THE REPARATION CLAIMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 111, 4 February 1919, Page 5

THE REPARATION CLAIMS

LITTLE HOPE OF A PUNITIVE INDEMNITY. Paris, February 1. Mr. A. J. Fraser reports:- The com-j mittee is considering the question of reparation, and will probably make an early report. The amount involved is likely to be so large that there is little hope of being able to exact anything ia the shape of a punitive indemnity, and reparations' will become the only charge on tho enemy. Colonial questions will again come before the Council next week, when the choice of mandatories to control Palestine, Mesopotamia, and' Syria will engage attention. The suggestion is made that Finme should bo brought under some form of international control. The Commission ■to deal with Poland will leave Paris next Saturday. It is desired to bring about a cessation.of the Polish hostilities, ' which merely giyo Germany an excuse to keep an army in self-defence. It has been arranged that M. Paderowski, Premior of Poland, shall meet the Conference delegation at the frontier. , The Conference is still in the dark regarding the. Russian . situation. Xho Soviets have not.replied whether they will attend the Princes Island conferWhen the German delegates come to the Conference it is practically certain that they will have to accept the terms laid down without much alteration, ex. cept iu minor details. It will really be a separate peace with Germany. Austria hardly counts, as most of her nationalities are already represented round the peace table.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. league¥nations RESOLUTIONS" SUBMITTED TO MINISTERS. ■ (Rec. February 3, 11 p.m.) 1 Paris, February 2. The Australian Press representative slate- that' societies formed ill various countries to promote the League of Nations have conferred and submitted to the Prime Ministers of the Great Powers a series of resolutions urging the formation of an international court of justice, also a council for the development of international law, and recom- . mended the limitation of i armaments, the

prevention of secret, treaties, and peace, ful settlement of all disputes.—Aus..JN.Z; Cable Assn.