RHINE AND THE SAAR VALLEY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 172, 15 April 1919, Page 7

RHINE AND THE SAAR VALLEY

REPORTED DECISION BY PEACE CONFERENCE LABOUR COMMISSION AND THE DOMINIONS A CLAUSE OPPOSED By Telojraph-Preas Asaociation-Copyrlcht (Rec. April 14, 11.10 p.m.) Paris, April 12. A definite agreement has been reached ag follows:— 1. The- left banjc of the Rhine to be demilitarised, but not occupied, remaining under German sovereignty. 2. The Saar Valley to 'be directly controlled by the League of.Nation's for fifteen years, when a plebiscite will decide its nationality. 3. Danzig to become a free port under the League of Nations, with Customs arrangements with Poland, and accepted as Poland's port, though in no way under Polish juriwiiclionUnited Service.

. LABOUR COMMISSION AND THE DOMINIONS DIFFICULT MOMENT AT THE PEACE CONGRESS. (Rec. April 15, 11.10 p.m.) Paris, April 12. The Labour Commission's clausas for the Peace Treaty will be amended, owing to tho opposition of the Dominions' representatives to clause 8, giving similar industrial concessions to the aliens as to the nationals of the country concerned. Nothing was said at yesterday's plenary session but until the last moment tho position remained doubtful, President Wilson urgently seeking ihe immediate adoption of the clauses. Mr. Massey and Mr. Hughes had to leave the table whilst the session was proceeding, but reiterated their attitude, whereupon President Wilson agreed to leave the matter to the Supreme Four to settle—United Service.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS COVENANT THE .REVISED DRAFT. New York, April 3 (delayed). The New York "World's" Pari? correspondent states that in the revised draft of the League of Nations Covenant, acceptance of mandatory responsibilities is made optional with the members. Men and women are made equally eligible for positions under the control of tho League. Article 26 provides: "The States which aro named in tho schedule, and which aro not signatories, may accept a Covenant by declaring their accession thereto without reservation. Any full selfgoverning State, dominion, or colony not named in the schedule may become a member of the Legue, if its admission is agreed to bytwo-thirds of tho delegates of the League, and provided that guarantees shall be given of its intention to observe its international obligations and its willingness to conform with the regulations regarding military and naval forces."—Aus.-N.Z. Ca'ble Assn.

(Reo. April 14, 9.5 p.m.); Paris, April 21. The revised Covenant completed by the Leagu,e Commission will probably be submitted to a plenary session rarly next week. Belgium is keenly disappointed that Brussels was not chosen as the capital of the League of Nations. Britain, Italy, Japan,' Serbia. Greece, Rumania, and Brazil supported Geneva's claims; Franco, China, Portugal, and Czechoslovakia favoured Brussels.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

H.OIJE OF THE LEAGUE. (Rec. April 4, 9,5 p.m.) . London, April 12. The proposal to mako Brussels the capital of the League of Nations was defeated by 11 votes to 6. —United Service.

JAPANESE AMENDMENT REJECTED • HOW THE VOTING WENT. (Rec. April 14, 9.5 p.m.) Paris, April 12. The Japanese amendment on racial equality reached the vote after midnight ami was defeated by 11 votes to fi. It is understood that President Wilson rofraiu. Ed from voting. Fratlce voted against it; the Chinese delegates supported it; tlie American delegates specifically declared that their opposition was due to tho failure of the Japftimse to leach an agreement, with the Dominions. Baron Sfakino announced that ho would continue his efforts at a later date.— United Service.

CHINA'S REQUESTS MORE CONTROLLER THEIR OWN AFFAIRS. Paris, April 12. China suggests to the Peace Conference the gradual abolition of extra-terri-toriality of the balance of the Boxer indemnity, which will greatly assist her financial rehabilitation. 'She will undertake to expend the money on education. Sho also asks for the abolition of preferential or exclusive rights, which have dono more than anything to keep China closed against foreign enterprise, _ be. sides being an eddless cause of international jealousy. Wei-Hai-Wei, Kiao Chau, Port Arthur; Dalny, and Shantung should be returned to her, to be converted into free ports. China in return will make readjustments. J!ie is willing to open her resources to this .."hole world, and as China will become a member of the League of Nations, tho others cannot logically refuso to extend to her the treatment conceded to the smaller countries of Europe.—Aus.-N.Z. Cabie Assn.

lIERTZOG AGAIN DEFIANT ATTITUDE TO THE PEACE CONFERENCE. ; New York, April 3 (delayed). General Hertzog, leader of the Boer Mission to Paris, stated in an interview": "If South Africa's demands for a Republic are not granted there will bs trouble. The Transvaal and the Orange Free State should' be restored to liberty, and Natal and the Cape should Temain under British rule if they so desire. The Boer Mission is going to Mi'. Lloyd George to pres.? the claims for a Republic, and if wo are unsuccessful we intend to present the case to the Pence Conference. General Smuts has .not represented the majority of views of the South African Union at the Pcace Con-ference."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.

TREATY SHOULD BE WORTHY OF THE VICTORY UNANIMOUS VOTE BY FRENCH SENATORS. (Rec. April 14, 8.30 p.m.) Paris, April 11. French Senators have unanimously signed a manifesto urging that the Peace Treaty should be worthy of the Ententes victory, and should assure full restitution and reparation by Germany, who should he required to pay all war costs. Tho peace terms should include exemplary punishment of the authors of tho crimes, and territorial and other guarantees against future war.—Aus.-N.55. Cablo Assn.

M»s. Sopliio Hicks, widow of flicks Pasha (he famous soldier, has died suddenly at Bath. Hicks Pasha was a British officer who, after seiving with distinction throughout tho Indian Mutiny and in the Abyssinian war. entered Hie Khedive's Army, and was killed in the Sudan. . \t <i countv council meeting in the Isle of Wight"a tunnel was suggested as (ho best- method of securing communicalion between the island and the mainland. Fog in the Solent would, it was feared, render a train ferry unreliable at times.