TREATY OBLIGATIONS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 245, 10 July 1920, Page 7

TREATY OBLIGATIONS

GERMANY'S DELAY I i DANGEROUS AND ABNORMAL SITUATION '' ,( ALLIES DEMAND EARLY FULFILMENT ( i By Telegraph-Presi Association-Copyright t i London, July 7. s Tho Conference met this afternoon to | receive the German reply with regard < to tho surrender of material and the reduction of the effective army under j the Treaty. :Herr von Simons repeated that extreme difficulties faced Germany in satisfying the Allies, and that dangers threatened her.. Nevertheless he recognised the necessity of furnishing precise , data regarding'the existing material and the dates on which, in the German Government's opinion, arms and effectives might bo 'reduced to the Treaty figures. He concluded by calling General von' Seeckt, Chief of the German General Staff, to ..speak out. General von Seeckt handed in a detailed note i regarding material, and proposed that < a proportional reduction of material; and effectives should be carried out within '(ifteem months.' ■' • ,' ' , ■Mr.* Lloyd George, in reply n referred to the anxiety. which existed in Germany and which', according to the German Minister's statement, was caused by the Conference.-- Several,millions, of rifles still remained in the hands not only of the troops, but also of the popu-. lation. Moreover there were thusands of machine-guns, trench-mortars, and guns, and over a million soldiers wert under'arms Hinder various forms and pretexts. It was beyond comprehension that such a dangerous and abnormal situation should be tolerated by any I Government. The Allies could not permit, a prolongation of that situation for another fifteen months. It must be settled by a vigorous effort in the shortest practicable time. The military, naval and air experts would meet that night to investigate Allied figures and those 'of von Seeckt, and after that tho Allies would' to-morrow announce their final decision—Aus.-N.Z. CVble Assn. London, July 7. ■ A Spa communique slates that the President, M. Delacroix, and Mr. Lloyd George insisted on the necessity of Germany fixing definite early dates for .the execution of her military obligations. 'Regarding naval and aerial -matters, if they wished sincerely to ensure peace and ; 'to • inspire confidence, Mr. Lloyd George requested the German delegates to furnish details at the next sitting. The German Chancellor, Herr Fehrenbaeh, said ho guaranteed ' the peaceful sentiments of the mass of the German people and their freedom from any idea ■of revenge—Renter. ALLIES' FIRMNESS ALARMS GERMANS. London, July 7. - Messages from Spa indicate that the Germans are genuinely .alarmed by the firmness of the Allies. The French and Belgian delegates.are delighted by iMr. Lloyd George's strong stand. Some members of'tho German delegation counselled refusal to give specific promises, ■ and preferred a rupture of the negotia-tions;-but saner counsels prevailed, awl their discussions, after lasting all night, continued throughout the morning, in order that a plan might be ready for the afternoon conference, in accordance with tho Allies' demands. Tho Germans sought the Allies' advice at one stage, to discover whether they, were proceeding, as was required. Tho "Evening Standard's" Spa correspondent understands that the German delegates' proposals provide • that tho reduction of the number of the.,, effective army shall occupy a much longer time than the Treatv stipulates, and believes ■that the plan will amount to a revision of the Treatv. . The correspondent says the British military advisers support the proposals,-bub-the French and Belgian disapprove of departures from the Treaty stipulations.—ius.-N.SS. Cable Assn.

GERMAN PLAN SUBMITTED . DAGGER. OP RUPTURE AVERTED: (Rec. July '.!,• 5.5 p.m.) * ; ' Spa, July. 7. The German pkm has been submitted to Marshal _'och, Sir Henry Wilson and oilier, military- experts, who will report on it immediately. It is believed the danger of a rupture at the Conference has been averted.-Auf.'-N.Z. Cablo Assn. VON SEECKfTADMISSIONS A MILLION MEN UNDER ARMS AND THREE MILLION ADDITIONAL •' RIFLES. (Rec. July 9, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 7. A message from Spa states that M. Millerand, after the Conference, said:— "Everything is proceeding satisfactorily. Tha Germans are conciliatory. I hope that we will go homo' on Sunday. Mr. Lloyd George said:. "The German plan won't do; but it offers a basis for discussion, after the German reply is outlined." • . ~' , An evening communique states tnat General von Seeckt's.. detailed note admitted that, including the security police and citizen guards, the Germans had a million men under arms and three million additional rifles. The Note added that it was difficult to get these. Everything had been tried except force, v?nicn was dangerous, ' but it would now be tried. Mr. Lloyd George, replying, said that the Allied figures did not tally wth General'von Seeckfs, but even he admitted that a million men were under arms. The fact that there were many revolutionaries did not make the matter less serious. It.was impossible- to allow the unrest in Europe to continue for sixteen months, as von Seek, proposed. The Allies thought that three months were-enough to complete the reduction — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, MILITARY OFFICIALS UNABLE TO REACH DECISION. (Rec. July 9, 8 p.m.) London, July 8. An Exchange Telegraph Agency message from Spa states that the German and Allied military officials informed ; tho Conference that they were unable to reach a decision. Mr. Lloyd Georae curtly ordered them to resume negotiations' and report in the afternoon. It is rumoured that Herr Gessler (German Minister of Defence) resigned, but was persuaded to-, reconsider his decision on a promise that the Germans would ho allowed six months.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable .Assn. - ALLIES r CONDITIONS GERMANS GRANTED A DAY FOR CONSIDERATION. . (Rec. July 10, 1.30 a.m.) • London, July 8. The Germans have been 1 granted a day to consider the Allies' conditions.—"Tne Times." ' ' REPARATION PAYMENTS GERMAN FINANCIERS AM AT POSTPONEMENT. (Rec. July 9,. 8.15 p.m.) ■'■ London, July 7. ' "The Times" Spa : correspondent say* that during the conversation of the Allies Mr. Llovd Georgo suggested that perlwps it would bo advisable to permit the Germans to increase the army in vli« event of 'ho occurrence of internal d hordcr. Marshal I'och objected on tli'i ground that it would encourage the Geri mans to provoke disorder, and tho suggestion was abandoned. All accounts agreo that'.tho Germun .financiers want i some form, of international credit with i a view to expediting, tho restoration of manufactures and foreign, trade. The • scheme apparently aims at ,i postponement of reparations until.Germany is ; able to. pay from her trade profits from oversee. A fatal objection to this is

that the Allies would thereby enable Germany to regain her prosperity before the countries which Buffered most at German hands. It is pointed out, moreover, that Allied acceptance' of ttm scheme might create a mushroom growth in German trade out of proportion, to the markets now open, to Germany.—"The Times." BERLIN PRESS COMMENTS J .GERMAN DELEGATES BLAMED FOR' . MISUNDERSTANDINGS. (Rec. July 9, 8 p.m.) B Amsterdam, July 7. The "Berliner Tageblatt* blames tho--German delegates for the misunderstand ings at Spa, adding: "Mr. Lloyd George '■»■ intends to go straight to the point, and ( the Germans must accommodate them- j selves to this and work with method." ~ The. "Freiheit" says: "The attitude of J the German Government constantly en- 1 dangers the success of the negotiations. 1 The people should insist that their re- c presentatives do not act as valets to Ger- i man militarism."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. i ( I TURKISH TREATY PROPOSALS ; i ULTIMATUM TO BE SENT TO ; THE PORTE ] London, July 7. According to advices from Spa, the Premiers have considered Turkey's reply , to the Treaty proposals and have decided. that it is impossible to make important alterations. They have ordered it . counter-reply containing an ultimatum ] that the Porte must consent ■ within-ten days.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■ ■ PRINCIAPL CLAUSES CANNOT.' BE MODIFIED. V '" London, July 7. An official communique states: The Spa. Conference this morning examined the Turkish observations on the .Peace Treaty, and agreed that it was impossible to modify'any of the" principal clauses as requested by the Turkish Government, but appointed a small committee of experts empowered to consult the military authorities and draft a reply. This will deal with certain minor points on which the Turkish memorandum lias'established a reasonable case, and will r'equire'the signature of" the ; Treaty within ten days of presentation of the reply.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.