SETTLING PEACE.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1920, Page 2

SETTLING PEACE.

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) AMERICA AND THE TREATY. WASHINGTON, Feb. 16. Tiie Senate resumed consideration of the. Peace Treaty matters. Senator Lodge moved the adoption with the modification of the League of Nations covenant, providing for the withdrawal of the United States -from membership of the League. Senator McCormick pointed out that Europe was asking for changes in the Treaty and there were good reasons why tlie United States ought not to ratify the Treaty. President Wilson’s Note to the Allies on the Adraitic question is reported to contain a suggestion of the.refusal of America to aid in foodstuffs from Europe if the Allies are obdurate. TREATY TERMS. LONDON, February 14. The Supreme Council of the Allies met at 1 No 10 Downing street and eon sidered the reply to be made to the Dutch Note of January 23rd. It is understood that the reply will not repeat the demand for the surrender of the ex-Kaiser, but will point out the undesirability of retaining him in Holland, both in the interests of Holland of the peace of Europe. The Supreme Council also considered the German informal reply regarding the war criminals. It is understood that Germany declined to surrender the latter, but offered to try them before a German tribunal. It is expected that the Council’s final answer will be drafted this afternoon and immediately telegraphed to Germany. It is announced that The Supreme J Council Notes in regard to the exKaiser and the other alleged was criminals have been finally settled, and are now being forwarded to the German and Dutch Governments respectively. The contents of the Notes- will not be published until the replies have been received. FIRM ALLIES. LONDON, February 15. ' 'PWior to returning to Paris, M. Millerand (French Premier) informed Reuter’s representative that he was quite satisfied with the result of the conversations lie had be in London. Ke- | lations between England and France, lie said, could not be better. “There is a complete understanding between ’ us,” he concluded, “the sky is clear and there are no clouds.

BULGARIAN PEACE TERMS. ROME, February to. Italy has formally ratified the Bulgarian Treaty.

SHANTUNG DEADLOCK

WASHINGTON, February 15

The Chinese Foreign Alin is ter, and his Deputy, who advocated acceptance of Japanese proposals at the beginning of negotiations regarding Shantung have resigned.

AX EYE TO. THE POSITION. PARIS, Feb. 16. Marshal -Foch remains in London till Wednesday, to discuss military questions arising out of the Turkish Treaty. It was decided to maintain the Sultan’s sovereignty in Constantinople, but it distinctly establishes the freedom of the •Bosphorus and Dardanelles under international control. The Sultan only will be permitted to keep a small army.

A STRAINED POSITION. LONDON,' Feb. 16

It is understood that President Wilson’s letter regarding the Adriatic question, caused a strained, almost a painful situation. Rt. Hon Lloyd George maj take the unusual course of making it statement in the Commons, justifying the Allies.

It is asserted in some quarters that the Allies draft of the reply is couched in firm, unequivocal language, hut it may not he sent in that form. The 'Allied Powers, in their reply, record Germany’s declaration of its inability to carry out the Peace Treaty in regard to the surrenders. They accordingly reserve power to employ nights; which the Treaty opcords to the Allies, but they note Germany’s offer to immediately open penal pro- ;< feedings before the Supreme Court at Leipsig against all those whose extradition was asked for. They also note Germany’s undertaking that the Court would he under most complete guarantees and not affected by other German judgments or Court prac. tijee. They decide to allow German trials.

MR BONIAR. LAW CORRECTIONS. (Received this day at 8 a.m.l LONDON, February 17. i In the Commons replying to I.ord Robert Cecil, Mr Bonar Law depreciated premature publication or discussion of that part of the Peaeo settlement which would make the work of the Peace Conference more difficult. He - declared that the reports that the Allies abandoned the demand for the surrender of the War Criminals, that the United States dissented to the proposals of the Allies for a settlement of the Adriatic question, and that the Allies had decided to leave the Turks In possession of Constantinople, to be absolutelv unauthorised. He announced a new Allied Note iu regard to the War Criminals had been _%. sent to Germany and would he published as soon as it was received in Germany.

THE TURKISH TREATY. (Received this day at 9.20 a.m.) PARIS, Fob. 15. It is reported from London that the Supremo Council on the 14th decided on the principle that the Sultan shall remain at Constantinople, but that rigourous military and naval control of the _— Dardanelles he established. Details of. ; the control will be settled by experts, . • including Marshal Foch, who will begin the meetings on the 16th.

THE TURKISH PEACE. (Received This Day sit 8 a.m.) LONDON, February 17.

The Supreme Council at Downing Street to-day discussed the question of the Turkish Peace, in connection with which M. Venizelos (Greece) attended. He stated the case for Greece and also discussed the draft of the reply to President Wilson’s Note in reference to the Adriatic question. The draft is not' yet completed, and the forecasts published will probably be found to be inaccurate. It understood that Mr Wilson’s letter was not a gratious intervention, but was in the nature of a reply to a Note from the 'Conference outlining the provisional decisions and the reasons for them.

THE DELICATE SITUATION. (Received this day at 8.40 a.m.) LONDON, February 17... The newspapers are reserved in commenting on the international situation, especially Mr Wilson’s Adriatic Note. The Daily “Graphic” says the Allies Note to Holland is an excellent piece of forensic eloquence but the authors are obviously conscious it will have no effect upon the Dutch Government. It finally closes with the suggestion that the distinguished, criminal should be sent abroad. A similar safety expedient is suggested in connection with the minor war criminals of Germany. The whole business has been allowed to drift into a hopeless tangle. The Morning “Post” is of opinion the Entente is climbing down. PARTS, February 17. M. Vieetoire says Mr Lloyd George’s altered views regarding the : Turk, whom be previously desired to expel from 'Constantinople, are due to the recognition of the fact that the expulsion would have disastrous effects in India, Mesopotamia and Egypt. WHERE UNCLE SAM FAILED. (Received this dn.v at 10.1 A a.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 16. The Congressional Aviation report adds that not a single American built aeroplane participated in the war. ALL THE DIFFERENCE. (Received this day at. 10.20 a.m.' WASHINGTON, Feb. 16. An emphatic denial is issued, from White House of the report that President Wilson threatened to withdraw the Treaty of Versailles from the Senate if the Adriatic question were settled without the United States participating.

In a further statement, the White House officials flatly contradict the previous statement, but admit Mr Wilson’s memorandum regarding the Adriatic stated he might be compelled to withdraw the Treaty from the Senate if the Allies proceeded without American participation. No threat was made, however, with reference to the withdrawal from the Treaty. It was more in the nature of an elucidiatory statement, dealing with the situation created by the activities of the British, French and Italian Premiers.

THE SULTAN . / • LONDON, Feb. 16. ' M. Millerrfnd, interviewed in London said: “Wliile the Sultan of Turkey re- - •f' tains his sovereignty of Constantinople lie probably will not be permitted to keep any Army.” WHO IS" TO BLAME? (Received this day at 11.20 a.m.) WASHINGTON, February 17. The State Department alleges that _ the French press is endeavouring to .blame the United States for interfering in the Adriatic settlement whereas the blame belongs to Premiers Lloyd George, Millerand, and Nutti, who, * without consulting the United Stales, adopted the new agreement and sent an ultimatum to the Jugo-Slavs.