ACUTE TENSION AT PARIS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 165, 7 April 1919, Page 7

ACUTE TENSION AT PARIS

FRENCH CLAIMS TO THE SAAR VALLEY

SEVERE PRESS COMiENT ON •' ' : - DELAYS ■

LATER INDICATIONS MORE HOPEFUL By TolegraphyPress Association— Copyright London, April I. Impatience at the slow progress of the Peace Conference is; increasing. Correspondents indicate aouto-differences, and hint at the possibility of a breakdown. They protest against, the selfishness of some of the delegates, and emphasise tho .dangers of secrecy.. The delegations avo working, in . water-tight.'.. compartments, and there is.fear that a- hastily 'oalcliMup peace will result.—Aue.-N.Z. Cable Assn. .. ■ MR. LLOYD GEORGE INTERVIEWED CLEARING THE AIR, Paris, April i. Mr. Lloyd George, in an interview, said Britain was in full accord with France's desire for .tho fullest reparation from Germany. Britain woul'd present her bill and Germany bad got to find a. way of meeting it. The rumours, that he was opposed to France's demand for guarantees ani for the left bank of the Rhine were, ho added, erroneous. "Britain," he wud, "wants Prance to enjoy complete security, and is willing to repeat her sacrifices, if required, for the peace and independence of France. If Franco is evei again assailed Britain will stand ready to leap at Germany's throat a second time."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. A FAVOURABLE PORTENT. London, April 1. Tho return of Mr. Lloyd fieorgo is expected shortly, owing to the advancement of the final finding of the Peace Conference.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

PRESIDENT WIL'SON INDISPOSED. ■ Paris, April 4. . President Wilson.is confined to his bed with a severe cold.—Aus.-N.Z; Cable Assn. (If«c. April fi, 11.5 p.m.) Paris, P\m\ 5. President- Wilson, narrowly escaped a serious influenza attack.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable ■Assn. ■ • '- LATER—DEADLOCK CONTINUES " THE POSITION IS GRAVE" (Rec. April C, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, April 4. •The peaco deadlock continues. Tho question is, Who will give in first? President Wilson and Mr. Lloyd George after France the neutralisation of the left bank of the Rhine and the Saar Valley. JI. Clemeneeau refuses any solution other than the annexation of tho Saur Valley and a lengthy occupation of the .Rhine. Tho British delegation tliinks that the position is grave, but expects an early decision. The greatest danger seems to bo tlwt the decision will raise a storm of protest, perhaps repudiation by Prance, whilst publication of the indemnity terms is expected to disturb tho British public. The Supremo Council, in response to tho lashings of the Press, has issued a peremptory order that all commissions iinal reports-must be ready by Monday. The Economic Commission has been instructed to prepare.for Germany's refusal to sign the terms, ■ the intention being to restore a sharp and complete blockade. Nobody expects a renewal of the fighting in the West. Tho Allies are confident that starvation will settle Germany. Tho Dominions' delegations are expross'in« tho hope'that they will bo keptin closer touch with tho proceedings, whicn are: becoming more secret daily. Indeed, the Dominion representatives lately liavu •'boon finding time hanging heavily en their hands.—United Service. THE RHINELAND FORMULA REFERRED TO A COMMITTEE. (Rec. April C, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, April 4. Jf. Tardieu (Prance), Professor Haskins (America), and Viscount. Moray. (Britain) constitute the committee which has boon instructed to find a formula, for tho Ehineland. The newspapers comment unfavourably on the delay occasioned by reforrins,' so" many matters to committees.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE RHINE DIFFICULTY. (Rec. April 6, 11.30 p.m.) London, April 5. The "Big Pour" have practically agreed on all the most important questions, except the responsibility for tho breaches of the laws. Tho preliminaries will be ■finally settled in a few days. It is expected that the Germans will be invited to attend at Versailles within a fortnight. Tlw Conference apparently has settled the question of the occupation of the lett bank of the Rhine. Probably two rundre'l thousand Franco-Belßians will undertake the occupation under the control of. the. League .of Nations. It is believed •| that "out of the; total Gorman indemnity France will receivo 55 per cent.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

OUTSPOKEN CRITICISM BY THE NEWSPAPERS

! THE ELEVENTH-HOUR PROSPECTS. ■'.Eec April G, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 5. Tho newspapers are becoming increasingly outspoken regarding the Paris cleavage of opinion. The Ministerialist papers approve Mr. Lloyd George's utterance reconciling President Wilsons and M. Clemenceau's divergent .views. | .Tho "Morning Post" protests that' Mr. ' Lloyd George does not uflirni his'full and i iiiifinalined support of Prances claim. The "Daily News" says that if French Pliolicy. is followed the League of Nations will be impossible. The , "Daily Mail" is showing marked hostility to Mr. Lloyd George's . policy, j ! and girds at tho lack of publicity re- | ! warding the doinss of the Conference. It j declares that if the Conference fails it will be due to seeretiveness. The Conference has now reached,the.eleventh nouianl the stroke of twelve will ring in ! peace or chaos.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. READYBYTONESDAY ' I STATEMENT EXPECTED PROM ME. j ' LLOYD GEORGE. ' ■ I (Rec. April G, 11.5 p.m.) I London, April G. ■i" 'The "Evening Standard" says that ac- ; cording to a high authority the Peace I Treaty Trill be completed on Wednesday. Mr. Lloyd George, will make a'statcmimt in the House of Commons before ho signs it.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FOCH GERMAN LEAVES MUCH UPSET, (nee. April G, 5.5 p.m.) • ■ . Paris, April 5. Herr Erzbcrger had a forty minutes' interview with Marshal Foch at; Spa. Hβ quitted the train looking deeply aftected. -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. A SUPPRESSED REPORT BY AMERICAN JOURNALIST WHO ' VISITED RUSSIA. (Rec. April G, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, April 5. The American Ptoce Delegation has decided not to publish a report by Jlr. BuHitt, an American journalist, who had recently visited Russia as a sort of unofficial representative of tho American Government. It is persistently rumoured that Mr. Bullitt has brought back a proposition from Lenin, and that hie re- , port decided the pro-Bolshoviste, who declared that the Soviets wero the do facto

Government of a large part of Russia — Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.

A HELPING HANDjOR BELGIUM REPORTED BIG ADVANCE FAVOURED. (Rec. April 0, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, April 5. Tho British and American delegations fire eaiil to be in favour of advancing Belgium JiIOO.OM.OOO to enable the nountry to solve its industrial problems.— iu6.-N.55. Cable Assn. THE OTHER SIDiToF THE PICTURE WHAT GERMANY'S PEACE TERMS WERE IN 1911. (Rec. April G, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, April 5. The "Frankfurter Zeitung" states that Horr Ladiuirer, one of the people's delegate.) at Munich, declares Hint he posstMes a memorandum prepared by Hcrr Euberger on December, 191-1, showing Germany's peace terms to be imposed on the Allies. The.se terms included the annexation of Belgium and Normandy, a coir pact African empire, and an indemuitv sufficient to meet the entire amount of the German debts.-Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. IN THE GERMANOTCDPIED ZONE HUN PAPERS SUPPRESSED. London, March 28 (delayed). The British military authorities have forbidden the "Tageblatt," the G*rmania," and several other papers to be circulated in tho occupied zones.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.