THE PEACE TREATY.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1919, Page 3

THE PEACE TREATY.

MR ASQUITH SPEAKS. (By Electric Telegraph—Cop, fght.J

(Received this day at 9.20 a.m.) LONDON, October 22. Mr Asquith, at a meeting in Central Hall, vigorously attacked the Government’s lack of a settled policy. Every Minister was. a law unto himself. Referring to Russia, Mr Asquith said on behalf of the principles for which we fern oh t, which professedly the Treaty embodies, he protested against the employment of money resources and men in tli© settlement of a- purely domestic question. Dealing with the question of finance he demanded that the Government should, produce a new budget. It was useless to proceed with the tinkering of a sham preference, which in the long run would only result in loss of revenue and increase of prices. The country was not bankrupt amd was not poor. New sources of taxation must be discovered and utilised. A large accumulation of wealth made during the wartime, should in justice and equity, be the primary contributors to the relief of the war debt. Expert inquiry regarding a capital levy was an absolute necessity.

AMERICA AND TREATY. (Received This Dav at 10 15. a m l WASHINGTON, Oct. 21. Senator Jones proposed that the Senate attach a paragraph to the ratificaft tion resolution, providing that United States withdraw from the League in two years, unless China’s sovereignty is restored in Shantung. Britain had settied the Irish question satisfactorily to the Irish, people, Egypt was given complete independence and all League members abolish conscription bcfoie then..

Mr MeCumser submitted to the Senate compromising reservations. He aigued that they were mild reserations covering the Monroe Doctrine, United States withdrawal from the League of Article Ten, Shantung, and equalisation of League Council voting power. Democratic Senators conferred to decide whether to accept the reservations.

DEMAND FROM GERMANY

fß,eceived this day at 11.25 a.m.) PARIS, Oct. (22.

The Supreme Council, in a note, calls attention to Germany’s atempts to evade the terms of the armistice, and de mands the handing over of five German merchant ships of a total tonnage of sixty thousand, which Germany admits were transferred to Holland in 1916. This transfer was invalid, the fact of which. "Germany and Holland were aware. Subsequently the ships never put to sea, fearing capture