PEACE ISSUES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 118, 12 February 1919, Page 7

PEACE ISSUES

MARMORA CONFERENCE NOT LIKELY TO SOLVE BOLSHEVIK PROBLEM OTHER FACTIONS NOT REPRESENTED By'TelegrapE-Preea Association-Copyright Paris, February 10. There is little hope of success of the •Marmora Conference scheme in solving the Bolshevik problem. So far the autiBolshevik Governments refuse to go to the Sea of Marmora. Only the Bolshevik leaders agree, and they agree apparently with a view to negotiating with the deleKates of the Allies. But M. Pichon has informed journalists that if the Bolshevists imagine this is the view ot tne Peace Conference they are mistaken, as the meeting was always intended to be merely a conversation between the armed Russian powers with a view to their submitting a.basis of agreement to the Entente, and was by no means to be recarded as a conference between the entente and Russia. ■'■ . The fact that only the Bolsheviki express willingness to go suggests that the complete failure o£ the project will mate another scheme necessary, and details of it are anxiously awaited in many quarters. The breakdown of the project must also be regarded as a blow to President Wilson's belief that euch questions can bo settled by a compromise based upon idealism. 'Seemingly, the , -Russian difference is too acute for compromise, and too bitter for idealism. France is particularly interested in all this, seeing that she agreed very reluctantly to meet Bolshevism half-way.at the Sea of Mnr-.mora.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. • UKRAINIANS ACCEPT INVITATION ENTENTE INSIST ON. CESSATION ■ OF HOSTILITIES. (Rec. February 11, 5.5 p.m.) _, Paris, February 9. The Übainiste- have acceptor the Marmora invitation, but cannot be ready to attend by- February 15. - - - ■'■'Lβ Temps" understands that the hn•tente is. insisting that hostilities shall cease in all Russia, otherwise it will not confer with. the Soviets.—B euter. GOVERNMENT OF PACIFIC ISLANDS AUSTRALIA NOT SATISFIED WITH : MANDATORY PLAN. New York, Febrnarr 1The Paris correspondent of the "New York Tribune" interviewed &{r. W. M. Hughes, and asked him if Australia was satisfied with the mandatory plan foi governing the former German colonies u the South Pacific. Mr. Hughes said:"The arrangement-can hardly be regard; ed , as satisfactory. It is provisional anc uncertain. lam unable to tell you thf nature of, the arrangement, but it mas be said that it has Snany possibilities One, of these would be reasonably eatis factory, although it would fall shor.t o! what Australia expected.. The arrange ment contains possibilities that Australis would.not entertain.' Australia wanti the settlement she is entitled to. whicl would ensure her national safety,- anc guarantee her industrial, social, and rac ial policies. We prefer to accep the mandatory principle, but if we mus it is imperative.that we should be givei the same power over the new as we exercise over Australia."—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assn. ' DEFECTS OF INTERNATIONAL CONTROL. , (Rec. February 12, 1.15 a.m.) New York, February 8. Mr. Braddon, addressing a meeting of the League of Free Peoples, read a cable message from Mr. Hugnes stating: "International control of the Pacific Islands has all the'defects of indirect' control. Government is like business: it is ■ best managed by men on the spot. v No one will spend money where the tenure ,of possession is'uncertain or where the control is subject to interference by men ignorant of local conditions. Control by a single Government is necessary for development, because, a mandatory control would. Refuse to spend the necessary money."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SUPREME ECONOMIC COUNCIL PROPOSAL CARRIED WITHOUT DIS--1 . CUSSION. Paris, February 9. President Wilson's motion that' a Supreme Economio Council be constituted at Paris was carried without discussion, there being a unanimous desire to coordinate all efforts in the economic sphere. The new representation on the Armistice Commission at Spa will in no waj interfere with the High Command, but the work of the Supreme Council of Sapply and Relief will be absorbed by the Economio . Council.—Aus.-N.2. Cable Assn. . . COST OF THE WAR TO THE ALLIES LOSSES TO THE DOMINIONS AND °; THE COLONIES. Paris, February 9. Expert assessments put the total cost of the war to the Allies at over thirty thousand millions, of which the British Empire bill amounts to seven thousand millions. Nearly- a thousand millions of this represents the losses of the Dominions and" the colonies.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■ WAR EXPENDITURE OF THE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA. Cape Town, February ■ 9. Speaking in. the Cape Town Senate, the Minister of Finance eaid the approximated war'expenditure of the Union up to March 31, 1919, ' would amount ,to je27,500,000.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. REMOVAL OF CONFERENCE MOOTED OWING TO OBSTRUCTIVE CRITI- ■ CISM IN- FRENCH PRESS. ■ Paris, February 10. Owing to obstructive criticism in _ the French Press, it is alleged in American circles in Paris that the Peace Conference may be removed to a neutral coun-try,—AU9.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

INTERNATIONALIABOUR LEGISLATION PRINCIPLES FOR INCLUSION IN ■ PEACE TREATY. Paris, February 9. The Commission on International Labour Legislation Ims received froni the American delegates a series of fundamental principles which should bo included in tho Peace Treaty. These declare that no people should bo forced under a sovereignty under which it does not wish to live; that it should be recognised that the labour of a human being is not a commodity or an article of commerce; that tho right of free association, free assemblage, free speech, and free Press, should not be denied or abridged; that merchant senmen should be guaranteed the right to leave vessels when same are.safe in harbour; and that shipment Bhould.be refused for commodities in the production of which children under sixteen years of agee have been engaged. The eight hours day is demanded, except in cases of extraordinary emergency. Wages should be commensurate with a proper standard of life; and there 6hould be equal pay for men and women for euual work,—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' BESSARABIUND BDKOWINA MATTERS ARRANGED BY RUMANIAN COMMITTEE. . Paris, February 9. The Rumanian Committee of the Peace Conference has arranged matters respecting Bessarabia and the Bukowina— N.Z. Cable Assn.