THE PEACE TREATY.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1919, Page 2

THE PEACE TREATY.

(By Electric Telegraph —Copyngm.) fAUSTKAUAN &, N.z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

• FRENCH STANDING FIRM. PARIS, June 14. Something approacing a deadlock has now arisen over the Allies’ reply to toe German counter proposals. M. Clemenceau, the French Premier, is reported to be firmly adhering to the terms of the Treaty. 11c does so for the reason that French public opinion is strongly averse to any changes.

WIIAT GERMANY PROPOSES. / WASHINGTON, June 10. The United States Department has issued a summary of the German Government’s counter proposals. The summary states that Germany makes the folowing claims: — Germany to have the right to l retain her colonies, on account of the improvements which she made in them. Germany agrees to pay, as the maximum for reparation, a sum of one hundred billion marks provided that the Allies accept the other German counter proposals regarding the overseas German colonies and territories. Germany refuses to accept the proposal for a trial of the ex-Kaiser, or to sanction his extradition. Germany demands her immediate admission to the League of Nations. Germany states she finds the Labour clauses in the Peace Treaty to be un-

j satisfactory. | Germany also protests against the Alt' lied occupation of her Rhine Provinces. | Germany demands that the Allies • shall withdraw from the occupied area I within six months after peace has been 1 concluded. | Germany proposes that an Interna- ! tional Court be set up, composed of ; judges from neutral countries, to de- • termine the share of war criminality of ! each of the belligerents. i FURTHER PARTICULARS. ; LONDON, June 15. | Further particulars as to the German I counter proposals are announced as I follows: ! Germany agrees to the reduction of ; her armaments, as proposed, and she asks that the period of transition shall permit of some delay in carrying out | disarmament. \ Germany declares that the coal settle I meat in regard to .the Saar must be i carried exclusively on the economic I basis without political conditions be- ] ing imposed there. ' Germany demands a plebiscite in i Alsace-Lorraine as to self-dctermina-j t(on, and also that if the vote is in j favour of France securing the proI vinees, then France should assume a j proportion of the German debt. Germany declines tp yield Dantzig. Germany asks that a special com- | mittee shall decide the future of the i German colonies, which Germany is i prepared to administer, under the Lea- • gue of Nations, provided she is made | immediately, a member of the League, ion an equality with the other memj hers. j Germany also demands the most favI cured nation treatment for a term' of I years.

Germany stipulates the freedom of the tariffs of all nations.

Germany agrees to pay reparation on condition that the annuity during the first ten years should not exceed one billion marks, to be traded on revenues.

Germany stipulates that the total of reparation shall not exceed one Hundred billions of marks, (not 100 millions, as was cabled earlier). GERMANS GIVEN TILL THURSDAY TO SAY “YES” OR “NO.” PARIS, June 15. The Council of Four have considered the reports of the various Commissions on the German counter proposals. It is believed that the Allied reply will fix the 19th of June as the date on which the Germans must say whether they will sign the Treaty or decline to do so.

WIIAT GERMANS WILL DO. PARIS, June 15. Tliert is good reason to believe that when the German delegates receive the Allies’ ultimatum as to deciding by the 19th, they will declare that they must refer the matter to the German National Assembly for decision. It is expected that the German Assembly will reject the Treaty. It is conjectured that the. Germans hope that t-heir rejection of the Treaty may cause a panic among the Allies, thus forcing them to enter into verbal negotiations.