THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1919, Page 3

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

(AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION]

PEACE TERMS

FURTHER DISCUSSION

(Received This Uay'at 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, March Tf>. Desring to more closely study the preliminary peace terms and to consider the inclusion of the League of Nations’ scheme therein, President Wilson did not attend Saturday s Supreme, War Council. Other members did not see the necessity for the inclusion, but Mr Wilson is anxious to see the scheme safely and definitely through at the earliest moment. . Owing to Mr Wilson’s absence the Council postponed the adoption of tlie final draft of the military, naval, and j,ir terms till Monday afternoon. The Allies have arranged to senci the 'Germans 270,000 tons of wheat, I meat, and condensed milk monthly, and , will allow them to fish in the Baltic Sea. 100,000 tons of potatoes will be j forwarded immediately for tlie occu-' pied territories. •’ Admiral Wemyss reported the SIU ' ; renders of the uerman ships were ac- j quiesced in without discussion.. ie -j proceedings were of a most concise and j frigid character. | j

GERMANY’S ARMY. {Received This D»v Qt 9 30. a.ra.) PARIS, March 1». French opinion believes tlie plan to ' permit Germany to organise a voluntary army of one hundred thousand men for twelve years enlistment, will result within five years in Germany having a well officered army of several million men. It is pointed out that long period enlistment will encourage many young men to take up a military career and training will make them practically all officers. Of course a large number of veterans in the present war are young men able to serve in future German armies.

(Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) PARIS, March 15

It is now announced that the Germanmerchantmen will he handed over_ without any ceremony. Vessels lying inneutral ports will l>e taken over theio. Vessels in German ports proceed to various ports in Britain. The suiHindered vessels will he almost wholly manned by British, French and American crews. Those which, are used for transport of troops will be entirely manned by British, French and AnieriI cans. The total tonnage inyolved is jropghly 3} millions and will be divided Among the Allies, but as Italy possesses #ll the Austrian she has only j received a small portion of the German j tonnage, France receives big ocean liners to the extent of seventy-five to one hundred thousand tons. The balance is divided between Britain and America to be used mostly for the j transport of troops. As America is pot interested in cargo carriers, Bri- I tajn absorbs three-fourths of these and France the remainder. ;

THE HANDING OVER. (Received This Day at 1.5. p.m.) PARIS March 15

The surrendered German merchantmen will be delivered similar to the surrender of their Navy. A large quantity of army food stores have already been delivered in the occupied areas pf Germany. PACIFIC ISLANDS. (Received Tine Day at lfs. p.m.l ' PARIS, March 15. Mr Murdoch states an important discussion has been begun regarding the Pacific Islands. A general interpretation of the mandatory theory is that three classes of mandates will be prepared. First the governing intelligent as for instance Arabia. Secocannibalistic natives including East Africa. Third, territories where internecine warfare prevails. Australasian mandates for South Pacific fall under the last head. The main points of discussion are the wisdom of permitting fortifications in South Pacific Islands in view- of the certainty that similai rights would be strongly claimed for the northern islands. Secondly, should Britain insist on the promised clause providing the territories become integral parts of the mandatory countries whenever the inhabitants choose, or present a petition claiming union. Thirdly, should. Japan be given identical mandates for Carolines and Marshalls. In view of the strong, clamorous Japanese demand the position is too delicately poised for comment. New Zealand seems prepared to forego point one. Mr Hughes is vigorously pressing point two. Considerable feeling is aroused over the violence of his representations. The delicacy lies in the fact that the British believe if the right of fortifications is given to Australasia over Samoa and southern islands, the same right must be given to Japan., PARTS, March 15. On the subject of Mr Hughes claim of the right to fortify the southern Pacific Islands, the view held by Hon. Lloyd George, Balfour, and Lord Milner is that it is better to accept a general agreement not to fortify, than to grant a similar concession to Japan for the Northern Islands. Should Mr 'Wilson insist on the incorporation of the League Convennnt in the peace preliminary, the discussion may come to a head, but otherwise the points will not lie decided for a considerable time. The second class mandate rigilv applies to the principle of open door and third to the closed door. Nauru Island for which Australia wants a mandate, possesses almost unlimited supplies of phosphates, most valuable for Australian agriculture. It will be remembered that Mr Hughes and Mr Massey present ed separate memorandums claiming a mandate.