THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1933, 30 January 1919, Page 2

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

NEW ZEALAND’S DELEGATES. * " Wellington. Jan. *27, The following official report is received from London, dated LonJanuary 27(h : The New Zealand delegates al- J tended the second plenary session . of the Peace 'Conference, Mr Masf Pp sey rc])resenling New Zealand, and Sir Jose])h Ward as a member of Britain’s delegation. 1( was ii hrillianl scene when President Wilson, "in the tense silence of the concentrated and universal expectancy set in serious motion the idealistic movement towards the creation of a League of Nations to end war for ever. The President's statement was charmingly eloquent, hut. disappointingly unconvincing. Full value was given to every word, and also to*every omission, for the great assembly obviously realised that (lie argument was more the idealistic product of study than u substantial machine for remedying permanently human frailties, most impressive point was impressively made, this being the solemn warning (hat the delegates were not representative of governments, hut representatives of peoples who were surfeited, with war, and who hade the Conference make a permanent peace. Therefore the League must be the unslumbering eye of the nations, lie moved for the adoption of the proposal, and the immediate appointment of a committee to prepare details. Mr Lloyd George seconded, and said the personal sight of widejrf spread devastation in France, uiiif the acres of graves, convinced him it was time a saner plan than organised savagery was adopted for (he settlement of disputes. The motion was supported by Italy, China, Poland, .Belgium, and the smaller Powers. Air Hughes drew an assurance from M. Clemenceau that the delegates would have an opportunity to diseuss the completed scheme. The Conference later degenerated into a wrangle over the representation of small .Slates on spo- * eial commissions, sometimes delegates simultaneously rising. There was a barrage of argument, and the final procedure surprised many delegates, M. Clemenceau briskly including several undiscussed subjects in a resolution, which was carried, only a few delegates voting. Me Massey lunched on Monday with Air Lloyd George.