aus.-N.Z. Cab.e Assn. . THE WILSONIANPROGRAMME • GERM IN PROTEST AGAINST ITS VIOLATION. London, January 28. A German Government wireless message asserts that protests against violations of the Wilsonian programme are poiirins; in from all political and municipal local bodies.. Tho Government adheres strictly to the Wilsonian jjrorrammo; and will demand the realisation of it at the Peace Conference, and the defence of the principle of nationality. It will most resolutely show all persons that advantage must not be taken of Germany's alleged helplessness. The message adds that iho Lettish Government has arrested German officials in T?isa and Mitau, and urges the Russian Government to secure tbeir rel<Mse. The German Government will in the meanwhile arrest certain Russian subjects.—Aus,N.Z. Cafoie Assn.