ALLIES AND GERMANY

Southland Times, Issue 18815, 7 May 1920, Page 5

ALLIES AND GERMANY

THE SPA CONFERENCE

ARRANGING THE AGENDA

'(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) {Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

PARIS, May 5. M. Millerand will visit London next week to discuss the agenda for the meeting at Spa on May 25. M. Millerand strongly de sires the Allies to meet the Germans with fixed decisions, admitting only of discussion on the application of them. The two questions on which French opinion is mainly - exercised are the amount of reparations and Germany’s hope of securing a revision of portions of the Peace Treaty. France opposes fixing the total amount of reparations at present, because it believes that Germany is capable of rapid recovery financially and commercially. The amounts should be elastic, consisting of a stipulated annual minimum during thirty years, plus an annual addition regulated by the progress of Germany’s recovery. As regards softening the jjcace terms France apprehensively observes a widespread tendency in the German press to believe the Spa meeting offers an opportunity to convince France’s allies that France is merely pursuing a policy of revenge which is futile for France and bad for the Allies as well as ior Germany.

A FIXED ANNUITY

M. MI LLERAND’S PROPOSAL. LONDON, May 5. M, Millerand is seeking Mr Lloyd George's approval of a proposal that Germany shall pay the Allies a fixed annuity of £120,000,000 for thirty years. The Daily Chronicle’s Berlin correspondent states: “What shall we say we can pay?” is the question agitating the German Government. It is understood that a Special committee of Treasury experts has considered the matter in view of the Spa Conference. They propose that Germany shall pay an annual sum of £50,000,000 in gold. The modesty of the estimate can be gauged when it is remembered that Germany herself proposed to pay £5,000,000.000 during peace negotiations, so it will take a hundred years to reach this modest gum under the present proposal. THE GERMAN ARMY. POSITION STILL OBSCURE. (The Times.) LONDON, May 5. (Received May 7, 12.50 a.m.i official reports show that the organisation and size of the German army are still obscure. The War Minister estimates the total effective force at 654,000, including 284,000 Reichswehr, 100,000 of the old army and 120,000 of the citizen force. The Germans have surrendered for destruction 8705 field guns, 614 heavy guns pnrl 5130 artillery barrels.

THE POLISH OFFENSIVE. A HARD TASK. DIVIDED COUNSELS AT WARSAW. (Reuters Telegrams.) LONDON, May 5. Though the Polish offensive into Russian territory' has started well the Poles are confronted with a hard task and uneasiness continues to be expressed in the London press lest the initial victory should blind them regarding the perilous possibility of precipitate action. That the Polish Government’s action is not wholly supported is evidenced by advices from Warsaw which state that Gaulgki, chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of Foreign Affairs, resigned after an excited discussion in which ho attacked the Government’ spolicy in the Ukraine. The committee eventually passed a vote of confidence in the Government.

A BOLSHEVIK COMMUNIQUE

RETIREMENT FROM KIEFF. LONDON, May 5. The Bolshevik communique admits retirement from the region of Kieff. A Moscow wireless protests against the treE;!ment meted out to prisoners of war by the Poles. It is alleged that the latter shot prisoners, beginning with the Jews, whom they tortured. The Soviet threatens reprisals against Polish bourgeoisie hostages'. Moscow reports state that, a large number of Russian bourgeoisie who lied to Asia Minor from Southern Russia perished in the Black Set when fourteen ships laden with refugees foundered.

CAPTURE OF KIEFF UNCONFIRMED. BOLSHEVIK CAPTURES AT BAKU, LONDON, May 6. (Received Mav 7, 12.59 a.m.) The recent report that the Poles captnred Kieff is still unconfirmed. A Bolshevik wireless message states that the Reds arc preparing defences westward of the town. The Boßheviks claim that they captured two million tons of oil in the Baku region, also that 00,000 remnants of Denikin’s army have surrendered.

THE SOVIET’S RESISTANCE. A CONFIDENT ASSERTION. COPENHAGEN, May 5, Krasain, head of the Russian trade delegation, in an interview, said all the Soviet republics would take up the Polish gaunt kt. He was confident of the result now the Soviet were again in possession of petroleum and coaL It is reported from Kovno that Poland lias concluded, a secret agreement with Finland. This has alarmed Lithuania, Lat Yla, and Esthonia, who may combine in mutual defence against the new triplice of Finland, Poland and the Ukraine.

GERMAN OFFICOALS IN POLAND. ORDERED TO LEAVE. WARSAW, May 5. Owing to the disloyal conduct of German officials, who are temporarily remaining at their posts in the provinces ceded to Poland, the Polish Government is taking advantage of its rights under the Versailles Treaty, and has notified the officials to leave Poland before August 1. The German press is violently protesting.

AUSTRO-GERMAN PRISONERS IN SIBERIA.

A RESCUE EXPEDITION. WASHINGTON, May 6. (Received May 6, 11.15 p.m.) It is understood that the League of Nations will probably choose Dr Nansen, the Norwegian explorer, as head of the organisation for the purpose of rescuing 200,000 German and Austrian prisoners of war held in prison camps in Siberia. It is said that unless this is accomplished before next winter few of the prisoners are likely to survive.

THE GERMAN REDS. DEFEAT NEAR DUSSELDORF. BERLIN, May 5. (Received May 6, 10.10 p.m.) Empire Guards attacked Red Guards near the British zone of occupation, and drove them into the occupied territory - , where they were disarmed. A number of Reds were killed and many were wounded. The danger of a Red attack on Dusseldorf is thus removed. Ebert has been ejected from the Saddlers’ Union because he endorsed a court-martial’s death sentence against a worker named Kopp, who dragged an officer from a cellar where he was imprisoned during the Red rebellion in the Ruhr zone, and shot him in the stomach and allowed him to lie unattended, as Kopp said, so that he might endure the pain longer than if his throat was cut. Kopp robbed the officer’s body. GERMAN BARON MURDERED. RED GUARD’S VENGEANCE. BERLIN, May 4. Baron Gysenhcrg was murdered when going to Munster to give evidence against a Red Guard leader, who was charged with plundering Baron Gyseuberg’s castle. The Red Guards had previously offered 20,000 marks for Gyscnberg’s head.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS. MEETING AT ROME. THE CHIEF BUSINESS. (Imperial News Service.) LONDON, May 5. (Received May 6, 8.5 p.m.) The Council of the League of Nations will open its fifth session at Rome on May 14, to discuss arrangements for the first meeting of the Assembly of the League and the Commission on the qeustiou of disarmament under the constitution of permanent articles of the covenant.

MAINTENANCE OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL. “AN ABOMINABLE SUGGESTION.” LONDON, xMay 5. In a speech at Birmingham, Lord Hugh Cecil denounced the suggestion published that day that the Supreme Council should be part of the permanent machinery of European diplomacy side by side with the League of Nations. A more abominable proposal, he said, could not be made. France must be protected, but help must be given under the League of Nations. The League of Nations will meet in Rome on May 14. Mr Balfour will represent Britain.

THE ARMENIAN REPUBLIC,

RECOGNISED BY ARGENTINA

WASHINGTON, May 5. (Received May 6, 11.15 p.m.) The State Department has been advised that the Argentine has officially recognised Armenia, and published a decree creating a special department in the Foreign Office to handle matters relating to the League of Nations. JAPAN AND GERMANY. RESUMPTION OF TRADE. BERLIN, May 4. The Tageblatt had an interview with a member of the Japanese mission visiting Berlin. He declared that opinion in Japan was favourable towards Germany. Japanese commercial and industrial circles intend to resume economic relations as soon as possible. The Nippon Yusen Kaisha had already established a branch at Hamburg and would send a monthly steamer from Yokohama. Four other kaishas had already established a branch in Germany. Japan would soon be able to supply large quantities of capper and silk in exchange for chemicals. Japan, however, did nut intend to give large credits.

UNITED STATES SENATE. THE KNOX RESOLUTION. WASHINGTON, May 5. Opening the debate on the resolution declaring the state of war with Germany ended, Mr Knox asserted that President Wilson was arbitrarily maintaining that the United Slates was technically at war in order to coerce the Senate into agreement to accept the Versailles Treaty. President Wilson desired above all to retain the autocratic powers conferred on him during the war in order to use them for other purposes. Senator Knox declared that there was imperative need for the United States to dclare peace despite President \V ilson’s opposition unless his will was accepted by Congress. Senator Knox asserted that the Supreme Court would be asked to rule regarding the power of Congress to declare peace by resolution.

SAG HA LI fL PORTSMOUTH TREATY ABROGATED. CONCERN AT WASHINGTON. WASHINGTON, May 5. The United States Foreign Department views most seriously Japanese aggression and occupation of the northern hall of the island of Saghalin, awarded to Russia by the Treaty of Portsmouth and the abrogation of the treaty giving Russia the ownership of the Chinese Eastern railway from the TransBaikal to Harbin, Manchuria and Vladivostok. It is feared Japan contemplates the seizure and control of the vital artery of the Chinese eastern railway, thus cutting off Siberia’s trade from world rivals. The Chinese eastern line is a thousand miles in length.

THE NAVAL WAR. DESIGN AGAINST U BOAT BASES, WASHINGTON, May 5. An attack to force the German submarine bases was contemplated by the Anglo-American naval forces during the closing months of the war. According to Rear-Admiral Benson the American fleet was to be kept at home to protect the coasts in the event of the Germans breaking through the British cordon.