CLEARING UP PEACE PROBLEMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 283, 26 August 1919, Page 5

CLEARING UP PEACE PROBLEMS

SLOW AND TEDIOUS WORK AT VERSAILLES

THE BALKANS, TURKEY AND SHANTUNG

By Tolegraph—Press Association—Copyright Paris, August 22. Mr. Keith Murdoch writes-. "The slow and halting footsteps of peace are dut, to the bewilderment of even the greatest diplomats in Europe in the mazo of difficulties. Foreign Ministers, attended by Ambassadors, expert soldiers, and the principal bureaucrats of the chancelleries I still meet daily. M. Clemenccau presides when he is able to spare time from the difficult domestic problems of France. M. Stephen Pichon, Mr. A. J. Balfour, Signor Tittoni, and Mr. F. L. Polk (United States) are regular attend- I ants. M.r. Polk lias proved an able and j resourceful diplomat; but President Wilson insists that every important que* tion shall be referred to Washington. The delegates expect that another four months will be required to bring finality 'to t'he negotiations. _ The signature of the Austrian peaco is expected about September 10. Tho Allies'_ final reply, has been drafted, and contains substantial modifications of the original terns, including much easier economic terms. The Bulgarian delegates, who are living sumptuously in the Bois de Boulogne,' have proved clever and artful diplomatists. They gained the strongest American sympathy, partly as the effect of tho American colleges and t'he large tobacco trade in Bulgaria. The American delegation has urged the easy treatwent of Bulgaria. Under the arrangements of the Council regarding the Greek and Bulgarian claims, tho southern part of the Balkans will become piebald and disrupted. Tho proposal.! are ethnographical!}* correct, but tney unquestionably contain the seeds of future war. The excuse of tie Council is that the Allied publics would not send a single division to enforce any other peace against tho militant and aggressive Hulgars. Even this peaco is eminently favourable to Greece, which will get Smyrna, and tho islands in Asiatic territory.. Tho Turkish peace will not be tacklH till October, owing to most serious difficulties between Britain and France respecting Syria.- These, difficulties are acute; and French feeling is bitter, and tlio newspapers are daily attacking tho British Government.' Tho real causo of tlio trouble is the Arabian disliko of the French;. but nothing will convinco tlio French that this disliko is not due to British agents. There is a most serio-ns clash of British and French interests through Asia Minor, and lengthy and detailed negotiations-seem to bo the only way tu a settlement. Another outstanding question is whether President AVilson will bo able to persuado tho United States, against popular opinion, to accept tho mandate cr<"er Armenia. Refusal would leave tho Council at its wits' ends. Britain feels that her hands are full, yet does not desire to have another European Power so close to India.

Tho Conference takes tlio most serious now of the Shantung agitation, and regards t'ie feeling between Japan and America as tho darkest cloud on the international horizon. Heports to tConference show that Germany ia industrious and calm, and is far ahead with the worfc of reconstruction.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. LEAGUE OF NATIONS HEADQUARTERS REPORTED CHANGE OF CITY. (Rcc. August 25, 5.5 p.m.) ■ London, August 24. Tho Paris edition of tho "Now York Herald", states that the Allies will shortly announce tho establishment, of (he.League or Nations at Brussels,'reversing the previous decision iu favour of Geneya.—Renter. . STOLEN MACHINERY PLANTS IDENTIFIED IN GERMANY. Paris, August 23. It is officially announced that 300,000 French machinery plants have been identified in Germany. Restoration is proceeding.—lieu ter. I SCOTLAND'S CASE FOR SELF- | DETERMINATION REQUEST TO AMERICAN FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE. Njw York, August 21. The Washington correspondent of tho New Y'ork "Times" elates that Mr. George Bruce, the American representative of tho Scottish National Committee, has asked Senator Lodge that he should be allowed .to present Scotland's case for self-determination before tho Foreign. Relations Committee' of the Senate—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. MR. HOOVER'sIAsk COMPLETED ADVICE TO STRICKEN EUROPE.' (Rec. itugust 25, 9.40 p.m.) Paris, August 25. Mr. Hoover has completed nis work, nnd is preparing to return to America. In an interview, he draws attention to the seriousness of the outlook in Europe, and the necessity for gieater industrial effort to avoid calamity.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Awn.