COUNTER-PROPOSALS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 207, 27 May 1919, Page 5

COUNTER-PROPOSALS

CHIEF POINTS OF GERMAN AMENDMENTS

THE SAAR MINES

AUSTRO-GERMAN UNION

DISCUSSED

(By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyrieht

New York, May 15 (delayed),

The New York "World's" Paris correspondent stales that the German delegates are preparing several new Notes for presentation to the Peace Conference. These will charge the Allies with criminal responsibility for starting the war, and will ask for the arraignment of the Allies as wrongdoers in this connection. The Notes will also demand au. investigation of the Government archives of all the belligerents, in order to fix the responsibility for the war. .Another Note will propose that Germany shall retain the sovereignty of the Saar Valley, with an engagement by Germany to supply .Prance with coal from the mines for a stated period. It is further pro-, posed that the quantity of coal supplied to Franco shall be diminished on a sliding scale,. in proportion to the progress of the restoration of the French mines.— Aus.-iI.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN COUNTERPROPOSALS (Rec. May 26, 7.30 p.m.) Paris, May 20. The Berlin correspondent of "Le Temps" 6tates that the German counter-proposals include the following:— Germany is ready to assure France tho Saar coal, and oven certain rights in the Ruhr Basin. Germany will accent the occupation of the left bank of"the Rhine for a period fixed by the Versailles Conference, but will ask that tho arearemain under German administration. and that the plebiscite clause be suppressed. . Germany will recognise Polish sovo- ( reignty over the territory within tho lino of demarcation fixed in the armistice terms, and will demand a plebiscite in the other districts now proposed to be included in Poland. Germany will propose a free port at Danzig, with an autonomous Polish administration of the Polish railway. Germany will demand a fixed figure -for the indemnities, contending that it will be impossible to draw up a Budget and impose taxes without knowing exactly what tho country has to pay—Renter. THE SAAR MINES PEACE FORMULA MODIFIED. London, Mav 16 (delayed). The Council of Four has modified the formula by which Germany is to pay in gold for. tho Saar. mines 'if tho plebiscite in 1931 goes against France—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMANY'SMBH FRONTIER DEFENSIVE LINE REINFORCED. Copenhagen, May 15 (delayed). . The Berlin "Lokalanzeiger" states that roliaWo veteran troops are being sjjnt to Upper Silesia to reinforce the frontier guards and repel Polish attacks.—Aus.N.Z. Cablo Assn. AUSTRO-GERMAN UNION . AND THE BALANCE OF POWER. Paris, May 15 (delayed). Herr Renner (Chief of the Austrian Peace Delegation), in an interview at Basle, whilo en route to Paris, said he would advance a programme embracing tho union ,of Austria and Germany. The • "Daily Telegraph's" correspondent at Paris' says':—lt is recognised here that the incorporation of Austria with the German republic would entirely alter tho balance of power within the Gorman borders, and largely neutralise the present preponderance of Prussia, but under tho existing settlement with Germany, incorporation will be impossible. Tho Treaty demands that Germany must recognise Austrian independence until the League sanctions a chango, which cannot be made unless tho Council of the League is unanimous. It is inconceivable that Italy will donsent.—Aus.N.Z. Cablo Assn.

AUSTRIA'S WAR DEBTS. ■ London, liny 1C (delayed). The Coimoii of Four is investigating Austria's war debts.—Aus,-N Z. Cablo Assn.

THE AUSTRIAN TREATY. New York, May 15 (delayed). The New York "World's" correspondent at Paris states that the Austrian peace te'-ms will be ready in fivo days, and the Austrians will be given a week in which to consider the terms.—Aus.N.SS. Cable Assn. FRENCHRAILWAYMEtT)ENOUNCE PEACE mis . Paris, May 15 (delayed). A congress of French railwaymen denounced the pence terms, demanded tho withdrawal of troops from Russia, and urged the establishment of proletariat rule in all countries.—Aue.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE WINNING FACTOR IN THE WAR LUDENDOREF SAYS: ALLIES' NEW TANKS. New York, May 15 (delayed). Tho New York "Post's" correspondent at Berlin interviewed General Ludendor(F. who said Hie Allies' new tanks won the war. Ho would not concede that the entry of tho United States made oven a slight difference to the outcome of the war. Germany would have won but for tho revolution. Ludendorff said:—"Germany should have built more tanks, but her industries were not equal to the tremendous demands for war materials. The U-boat warfare was necessary. It had brought England to the verge .of economifi collapse. It did not bring the United States into tho wur. The United States would have entered in any circumstances. lam willing to testify before a tribunal to inquire into tho responsibility for the war for the purpose of vindicating the Fatherland."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.