THE PEACE MISSSION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1909, 30 November 1918, Page 3

THE PEACE MISSSION.

NEW ZEALAND’S INTERESTS

MR. MASSEY’S STATEMENT.

After emphasising the importance attached by the Imperial Government to the coming Peace Conference, and the urgent representations made to the New Zealand delegates that they should leave as soon as possible, the Prime Minister gave an outline in the House of Representatives of some of the problems affecting New Zealand directly and indirectly. The British Government was quite sound, ho said, on the subject of the Pacific Islands; but they were given to understand, that they could not take it for granted that they would be able to retain possession of the Islands without a struggle.

Air Young; Is it suggested that Germany desires to retain them /

Air Afassey; There is no question (hat Germany desires to retain them, but I do not think there is a, danger of her doing so. Il is possible an a I tempi may be made to place them under another Pov’cr. Air Isitl : We don’t Avant dual conI ml.

Air .Massey: No, avc .don’t want dual coni ml. There avc re other world-important changes Aviiieh would be decided at the conference. Alsace-Lorraine, lie thought, would ’unanimously go back jo Franco, and .Schleswig-Holstein back L> Denmark. Imt be Avas not so certain. ThereAvas the Slav Stall 1 which he (bought avi mid be established in the Balkans. Thai Avas of great importance to us, as if Avould prevent Germany attempting again to get: a route to Bagdad and the East, opening the AViiy to Australasia. We were directly interested also in keeping the Dardanelles route open. Then (here were changes in A (‘neat If German East Africa were handed hack to Germany it would he a. .serious matter for Australasia, as if Avas right mi the way to the Suck Cana.!, and he thought it should not iw banded back. Who Avould say that they were not interested m Palestine !

Air Payne; Pale.-line is interested in us. (Laughter.) Mr Massey said he was not at all certain (hat Palestine would remain under the control of Britain. The question of war indemnities, he

added, had also to he considered, lie had no definite idea as lo what could he done in Ihis respect, and Avhal (lermany’s resiioives were. A member; They have the raw material. Mr .Massey: They are anxious ahout our raw material. I hope they will never ho able to get it, or that we shall have their manufactured goods. If (here was a war indemnity. New Zealand, in proportion to its effort and size, should have a share, lie would support the (mn-for-lon niercanli!e marine compensation proposal. As lo the Berman Navy, lie did not think (he ships should go hack |o Germany; it was necessary to prevent her from again becoming a menace. He would like lo see a cruiser or two conn 1 down (o New Zealand. With Pacific re-, sponsihilil ies, I hey could well do with the cruisers, hut he only suggested (lie possibility of that. This country needed a great supply of phosphates, and there was an island in the Pacific from which great supplies were obtainable. New Zealand should he able lo make arrangements, even if she did not have possession of the island, for a certain supply. Fiscal questions would come up for consideration.

Mr Payne: We must have (he right to make our own laws. Mr Massey; I'udoubtedly we shall have that power. He'did not know what would he done on the lines ol (he Paris Conference resolutions. Then (here, were 1 lie proposals of •fapern. They were prepared Jo do (he rigid Ihiug by Japan, hid must see Ilml Xew Zealand’s interests were safeguarded. A member; You can leave that to A merica.

Also, said Mr Massey, (here was the question of (he Xew Hebrides. He hoped that something bolter would be arranged than the present uu s a fi s fa c I o ry con dmuin ium, Freedom of (he seas would he considered. Tie did not know exactly wind President Wilson meant by tim expression, but we had to see lhai it was interpreted, in a way that would not endanger the interests of Xew Zealand and the Empire, These were only a few of the questions for consideration, hidi (hey would give members an idea of the importance of the Yew Zealand representatives being able to give tin' British statesmen all the support in (heir power.