THE PEACE TREATY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 190, 7 May 1919, Page 7

THE PEACE TREATY

UNEXPECTED DELAYS EXPECTED TO-MORROW FORECAST OF SOME OF THE TERMS • By Tolefrrapß—Press Association—CoDyrtjht London, May 5. Official.—The Peace Treaty is almost ready for presentation. The German delegates are at Versailles, but unexpected delays have arisen owing to the Italian difficulty. The New Zealand representatives are exceedingly anxious to return to the Dominion at the earliest possible date, but they cannot leave until the Treaty is signed. The amount of the indemnity has been fixed and apportioned, tho mandates ill regard to the former German colonies have been finally determined, and other matters of great importance to Now Zealand have been disposed of. It can bo stated that any opinions as to tho Germans signing or refusing to sign the Treaty ore mora speculation; but it is certain that the final settlement will bo at least a- little more protracted than was originally an : ticipated.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TERiMS TO BE HANDED OVER TO-MORItOW.

Paris, May 5. ■ The peaco terms are to be handed to the Germans on Thursday. Another report states that the Peace Treaty, will be handed to the Germans on Wednesday at 2.15 p.m.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. •

LATEST DATE—3.P.M. TO-DAY. (Rec. May 7, 1 a.m.) Paris, May G. It is now announced that the Germans will receieve the Treaty terms at 3 o'clock on the afternoon of May 7.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE GERMAN DELEGATES \ ORGANISING THE SESSIONS. Paris, May 4. It is understood that the Germans are appointing committees to consider the Paris Council's terms by sections. A rumour is current that they may refuse to sign.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AN ULTIMATUM FROM THE GERMAN DELEGATES ATTEMPT TO FORCE PRESENTATION OF TERMS. (Rec. May 7, 1 a.m.) Berlin, May 5. ' Tho newspapers state that the German delegates, at a meeting held on Sunday, Resolved npon an ultimatum to tho Bii; tentc Powers that they will quit Paris if there is further delay in submitting the Peace terms. ' The ultimatum whs handed to Colonel Henry, a reply being demanded before five o'clock on Monday evening.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MR.'KEITH MURDOCH'S FORECAST IMPORTANT RENUNCIATIONS BY GERMANY. Paris, May 3. Mr. Keith Murdoch writes: Germany will renounce her rights to fifteen of the main German cables, but the Paris Council has not decided hnw to disposo of them. ' President Wilson opposes the British scheme of redistribution. Ho urges that it is undesirable that _ submarine cables, which are of great national importance, should become a British monopoly, and suggests that the Allied and .Associated Powers should act as trustees for these cables penfflng the establishment of an International .Convention. The Council has authorised President Wil6on to draw up a formula covering his suggestion,, and providing that subsequently the Allied and Associated Powers shoiild determine under what nation or international mandate the cables should bo used. All the Allies have accepted the British protectorate in .Egypt. A clause cn this subject will require Germany to recognise the protectorate, and not to .interest herself in any negotiations relating to Egypt. ■■ Germany is to renounce all her rights in l Morocco to France, and is to abandon all the property of the German Govern.ment, compensating German residents for their lost possessions. The Council has decided that it is unable to give Poland full ownership of the Danzig docks, but tho Treaty will guaranteo Poland power to develop the port. Grodno end Brest-Litovsk are to be excluded from Poland. The conditions governing the return of Alsace-Lorraine will be eminently favourable to France. The provinces will be handed over lock, stock, and barrel, without debt, ami the frontiers will be those of 1871. French nationality is to be assumed by the inhabitants. Germany is to repay the forced levies made on Alsace-Lorraine for war expenditure, and is t,o become responsible for civil and military pensions. The French Government secures the right to liquidate tlie property of German residents in these provinces, Germauy indemnifying the dispossessed persons. An interesting clause will provide that land-locked States .may possess shins and give maritime certificates which all ports must recognise. Germany will . undertake to disgorge the gold acquired by various transactions during the war, including Turkish and Austro-Hungarian payments in exchange for pa-pel''loans, and. booty removed from Russia and Rumania. I All Germany's claims for repayment from her late allies are transferred to the Allies.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. M.CLEMENCEAU SATISFIED "IT IS A GOOD PEACE." Paris, May 4. The French Cabinet has reviewed the essential clauses of tho Treaty. M. Clemencean subsequently informed a French interviewer that he believed it to be a good peace. The "Figaro" says that perhaps it will bo more than a good peace, _ for it will also comprise r»n aHituico with two of the most powerful nations in tho world. The "Matin," however, is pessimistic, and says that peace is not here yet, although' the Germans are at Versailles. The "Big Three" continue to deliberate without reaching conclusions, and tho indebtedness of France is growing formidably. Tho crop prospects are exceptionally bad, and cattle are in poor condition. . The "Matin's" viows. however, aro somewhat discounted by its' strong opposi. tion to M. Clemenceau. In the course of the interview given by M. Clemenceau he said: "I have dona my best. I think it is a good peace."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

BELGIUM AGREES TO SIGN. London, Mav 5. Belgium lias .agreed to sign tho Ptxico Treaty.—Aus.-N.15. Cable Assn. JAPANAND CHINA . THE RETURN OP SHANTUNG. Paris. May S. A Japanese official message states that Japan ivill return Shantung to China, retaining only the economic privileges granted' to Germany and the right to establish a settlemont at Tsingtaii. The Chineso have issued a further statement expressing their indignation at not receiving any official written communication regarding tho Shantung settlement, which gives Japan even greater privileges than Germany possessed, inasmuch as Japan secures control permnnciitly instead of for a fixed period of years.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

REPORTED RESIGNATION OP CHINESE ENVOYS. Montreal, May 5. The New York "Herald's" Paris correspondent states that members of tho Chinese Peace Delegation and tho Special Mission cabled their resignations to

Poking they learned of the terms of the SlianLn nji settlement.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE ITALIAN IMBROGLIO REPORTED OFFER BY THE ALLIES. Paris, May 5. It is reported that the Allies have agreed to offer Fiumo to Italy after it has had three years' existence as a free port. In the meantime the Jugo-Slavs will build a port for themselves— Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. ITALIAN DELEGATES RETURNING TO PARIS. Rome, May 5. Signor Orlando and Baron Sonnino are to return immediately to Paris. (Roc. May 1, 1 a.m.) London, May 6. An Exchange Telegraph Agency message from Paris reports, that the Fiume question has been settled to Italy's satisfaction. Fiume is to be autonomous for two years, and will belong to Italy thereafter.— Cable Assn. . VICTIMS OF THE U-BOATS QUESTION OF INDEMNIFICATION. Amsterdam, May 5. The International Congress of Transport Workers lias unanimously passed a resolution urging the German representatives to induce their Government to use all possible means to indemnify tile relatives of the twenty thousand people who .were killed as the result of submarine warfare, 'i'lie Belgian delegates refused to vote, because the conference refused to say "murdered'.' instead of "killed."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. IRISH PEACE DELEGATION AND MR LLOYD GEORGE (Rec. May 7, 1 a.m.) London, May 5. It is belioved that a hitch has occurred to prevent the Irish-American delegates meeting Mr. Lloyd George.—Aus,N.Z. Cable Assn. TRIAL OF THE EX-KAISER PROTESTS IN BERLIN. (Rec. May G, 8 p.m.) Berlin, May 2. Government circles protest that international law does, not justify the Allies' proposal to try the. Ivaiser. Thoy consider the proposal a belated act of war which might'have been appropriate in the armistice terms, not in the peace terms. The proposed tribunal would be a mere courtmartial. An international tribunal constituted by the League of Nations alone would be likely to assure a fair trial.— Aus.-.N,Z. Cable Assn.