THE END OF THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2093, 21 February 1920, Page 1

THE END OF THE WAR.

OFFICIAL TERMINATION. LONDON MESSAGE DOFDTFD. THE POSITION OF PRISONERS. According to a cablegram, a notice in the* London Gazette lias declared January 10th, 1920, to bo the official date of the termination of the war with .Germany. This announcement has not yet been confirmed in any communication received by the New Zealand Government, and, according to the Wellington correspondent of the New Zealand Herald, there seems Id be some doubt about the accuracy of the cablegram. It has been anticipated that some notice would be given of the termination of the war, in view of the importance attaching to it. The duration of some New Zealand legislation, is dependent upon the official date of the ending of the war. Many business people have an interest,in the matter'also, and Ministers have stated on more than one occasion that reasonable notice will be given. The law of the Dominion defines the date of the termination of the war as a date to.be fixed by the Government by proclamation. This proclamation has not been issued. Among the persons particularly interested in this date are some German prisoners who remain in the hands of the New Zealand' Government. They were chiefly German civilians from Samoa, and the Dominion authorities have'not yet stated definitely what is to become of them. Some of the German civilians who were removed from Samoa during war have been allowed to return, some have gone to Germany. Other Germans remained in the Islands during *the war subject lo prompt arrest and removal in. the event of ill-behaviour. The final settlement as far as these Germans are. concerned has still to be made.