PEACE PRELIMINARIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 127, 22 February 1919, Page 7

PEACE PRELIMINARIES

GERMAN NAVAL POWER LAST REMNANTS DRASTICALLY DESTROYED DEFEAT BiRIVEN HOME . BRITAIN WILL NOT SURRENDER PREDOMINANCE A NEW ZEALAND NAVY By Telegraph-Press Association-CojjTiEit (Rec. February 21, 7ilo p.m.) Paris, February 19. The main clause of the Allies' terms which have reached the final stage for inclusion in the peace preliminaries will bo found of dramatic interest. They have not only drastically destroyed the last remnants of the German naval power,' but : also show how the respective navies fare under the League of Nations. Germany will be compelled to hand' over immediately eight more battleships, including the Oldenburg, Heligoland, and others in their classes, tight cruisers , of the Strassburg class, fortytwo. modern destroyers, and fifty, torpedo boats, as well as all remaining submarines. ' All sorts of warships under construction must be stopped, and vessels under construction or repair will be -broken up niraer British supervision. AH the above ehijis are to'be destroyed within three / mbnths ) and the submarines within' fifteen days. The ; intention Eeems to be to burn into the German mind' that the guns have failed tiiem. The auxiliary cruisers are to bs dismantled of warlike ■material, which will be'destroyed, and the shins will then, ns ordinary merchantmen, be included in Hie list of prizes which are to be considered in the payment for reparation. The material commercially useful will be saved, but anything that cannot be utilised mil be funk or exploded. Thus ends Germany's naval ambitions. She is reduced to a few warships, about enough to police her dwindling coast line, and that is where the Powers forciing the initial League of Nations mean to keep her. The senile of construction permitted; hor will lw. narrow.

How other nurifs will, stand under the lc-axue covenant, indefinite, but the covenant obvious!?' .forecasts reductions. The Allies would h<>ve divided the German Fleet among tiwrnselves instead of destroying it had this imperative demaud for saving money on armaments not been recognised. The dw-ifiion to destroy the German Fleet has still to bo finally ratii fied, but though it i.<: certain, that this [.course will' bo -'followed., obviously the | British, American, Japanese, and French navies will remain the only great fleets, and some nebulous • understanding already crista concerning respective strengths. .There need be ,no trepidation- that .r{,vitish policy, will surrender predominance. Evary British delegate recognises that it io vital, to sustain tho British naval power iu spite of the League of Nations. Britain will probably be found willing, ovon eager, to reduqe her i?av.v to pre-war strength. In other words the war accretions will probably be given up. This may be taken as practically decided. The question being coneidored is what will be dono with these fine ships no longer desired by the Admiralty. The answer to this important and interesting question in the dominions/ British policy desires, and tho league would most certainly approve, that these vessels be handed to the dominions : for dominion navies. New Zealand and. South Africa would institute local navies. All the old distrust of separate dominion navios seems to havo disappeared.

The general question of the redistribution .of the cost of general defence, of the Empire will be brought up at the Imperial Conference in Londlou immediately after the Peace Congress, This thorny subject, which is full of difficulties, might largely be settled beforehand if the dominions would accept responsibility for the cost of maintaining local navies. It is believed that New Zealand and South. Africa have Already, been sounded. Indeed, n New Zealanit [ nsvv seems a likely eventuality.—United j Ron-ice. | THE BRITISII PEACE SIGNATORIES | \ London, February 20. I Replying in tho House of . Commons to ft request for tiio names of tlie plenipotentiaries actually empowered to'agree on behalf of Great Britain to tho peace terms, Mr. Bonar Law replied:—"The Premier, myself, Mr. Balfour, Mr. Barnes, ajul one representative of the Dominions." He also, stated that the Government possessed a list, of the chief culprits'in connection with,the ill-treat-inont of British prisoners, but emphasised that action could only be taken in | conjunction with the Allies. —Eeuter. MANDATORY CLAUSE"IN THE LEAGUE COVENANT STRONG PLEA BY JAPAN. Paris, February 20. There is an interesting development regarding the mandatory clause in the covenant of tho League of Nations. ,TaPiiii is voicing a strong. .plea that the Northern Pacific Islands mandates should be similar to those given to Australasia. Japan is putting nothing on paper, but is* conducting a torceful eampaigu, claiming that the same provisions should aply to the Caroline and Marshall Islands ar» to Samoa and New Guinea.. The British Delegation will meet on Thursday to appoint a special committee to consider all the aspects of the niatidatory clause, with a view to making the strongest possible mandates. II; is likely that Sir Joseph Ward will bo appointed a member Cabl-j Assn. / THESAMOAPUSLANDS REPORTED ACTWBY MR. LLOYD GEORGE.. (Rec. February 21, 10.40 p.m.) ■Paris, February 18. It is stated that Mr: Lloyd George'urged I'residont Wilson to assumo mandatory responsibilities over tho Samoan Islands. ' President Wilson did not commit himself. Ho may suggest to Congress that the United States should assume. the mandatory.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

MOMENTOUS DECISIONS TO AWAIT / WILSON'S RETURN IMPORTANT-MATTERS NOT SETTLED YET. (Rec. February lil, 10.120 p.m.) Paris, February 18. It. is understood that during President Wilson's absence t«v Peace Conference will handle only rontine matters, and not make momentous decisions until hi 3 return. Important matters which I the .Conferenco has not yet definitely settled are France' 6 claims to tho Saar Valley, Italy's and tho Jugo-Slavs' dispute regarding Dalmatia. the conflicting territorial claims of tlie Germans,' Austrians, Poles. Czccho-Slovhks, Hungarians, Rumanians, Greeks, and Arabs, and tho Russian situation. • It is still unknown whether the Princes Islands Conferenco will bo held—Ans.-N.15. Cable Assn. THE REPARATION AMERICAN AND FRENCH. CONCEPTIONS INCOMPATIBLE. Paris, February 20. It is understood that the .Reparation Commission has decided to anticipate anv question in regard to delay iu arriving at a deoision by referring tho matter back to the Council, asking for the GouncS's conception of .-what reparation is'. In regard to the original references

to reparation -in the armistice terms,, it is known that tho American and French conceptions are incompatible, while tho British views approach uco.rer to the French ideals.—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn..

PORTS, WATERWAYS AND RAILWAVS TWO DRAFT CONVENTIONS DIS- • • CUSSED. London, February 20. A communique from Paris states that the Sub-Commission on Ports, _ AYatetways, and Railways met on February 18 and discussed two draft conventions on the subject of international rivers, submitted by the British and French delegates. The principles embodied therein appeared to be acceptable by all the nations interested. It was agreed that a revised draft should be drawn np bv a drafting committee consisting of the delegates of Britain, France, and Belgium.—Reuter. THE ADRIATIC QUESTION i APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL COM- • MISSION SUGGESTED. Paris, February' 20. ■ A suggestion is made for the appointment of a Special Commission to deal with the Adriatic question. Baron onnino objects to this, and stands by the Italian Treaty. There is a distinction between that treaty and the Rumanian one. inasmuch as Rumania signed a separate peace. The Conference has jiot yet decided on this point. Signor Orlando is now in Rome.- v Possibly Baron Sonnino's. attitude may cause reaction in the Italian political situation, and we may have to wait and see whether Signor Orlando or Baron &onnino will survive it.—Aus.'N.Z. Cable Assn.