THE PRELIMINARY PEACE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 136, 4 March 1919, Page 7

THE PRELIMINARY PEACE

INSTALMENT OF GENERAL PEACE IN SIGHT STATEMENT BY MR. BALFOUR FORECAST OF TERMS ly TelcgrapH—Press Association— Copyright London, March 2. Jli\ Balfour, addressing British journilists, said that by the end of March we voiild be in sight of a preliminary peace, vhich would, bo the greatest stride tovards universal peace. As a representa:ive of the British Government he was ;n a/ position to say that what was gong on in America at this moment was ■uore important for the success of a jeneral peace than what was being done n Paris, to-day. The conference's policy nas to press on as fast as possible with tho preliminary! peace with the greatest memy. Pence with Germany was a most important instalment of the gon;ral peace, and would be tho easies.t to nalce, as she was the onlyi enemy Power indissolved. Mr. Balfour added that the League of Nations would not attain its fullest fruits unless, the United States took an even share in the greater tasks to be dealt with after peace is proclaim-ed—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FHE MILITARY TERMS FOR GERMANY London, March 2. A, communique from Paris states: At 1 meeting of the representatives of the 3reat Powors, Marshal Focb. submitted ;he report, of the military repTesentatives an the Supreme War Council regarding :he military conditions to be imposed on :ho enemy-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asan.-Reuter. IEPORTED SUMMARY"OF THE PEACE CONDITIONS New York, March 2. The New York "Times" correspondent it. Pairis says that tho terms of the Peaco Treaty, which soon will be presented for signature by Germany, will provide for the following:— Destruction of all German submarines. Forbiddance of future use. of-sub-, marines. • Destruction of tho German' main fleet. Reduction of tho German Amy to 200,000 men. Retention of German cables by the Allies. Destruction of the .fortifications at Heligoland and the Kiel Canal — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ABOLITION, OF SUBMARINES DENIED. London, March 2. The Exchange Telegraph Agency's correspondent at Paris states, that it is not true that according to the naval terms sf peaco submarines are to be abolished *s weapons of wan\—Aus.-N-Z. Cablo Assn. CRITICAL DECISIONS IMMINENT (F.ec. March i. 1.5 a.m.) Paris, March 3. Critical decisions are expected at tho Peace Conference during tho week. These will include the settloment of the pre.iminary peace terms,' which should be ready when President Wilson lands on \larch 13. It is believed that it has already been decided that Gormany will be jompelled to destroy aH war material jver and above tho maximum which a committee- of the commanders-in-chief rill allow, and also her onitre fleet of military aeroplanes. This will save the lost and delay of transport to tho Allied ;ou,ntries.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RESOLUTION BY FRENCH NATIONAL , CONGRESS. (Rec. March 3, 9.5 p.m.) Paris, March 2, The French National Congress, reprelenting nearly a million workers and employers., has unanimously resolved that Germany must fully indemnify France, is the dermans, if successful, would have jompelled France to pay.-"Tho Times." BELGIUM "IndIiOLLAND TERRITORIAL ADJUSTMENTS. Paris, March 2. The Commission on Belgian affairs ivhioh is fixing the contingent compensation for Holland in exchange for the territory claimed by Belgium, examined as a" whole the revision of the Treaty of 1839. It is expected.that the whole Commission will finish its labours by Saturday next.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PRESIDENT WIIsONJND THE IRISH CONTRADICTORY STATEMENTS. Now York, March 2. The New York "Times" Washington :arrespondent states that upon the heels af the statement from the White House that President Wilson did not say at the White House dinner that the Irish question must he settled exclusively by Britain and Ireland, conies Ihe announcement that President Wilsou 'will rece'ive an Iris.li deputation immediately _ before sailing for France. The deputation wil present Ireland's demands for self-deter, mination—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE COLOUR" LINE IN IMMIGRATION JAPAN AND THE PEACE CONFERENCE New York, March 2. Mv. David Lawrence, the New Yorl "Evening Post's" correspondent at Wash ington, points out forcibly that Japan, u demanding free immigration, forgets tlia 1 both tlie .United States- ami Australii agree on the exclusion of Orientals, no as racial discrimination, but as. au eco noniio measure. The Now V-ork "World's" correspon dent at Honolulu states that "iNippi jiji" prims a uispatcli from Tokio suit ing that the Premier (.Mr. Hani), in an s\wring a Parliamentary interpolation 6aid that the League of Nations covenan was incompatible with Japan's ideas Tiio covenant must be modified befon Japan can enter tlie league. The New Xorlt "Xinies" corresponded at vVasliington says that, in order to forci the Peace Confereuee to recognise Japan'] claims for special privileges in China, th< Japaneso delegation will road the lghii Lansing Tu'eaiy of 1917 before the con ference, citing the United States' ap proval and recognition of these privileges Japan will point out that the failure oi the United States to object to the pri vileg-es after the opening of the Peaci Conierenco invalidates any objection! mado afterwards.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn THE MEBTTEiANEAN AREAS AFFECTED BY REMOVED RESTRICTIONS. Athens, March 2. The British Admiral announces tha the blockade of Kavalla, the Bulgaria! coatjt, the Mediterranean, jtho ilarda nellw, Syria, and Koirnuiaiiia has beei raised—Aus.-N.Z. Cable A;jsu. WORK OF CONFERENCE REVIEWED THE ESSENTIAL BASIS OF PEACE. London, March 2. Tho "Observer's" coi'rc-;poiulent at Parii contrasts the conference's really fiiu achievement in securing assent to tin draft convention of the .League of Na tions with the neademio debates and in decision in all other directions. He ad mits that a great effort is being made tx atono for the absence of a general Euro pean policy, and to present us with tin first sketch of the new world befon Easier, but contends that nothing sub stantia.l will be attained so long a 6 \ri are kept in (he dark concerning the fu

hire of GenniO and Russia.. ''Germany," lie says, "is certain to endorse any conditions we will no.v try to enforce on lier, bill within a decade fijie will be able to lew up the treaty unless we not only make her harmless but see that such treaty is compatible with her necessities and her future development. It is far more important to us that Germany should be a federative State from which Prussianism will be excluded than that her borders should run slightly more east or west."—Aus.-N.Z..Cable Assn. statement¥the house (Eec. March 3, 8.10 p.m.) London, February 27. ' In the House of Lords, Lord Lytton, replying to a question regarding the disposal of the German Fleet, said that that must be decided by the Pai'is Conference. The proposal to sink the ships would only be adopted if the representatives of the nations unanimously concluded that to be the best course. The British attached the utmost importance to the view that the ship? should not continue to form part of any naval armament or henceforth to be'used as ships of war. There remained three courses: Firstly, to Sink them. Secondly, to break them up. Thirdly, to sell under certain conditions. It. was simply and solely an economic proposition whether it would pay to break up or use the ships for other purposesEeuter. DESTRUCTION OfUmAN GUNS ANI AEROPLANES (Bee. March 3, 9.5 p.m.) Paris, March 2. The "Echo de Paris" bolieves that tin Inter-Allied Military Commission wil supervise the destruction of all the gum and aeroplanes in Germany beyond whal are necessary to equip the reduced airmy Allied experts will permanently supervis.s tlie great armament factories—Aus.-N.Z Cable Assn.'