AMERICA AND THE PEACE TREATY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 298, 12 September 1919, Page 7

AMERICA AND THE PEACE TREATY

SENATE COMMITTEE'S REPORT

45 AMENDMENTS AND 4

RESERVATIONS

By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright Washington, September 10.

Reporting on the l J eace Treaty to tho Senate, the Foreign Relations Coinmitteo appended forty-live amendments, and four reservations. Tho majority of the report of tho Committee pointed out that the amendments ana reservations were guided toy a single purpose, namely, to ' Kuicguaru America's independence and right of sovereignty, Tho rcsarvaiuuis ma tide-.— Tho right oi withdrawal from tho League. Tito right to refuse the obligations ot Article A, unless Cuugres; decmes to tho contrary. Tho reservation to the United States ot the right to decide what constitute domestic (luestions. Absolute recurvation of the question of Monroism to tho judgment of the United fclutes alone The amendments include also the abolition' ot the voting power of tho British Dominions, and tue restoration of shantung to China. T'no majority report, referring to tho fear that otuer naciuns' would nut accept tiie ' amended Covenant, states that it is tho one thing that certainly cannot happen. Utiier nations must take tho United Stu'tes upon its owii. terms, lor without tho United States the League oi Nations will bo wrecked, and all tho Allied gains which accrue from a victorious peace will bo imperilled. The report stated that India was not entitled to a vote, as suo was a non-selfgoverning Dominion. If Britain, however, had six voles in the League Assembly, tho United States was entitled to an equal number. •'Tho Presidential suggestion that the country would bo unable to.resume trado relations with Germany,until tho Peace Treaty was ratified was not borne out by fuels. Tho United States was already trading with Germany. Regarding tho effect of peace on tho industrial unrest in Britain, it had already been ratified there: but tho industrial unrest had not ceasea—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

"VERY UNJUST TO AUSTRALIA" MR. HUGHBS~ON~THE TREATY Melbourne, September 13. In speaking to tho Bill to ratify tho Peace, I'reaty, -Mr. Hughes said that at the Feaco Conference Australia s claim was for 35i millions, of which 300 millions was for aotuoU- war dobt, and. 54 millions was tho capitalised value of pensions, repatriation, and loss ou civilian property. "At ono stroke 300 millions of our claim was struck out. Probably wo may get between now and tho end ot April, 11121, unything from five to eight millions. I am unable to say how much we will receive afterwards. This peace is very unjust to Australia, which is. burdened with a bild for 300 millions as the cost of a war which wo had not provoked, which''it was necessary that wo »uriu'kl enter or perish." _ Dealing with the exemption of tho llonroo doctrine from the provisions of tho Covenant, ho pointed out that the Monroe doctrine, [ays down that no European Power can meddle in any matter in tho two-American continents; but it does not say that America must not meudle in the affairs of Europe. It rested upon no foundation of international law; it rested merely on the declaration of tho President of the United States; and therefore it was proper that a liko doctrine should be prjmulgated on behalf .of Australia, as far as tho Pacific was concerned. ■ • , Referring to tho mandate over tlio Pacific Islands, Mr., Hughes said: "We thought possession of tho Pacific Islands was essential to Australia. We sought to obtain direct contrail over them, although President Wilson's .'Fourteen Points forbade it; and after a lot .of. fighting tho principle of tho mandate was embodied in the.Covenant of the League of NatioiiH. The terms are not yet ratified, but tho mandate has been bestowed upon us definitely." _ ■ After referring to tho attitude of Japan at the Conference and the fight ho had put. up against her claims, Mr. Hughes said: "We hope Japan, and not only Japan - but all the nations, will remain on terms of the most perfect friendship - with us. But we claim the right to say, in regard to Australia, who shall come in and who shall'not come in. We had Ihis rigbt before the war, and wo claim this right now—Press Assu.

AUSTRALIA'S SHARE OF'THE . INDEMNITY,. Melbourne, September 11. Assuming that the first thousand million indemnity will be paid by Germany in 1920, Mr. William Hughes is' of opinion, that Australia will receive about, ten millions. In the second:payment tho proportion, may ri6e to from fifteen to twenty millions—Press. Assu. [Mr. Hughes is also reported to have 'staved at a party meeting that Australia's eharo of tho indemnity, would be .£60,000,000; but this is denied by Federal Ministers, who state that the matter was, not even mentioned at yesterday's meetiug of the National Party.] (Rec. September 11, 7.15 p.m.) Melbourne,- September Ilk Mr. Hughes declared that though Germany was crippled, the Germans remained as they always were, and it would take two or three generations before wo would havo a Germany that wo could trust. "Her army," he said, "is scattered, and her spirit is broken, but vongeanco remains. For this veneration at least she is incompetent, and for-the time being the world is safe." Ho asked, "Was the Treaty worthy of the sacrifices made, worthy of the ideals for which Australian .boys had died?" He said, heartily, "Yes. They died for tho liberty and safety of Australia. Australia is safe-free. Thoy died, for ay White Australia. It is ours."—Press Assn. .

SOUTH AFRICA RATIFIES THE . TREATY • THE MANDATORY FOR SOUTH WEST AFRICA. (' Cape Tov/n, September 10. In tho Assembly, in the Peace Treaty debate, General Smuts, in replying to the criticisms by the Nationalists, said the secession movement would lead to nothing but misery and bitterness. TheMinister eloquently appealed for peaco aud conciliation. lie declared he .would leave nothing undone to bring_ together tho different sections of the white population, otherwise thoy could never havo a permanent peace. He protested against . throwing away the advantages gained as part of tho Empire to get back to tho ant heap off which they had been dragged. The motion for ratification of tho Treaty was carried by 81 to 19. The minority was exclusively Nationalist s . , General Smuts then moved and longthisy explained the provisions of the Mandate Bill. General Smuts stated that the terms of tho mandate had not yet been actually approved by tho Supreme Council, but it was necessary for tho Government to have mnvi.-K-.na< -.nrnm power.-.- pending an Act of Parliament. General -llertzog strongly protested against the Assembly proceeding when it was not aware .what the mandate exactly was. He did not object to the Union taking over the guardianship of SouthWest Africa pSovided everything was done to meet the requirements of the people there.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DEBATE IN CANADIAN PARLIAMENT FRENCH-CANADIAN OPPOSITION Ottawa, September 10. Parliament is debating tho Peaco Treaty. Opposition nienik'rs argued that approval by the Canadian Parliament would not inako any difference in tho Treaty. . . - . —

Jli\ Ernest Lapoiut declared that President Wilson Lad taken up the position that Canada was not entitled to a vcte under the rules of the League of Nations. He asked if Canadu were entitled to vote would she, if called upon by the to 6end troops to a foreign country, obey. If so, she would break her own Constitution, which provided that Canadian troops should be used only in Canadian defence. Referring to Lord Jellicce's visit, he suggested ihnt when Lord JfUicoo nrrived he should bo treated with the greatest consideration, and told that as far ns advising Canada was concerned it would be wiser for him to wait until. the people of the country'asked his advice. On k'half of the Government the need for urgency in. sreuring ratification in order to .'.egally end the war was stressed. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. September 11, 5.5 p.m.) Oliav/a, September 10V Frencli-Canadiun opposition to the ratification of the :'<:»» Treatv is developing in the llon.-c <:; '.'ominous. The Quebec speakers p:; . i-;.t that it is unnecessary for '.:ic i .....ions to ratify the Peace Treaty, as t ..->:• constitutional position prohibited liiem jj-oru making peace or declaring war. Sir Robert Borden pointed out thr-.t Ihe dominions at present were in a transition stage, and tiiyir exact constitutional position had yet to be settled.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BRITISH LABODMND THR TREATV GERMANY'S ADMISSION TO THE LEAGUE. London, September 20. The Trade Union Congress lias deeij'd to promote a campaign in favour of the speedy admission of Germany into the League of Nations and the revision of'harsh provisions of the Treaty.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. • PRESIDENT WILSON'S TOUR ..COUNTER-MOVE BY HIS CRITICS. (Rep. September 11, 5.5 p.m.) . Chicago, September 10. Republican Senators have begun a counter-tour to President Wilson's campaign. Senator Johnson pointed out that while President Wilson said that Americans were not being sont abroad, Americans x;cn actually sent to Silesia, and others were being slain in Serbia, despite the fact that Congress sanctioned no wnr against Russia. The issue between the Senate and the President was whether the United States shall'conduct its own wars and bo the master of its own destinyi—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

AUSTRIAN TREATY SIGNED

jug'o-slavia and Rumania stand OUT. Paris,. September 10. The Austrian Treaty has teen signed. The delegates of Jugo-Slavia and Rumania, did not sign the Peace Treaty, pending instructions from their Govern-ments—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Altogether a dozen documents were signed in connection with the Austrian Peace Treaty, including treaties dealing for tho protection of. minorities in Rumania, jiicr.-tjii.'Yia. and Czechoslovakia, and financial treaties. Sir Thomas Mackenzie signed for New Zealand.—Renter. (Rec. September 11, S.dO p.m.) London, September 10. The Austrian Treaty was signed without any speech-making.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. September 11, 10.20 p.m.) Paris, September 10. Dr. Renner (Austria), M. Clemeneeau (France), Mr. A-. J. Balfour, Lord Mifner. Mr. Dames, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, and Senator Pcurec (Great Britain and tho dominions) signed tho Treaty, but the. representatives' of Rumania nnd Juiro-Slavia refused, though they are exuccted to accept the Treaty 'in threo davs—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.' THE BL'LGARFaN TREATY Washington, September..lo. 'Advices to the State Department from Paris show that the Bulgarian Treaty is not siimed.—Aus.-:\.Z. Cable Assn. [It 'was reported yesterday that tho State Department''had been advised of tho signature of the Treaty.l