NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 198, 16 May 1919, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

AVellington, no doubt, will be more than glad to give MajorGenekal Sir • Andrew Russell as warm a- welcome as he received 1 in Christchurch yesterday. _ Such a welcome is due not only in recognition of his eminent services as commander of the New Zealand Division, but because he represents the force he led so well. It must quicken the sentiments of regard with which General Eussell is greeted on his homecoming that ho nas shown himself in an exceptional degree alive to the inspiration of the times and the spirit in which the problems still confronting the Dominion must be attacked. The happy gift for condensed expression which appeared in the phrase of "each for all ho employed in a valedictory address to the New Zealand Division was again brought into play when ho said at Ghristchuren yesterday that "with one conynon aim, united for one object there was practically nowhere New Zealand could not! go." It was in this corporate spirit that tho New Zealand Division fought its way to victory, and no other spirit will enable the people of the Dominion to win the victories of peace. K » * » According to a delayed message which appears to-day, M. Marcel Hutin predicts that the Treaty with Germany will be signed before June 4. His opinion is of necessity speculative in some degree, but M. "Hutin is credited with a happy gift for getting hold of the information that is likely to make a right judgment possible. It should be noted that his prediction is not of necessity discredited by the statement that Sir Robert Borden has cabled to Canada that the formal declaration of peace may not be made until 'August. Even if the main settlement with Germany is reached after a minimum delay, it will remain to conclude peace with the other enemy Powers and to deal with many details,' notably the determination of the frontiers of States that are being created or re-estab-lished. Amongst items outstanding must be reckoned also the trial of the ex-Kaiser and other individual evildoers. It is, of course, obvious that if peace is formally declared in August much detail work of the settlement will still remain to be done. *** e ■ ■ Another big step in the peace proceedings is marked in the news that tho Austrian delegation has arrived at St. Germain. No doubt some details of the Treaty to be set before it will bo cabled very sliort(ly. It has already been announced that'in its general lines it is similar to the German Treaty, dealing with the League of Nations, with disarmament, and with reparation. In addition, however, it will be , in some respects individually noteworthy. It will confirm the independence in separate nations or in alliance with their kinsmen of about .three-fifths of the people who wore ljving under Hapsbnrg rule when the war opened. • So tar as its reparation provisions arc concerned the Treaty will affect some nine or ten million German Austrians and about as many Magyars. It is a question of much importance, and one that may be determined shortly, whether the Government of German Austria favours or is opposed to union with Germany. 'Nothing that intrigue can do to promote the union jwill be left undone, but it is not certain that efforts to this end will succeed. Economically, German Austria has little community of interest with tho other German States, and its population may prefer independence in the hope of thus obtaining more favourable economic conditions from the Allied nations. It-is interesting in this connection that the Vienna Workmen's Council some time ago refused -to combine with the Hun-, garian Bolshevists "in view of Austria's momentary dependence upon Entente supplies." Excellent news is conveyed in the message from Paris which states today that Admiral Kolchak is planning an advance on Moscow. As much was to be inferred from the recent successes of the Siberian Government's troops on the eastern confines of European Russia. The promised move on Moscow is to ba welcomed because it seems to represent the only means, short of allowing the Bolshevik regime to die gradually of inanition and under stress of its own internal corruption, of establishing or approaching democratic rule in Russia, Admiral Kolchak is frankly a dictator, but he has the reputation of an honest patriot. His success would hot solve political problems in .Russia, I but it would go far to substitute order for the frightful chaos the Bolsheviki have created ■ and pavo the way for a peaceful attempt to solve these problems. • AVhcn the Bolsheviki have been overthrown there will/be some prospect of bringing together another Constituent Assembly in Russia. ■