SETTLING PEACE.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 February 1920, Page 2

SETTLING PEACE.

THE AVAR CRIMINALS. LEISNER’S ATTITUDE. (By Electric Telegraph—Copyrignt.. PARIS, Feb. 4. Von Leisner declared he would not accept the responsibility for transmitting the list of Germans wanted for trial. He doubted if any German do so. He acted on his own initiative, and the German Government had nothing to do with his action. He says he warned the Allies repeat, edly that a surrender was impossible. The Allied Ambassadors’ Council has been summoned to consider tlie crisis. It is understood the list includes Eloi Scheiner, who is charged with cruelty to women prisoners. Britain demands the. surrender of 90 persons; France, 334; and Belgium, of 334. AVAR- CRIMINALS. GERMAN ATTEMPT TO SHUFFLE. (Received this day at 10.20 i .v).' LONDON, Feb. 5. The English list of war criminals contains the names of those responsible for the Armenian outrages. After a lengthy conference'between Herr Bauer and Herr Mueller, the Government considered the question and decided to insist upon the Note of January 25th, offering to -try the criminals before the highest German tribunal, at which the Allies shall have the fullest representation.

Considerable excitement prevails in Berlin and Paris. The newspapers generally think that the abrogation of the chief moral cause in the Treaty would be a great victory for German monarchists, and also mean that interjiationnl justice died before its real birth.

The Socialist newspapers fear the enforcement of the surrender would engender eternal hatred, and a policy of vengeance without material advantage to us, and pave the way to fresh wars.

ALLIES’ DECISION,

PARIS, Feb. 4. The Council of Ambassadors decided immediately to telegraph the list of war criminals, with a covering letter, to their legations, by which it will be handed direct to the German Government. The Allies profess to take a graveview of Von Lei,suer’s action and state they are inclined to regard it as an attempt on Germany’s part to escape Treaty obligations. Germany is to be informed that Von Leisner’s resignation does not affect the country’s responsibilities for failure to comply with the Allied demands, which would involve serious perils.

A PROPOSED REFERENDUM

LONDON, Feb. 4

“ Le Matin’s " Berlin correspondent states: “It is rumoured that the German Government will ask the National Assembly to take a plebiscite authorising the abrogation of the Article in the German constitution prohibiting the handing over of German citizens to any foreign Power for trial. “ It' is believed the great mass of the people will be indifferent to the vote. They will abstain from voting.”