PEACE CONGRESS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 110, 3 February 1919, Page 5

PEACE CONGRESS

VITAL DISAGREEMENTS APPARENT UNIVERSAL OPEN DOOR SCOUTED INDEMNITY PROBLEM By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, January ?0. The Paris correspondent of tliu 'Daily Express" writes: "As the Conference geis to grips with various problems vital disagieements become more apparent. For example, Mr. Arthur Henderson stated in an interview in Zurich that the foundation of the Society of Nations must be the abolition of tariffs aud the universal open door. The Australian and New Zealand delegates scout this suggestion, declaring that import duties are vital to the growing nations. Other difficult problems are the trial of the Kaiser and the settlement of the indemnity, and there is a fear that there is little prospect of the British taxpayer receiving immediate relief from Germany. Mr. Lloyd George' is expected to return to ; Loudon on February 10, to explain the j international situation to Parliament— • Aus.-N.Z. Cable. Assn. ' THE REPARATION CLAIMS '' \ London, January 30. j The "Morning Post's" ' special corres- , pondent at Paris.states that the general j feeling regarding reparation is that the • Belgian claims should come first. Britain | will'probably only claim for the ships j sunk and the damage done by. air raids. The French demands are not yet formulated. Serbia's demands will bo heavy. -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BRITAIN'S LOST MERCHANTMEN REPARATION CLAIMED ON BASIS OF TON FOE, TON. (Rec. February 2, 11.15 p.m.) ' New York, January 31. The "World".states that according to well-infornled circles Britain is claiming ton for ton reparation from Germany for merchantmen sunk by U-boats. President Wilson is taking the view that France's and Belgium's reparation claims should be satisfied before those of other nations. Britain's view is that her merchantmen losses should be considered in the same category as the French and Belgian war losses.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ALLIED ADVANCE TO BELGIUM TO HASTEN RECONSTRUCTION. Paris, January SO. The Allies are advancing ; Belgium 400 millions sterling, in order to hasten reconstruction. The amount will be repaid by the German indemnity—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. DEVASTATION SHOCKS PRESIDENT WILSON. Paris, January 29.. President Wilson declares that ho 'did not believe the devastated regions were so dreadful as be found them. They had caused him intense sorrow. He hopes t> visit Ypres.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PROPOSED TRANSFER OF GIBRALTAR FINALLY REFUSED BY BRITAIN. London, January 31. . Britain has finally refused to consider the transfer of Gibraltar to Spain.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ATTACHING GERMAN AUSTRIA TO GERMANY REGARDLESS OF DECISION OF CONFERENCE. (Rec. February 2, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, January 30. The "Mittag Zeitung's".Vienna correspondent declares that the Governments of Vienna and : Berlin are arranging for the attachment of German Austria to Germany, regardless of the decision of Coi.forcnce.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ALL 'AGREEMENTS TO BE EXAMINED (Rec. February 2, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, January 30. Mr. A. J. Eraser writes that M.'Tnrdieu (formerly French High Commissioner to the United States), a French delegate, was interviewed and. asked whether, on the institution of the League of Nations, all agreements made during tho war would be torn up, said "Such agreements will bo examined by the Peace Conference, therefore no a priori answer to the question can be given." Germany will bo called into the confa - enco as soon as definite terms and the League of Nations have been arranged. Thero was every hope of a ■settlement between tho Poles and Czecho-Slovaks.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . LABOUR PROBLEMS DISCUSSED MAINTENANCE OF ORDER IN • TURKEY. (Rec. 'February 2, 5.5 p.m.) • Pan's, January 30. Mr. A. J. Eraser states "It is understood that the council has rejected the Austrian statistics as a basis for determining claims. This is important as selfdetermination in some of the Balkan provinces hinges on population figures, which hitherto have been available only from Austrian sources. Labour leaders from France, England, America, Belgium, and Canada are discussing labour problems arising from the war. Conservative Labour circles regard this as a rebuke to the ■forthcoming. Labour-Socialist Convention at Berne. The military representatives of the Allies and associated Powers are requested to immediately report on the most equitable and economical distribution among the Powers of tho burden of supplying troops to maintain order in the Turkish Empire pending the decision of the Peace Conference on tho ■position of Turkoy."~Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.-Reuter. \ . NEW ZEALAND'S REPRESENTATION AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT. (Rec. February 2, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 31. Official: There is apparently .an impression in New Zealand that the Ministers who are representing New Zealand at tho Peace Conference attempted to lecture the British Government on the allotment by the Council of the Great Powers of one Now Zealand representative at the Peace Conference. Nothing of the sort was done or attempted. When tho Ministers learned on arrival at Pans that for the first time and on debatablo grounds South Africa had been given precedence over New Zealand, and the latter placed in a worse position than a country which had done little if anything for the Allies' cause, Mr. Massey consulted Mr. Lloyd George, with the result that after the matter had been quietly discussed at tho British delegation meeting, nt which New Zealand's position was strongly supported because of her splendid service in the war, it was arranged that Sir Joseph Ward should be forthwith included in the British delegation. The meeting was a private one, and thim details could not be published of the British and other overseas delegates' appreciation of rTew Zealand's war effort and their support of the claim for equality of representation I with countries with a less substantial ' was record. The arrangement made is I generally accepted as an acknowledgment of the reasonableness of New Zealand's claim—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PRINCES ISLAND CONFERENCE • ARCHANGEL GOVERNMENT TO BE REPRESENTED. New York, January 31. The Washington correspondent of tho United Press states that, according to diplomatic advices from Paris, the Archangel Government will send delegates to the Princes Island conference, at which the Allies have invited delegates to discuss Russian affairs.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.