TWO PLANS FOR THE LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 113, 6 February 1919, Page 5

TWO PLANS FOR THE LEAGUE

(Rec February 6, 1.25 a.m.) London, February 5. Two plans are being considered for the League of Nations. The first gives equal representation to big and little Powers. There is a tendency for the great nations to give every reasonable consideration to the wishes of the smaller nations, while preserving to the major Powers such a voice as their responsibilities warrant. The first plan has three main fea-tures-legislative, executive, and arbitrative. In case-of a dispute between-na-tions, each will name an arbitrator, who will select a third. The second plan modifles-the extent or the great Powers' nomination to the executive branch, leaving the legislative branch the same with the great and small Powers' equally represented. It eliminates arbitration and substitutes an executive council of the great Powors as a tribunal.—Renter. AMERICA'S RESPONSIBILITY UNDER THE LEAGUE. Washington, February 3. It is understood that under the League of Nations scheme the United States will be obliged to accept a mandate to control territories incapable of self-ad-ministration—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. NO IMPAIRMENT-OF MONROE DOCTRINE. Paris, February 1. The delegates from the United State believe that the League of Nations will not impair the Moutoo doctrine. It is understood that the plun for tho Leaguo provides that any unauthorised aggressive act will automatically place the aggressor at war with tho entiro League. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MR. LLOYD GEORGE'S LOYAL ASSISTANCE - ■ SCHEMING POLITICIANS. Paris, February 3. M. Meunier, a menlber of the Chamber of Deputies, writing in the Socialist newspaper "Verite," says that if President Wilson succeeds in establishing tho League of Nations it will be partly due to , Mr. Lloyd George's loyal assistance. Certain politicians have for some time been trying to push Mr. Hughes forward at Mr. Lloyd George's expense. This is a difficult task, and its promoters arc likely to prejudice Mr. Hughes without hurting Mr. Lloyd George. Britain and the United States aro now welded together in a partnership which is pledged to assist in tho completion of the noblest cause; and no scheming can separate thaiu.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RESPONSIBILITYJFOR THE WAR THE INDEMNITIES QUESTION; (Rec. February 5, 8 p.m.) London, February i. Official—The Commission on Breaches of the Laws of War, to which Mr. Massey has been appointed, consists of two representatives of each of the five Great Powers, and may bo described as a grand jury of the Allies to consider the world s terrible indictment of the authors of the war and the enemy's crimes against all the laws of free nations. The British members aro Sir.Gordon Hewart (the At-torney-General) and Mr. Massey. Mr. JR. Lansing (United States Secretary of State) has been elected chairman of the Commission. The scope of the inquiry will include the responsibility for the enemy's ■ crimes, the constitution of the tribunal and the procedure for the trial of offenders, however highly placed, and to report to the Peace Conference on the facts as regards breaches on land and sea 'duriiifr the war. It is certain that a true bill will be returned, but the punishment will be tho problem. . There is a feeling growing in certain quarters against demanding payment of indemnities by the enemies, The question will be keenly discussed, manv delegates favouring a demand for tho'full measure of material and financial reparation.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

(Rec. February 5, 5.40 p.m.) Paris, February 3. • M. Tardieu, in opening the Crimes Commission, said the Commission must c-iamine the questions of premeditation and violation of treaties, and then tho rules, under which the penalties should be applied.—United Service.

PUNISHMENT' OF THE KAISER, (Rec. February 0, 8.10 p.m.)

Paris, February ?. Mr. Poster Fraspr states that he "believes the Conference intends to insist on the. exile of the Kaiser to a distant part of the .world, and not to wait to inquire closely into the extent of his criminality. 'Expedition is. necessary, in view of the Junkers' pro-lvaisen'sm and attempts to re-establish the Ariny.-Umt-ed Service.

LIMITATION OF AEMAMENTS. • . (Ree. February 5, 11.55 p.m. ' Paris, February i. Touching upon the limitation of armaments, naval and military, the commission on the responsibility for the warhas decided" to appoint three sub-comiuit-tees, and Mi. Massey, M. Tarchett (France), and M. Politis (Greece) were iiamcd to nominate the committees. M. Klotz (French Finance Minister) das been elected president of the lieparntion Committee, and Mr. Hushes and M. Von den Heuval vice-presidents. —Renter.

A NOTABLE RECEPTION PRESIDENT WILSON IN CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES. Paris, February X M. Desclianel (President of the Chamber of Deputies) received President Wilson in the Chamber of Deputies in the presonce of M. Poiucare. The American 'colours were draped, round President Wilson's chair. Tho Senators and Deputies for the first time sat together in the Palais Bourbon. It was also the firat time in 60venty yeais that a foreign

personage has been received and lias spoken within the enclosure reserved for the Deputies.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TEUTONIC NATIONS' BOUNDARIES PLAN FOR DELIMITATION. Paris, February 1. Mr. A. J. Balfour is engaged iipo"n tlio plan for' the delimitation of the boundaries of the Teutonic nations, with the object of concluding peace as early as possible.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable- Assn. • WAIERWAYSANDCLASS WAR COMMISSIONS "BEGIN INYESTIG A- ' TTONS. Paris, February 3. Mr. A. J. Fraser reports The 'Waterways Commission and tho Commission on Class War have begun their investigations, Tho Great Powers, owing to tho conflict between the Poles and the Czechs, have reminded the combatants of their undertaking to refrain from hostilities pending the Commission's inquires and the decision of the Conference. They declare that no measures implying the annexation of territory will be binding, and that the Czechs must release tho Polish prisoners they have recently cap-tured—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn,

CZECHS AND POLES MUST NOT OCCUPY DISPUTED TERRITORY. CRec. February 5, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, February i. Tho Supreme Council has notified the Csechs and Poles not to occupy disputed territory in Teschen (in Austrian Silesia), pending the disposal of the question by the Peace Conference.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. "THE SULTAN MUST GO" FUTURE OF CONSTANTINOPLE London, February 3. The "Morning Post's" Paris correspondent interviewed M. Vonizelos, Premier of Greece. 'Ho said that none of the statesmen now in Pari6 wished to go too fast with the League of Nations, but the Conforence was in a position to insist upon the limitation of German armaments, which would be impossible and unfair if no league was created. Referring to 'the mandatory system, he said ho hoped and believed that a solution would be reached that would satisfy the Australian claims without invalidating the principle. Regarding Constantinople, M. Venizclos said there wero two solu-. tions. The Leaguo could entrust its control to a single nation, or allow it to administer itself. "Anyway," ho added, "the Sultan must go."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GREEK CLAIMS REFERRED TO *A COMMISSION. Paris, February i. The Supreme Council has referred the Greek claims to a commission of ex-perts—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE CASE OF GREECE ABLY PRESENTED. (Rec, February 5, 8 p.m.) Paris, February 3. The Australian Press correspondent states that M. Venizelos ably presented Greece's case,'and created a favourable impression. Greece's claims in Asia Minor, cutting oil, as they do, tho Turkish littoral, may occasion difficulty in arranging. The base of the claim for Constantinople is that a third of the population is Greek—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BAD EXABIPLEOFIIR. HUGHES THE "MATIN" INTERVIEW CONDEMNED. London, February 3. Commenting upon tho interview given Iby Mr. Hughes to the "Matin," the "'Westminster Gazette" says that "if individual delegates are allowed to do as Mr. Hughes has done all national questions will bo made battlegrounds in the newspapers whenever delegates aro dissatisfied with the vote of the Conference. This is an impossible state of affairs. The Conference itself will bo broken up unless it maintains eome discipline among its members. Nothing is more deplorable than the bad example of tho Australian Prime Minister."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable A&sn. | The interview referred to is that m which Mr. Hughes declared that no solution of the colonial problem had been reached by the Conference.] ACTION OF CHINESE DELEGATES EMBARRASSING JAPAN. (Rec. February 5, 7.20 p.m.) New York, February 4. The New York '"Times" Peking correspondent states that he learns from a responsible source that Japan is bringing pressure to bear upon the Chinese Government to get it to disavow the action of the Chinese peace delegation, whose activities are seriously embarrassing Japan and placing her in a fake light — Aus.-N.Z.'Cable Assn. GERMAN ARMISTICE COMMISSION GENERAL VON HAMMERSTEIN APPOINTED PRESIDENT. ! (Rec. February 6, 1.10 a.m.) Amsterdam, February i. General von Hammerstem has been, appointed president of the German Armistice Commission at Spa, in succession to General Winterfcldt—Renter.