THE PEACE TREATY.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1920, Page 2

THE PEACE TREATY.

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) JAPAN’S RATIFICATION. NEW YORK, Jan. 3. The “Times” Washington correspondent states that the State Department has been informed that the Japanese ratification of the Peace Treaty was sent to the Secretariate of the Peace Conference on the 26th of December.

MORE SHIPS FOR THE ALLIES. , LONDON, Dec. 31. It transpires that no fewer that one hundred German, ships, which mostly liavd been interned in South America, and many of which exceed 10,000 tons, still remain to be handed over to and divided up among the Allies, beyond tho 520 ships already surrendered by Germany, that have been provisionally distributed among the British shipping companies. • GERMANY’S ARMED FORCES. OVER A MILLION STRONG. LONDON, Jan. 2. It is authoritatively estimated that the present strength of the German armed forces of all sorts is over a million. They are composed of an army of 400,000, and a navy of .12,000; a strength of temporary volunteers or army reserves equalling from 150,000 to 200,000; the companies of civic guards 300,000 to 400,000; and the armed constabulary of from 40,000 to 50,000. The last three sections are, however, controlled by the Ministry of the Interior, but are nevertheless regarded by the Allies as a contravention of the Peace Treaty. It is announced that this fact has been notified to Germany by the Supreme Council.

ALLIES STOP SALES. LONDON, Jan. 2. The Allies’ War Reparation Commission have intervened to stop sales of German horses and cattle to neutrals. The discovery of these on a large is considered an illustration of Germany's continued deception, and recently she indir cated she would be unable to comply , with certain of the reparation demands,' owing to the necessities of her agriculture and revictualling her population.

SOVIET PEACE WITH ESTHONIA LONDON, Jan. 3.

The “ Daily Chronicle’s ” Dprpat correspondent says hp witnessed on December 31-st (the (signature of a Treaty between the Soviet Government and Esthonia for a cessation of hostilities. Tecjpiieajly, it means only a week’s armistice, ter. minatable thereafter at twenty four hour’s notice, but it actually means a month’s cessation at least as the Esthonian .‘Assembly cannot ratify the Treaty before February. The interval will enable the Esthonians to test the Bolsheviks’ professions of fraterniy. The agreement recognises 'Bsthonia’s entire independence of Soviet Russia.

PEACE REPORTED S?IGJ>EP- . (Received This Day qt 8 g.in.j BERLIN, January 2. Suspense is by the announcement that pea pc wqs sigped pf Paris pp Tuesday. There is a. deop gloom in Go* Circles because the Allies did not relent regarding the delivery of the Kaiser and his officers for trial.

EBERT’S MESSAGE. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) BERRIN, January .2. Herr Ebert in a New Year’s message Bays under the pressure of ruthless compulsion, we must conclude peace, threatening to place at |he mercy of .foreigners, our honour, welfare ' anej. the fruits of the past, and future labour. Ebert called ijpoij Gerpians jo cjosp Up their ranks and do their ufmosf; to reconstruct the Fatherlaqd.

A HITCH, (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 8

It is understood that the Peace Conference reassembly is postponed till the 9th. It is unlikely that the ratifications will be exchanged before the middle of January. It is rjimoured in Paris that some hitch has opeurred.