GERMANY’S HOPE

Southland Times, Issue 18817, 10 May 1920, Page 5

GERMANY’S HOPE

WANTS COLONIAL EMPIRE

DISAPPOINTMENT OVER SPA MEETING

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

PARIS, May S. (Received May 9, 11 p.m.) Reports from Germany indicate disillusionment regarding the Spa Conference. There was a widespread belief that the Spa Conference meant a revision of the Treaty. Messages from Entente countries corrected this impression, consequently the Government fears to shoulder the responsibility of disappointing the nation.

GERMANY’S REQUEST, POSTPONEMENT OF SPA CONFERENCE. PARIS, May S. It is understood that Germany requests that the Spa Conference be postponed until after the Reichstag elections, which will be h£ld on June 10. GERMANY’S COLONIES. WANTS THEM BACK. BERLIN, May 8. (Received May 10. 12.30 a.m.) The German Colonial Society passed a resolution demanding the revision of the Peace Treaty to enable Germany to resume her place in the colonial sphere and urging the Federal and State, Governments to secure the education of the school children in the importance of possessing a colonial empire. Dr Wirts, the Imperial Finance Minister, in a speech at Dresden said that the G ennans were willing to go to the Spa in order to convince the Entente that European solidarity is as essential for the future prosr>erity of the Entente as of Germany, but if the Gormans were only invited to learn what the Entente had already decided, then Germans would refuse to atGERMANY’S LOSSES. A SEMI-OFFICIAL ESTIMATE. BERLIN, May 8. (Received May 9, li p.m.) A semi-official estimate of the losses of German assets under the Peace Treaty includes the following items in marks:— Saar Mines 1,000.000,000 State Property in the surrendered area . . 7,000,000,000 Surrendered Building Material, Live Stock and Machinery .. 1,817,000,000 Goal 710,000,000 Dyes and Railway Material 750,000,000 Military Material abandoned in France and Belgium 7,000,000,000 Irrecoverable Austrian, Bffigarian and Turkish Debts 7,000,000,000 Value of commercial shipping, inestimable. Maintenance of army of occupation from January to April waa 2,908,000,000. GERMAN INDUSTRIAL GROUP. PURCHASE OF NEWSPAPERS. j

BERLIN, May 7. Hugo Stinnes, the iron and coal king, purchased the Government's organ the Deutsche Allgemeiue Zeitung, whereupon the staa resigned. Stinnes, in conjunction with Hugenberg, director of Krupps, purchased the Augsburger Abendzcitung. The purchases have created disquietude owing to the increasing syndication of newspapers jn the interests of the industrial group.

THE FRENCH AT FRANK-

FORT,

LOCAL AUTHORITIES FINED. PARIS, May S. (Received May 9, 11 p.m.) The Fretuih commander at Frankfort fined the Chief of Police 10,000 marks for failing to report the existence of a depot of arms. He also fined the chairman of the Municipal Council 10,000 marks for protesting against, the occupation of the city. TERMS FOR TURKEY. TO BE HANDED TO DELEGATES THIS WEEK. PARIS, May 8. (Received May 9, 11 p.m.) The Peace Treaty will be handed to the Turkish delegates on. Tuesday. Turkey is given, a month in which to make observations regarding the conditions. TROUBLE AT FIUME. D’ANNUNZIO AND ROCCO FALL OUT. FIGHT BETWEEN FACTIONS, ROME, May S. (Received May 9, 11 pun.) As a result of a dispute at Fiumc between Rocco, commanding the Italian Carabinieri and D'Annunzio, Rocco decided to quit the city. His force was attacked by D'Annunzio's bravos on the border. A general conflict took place in which there were many casualties. Five Carabinieri and four bravos are dead. KNOX PEACE RESOLUTION. POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS. WASHINGTON, May 7. It is understood that the Senate has decided to resume the discussion on the Knox Peace resolution on May 10. It is believed an amendment may be offered in which the Senate will be asked to approve of the principle that the League of Nations is the best means to prevent war. But it is expected that the Republicans will defeat this AS well as other amendments. | POLISH-UKRAINIAN OFFENSIVE. CAPTURE OF KIEFF CONFIRMED. ODESSA OCCUPIED. LONDON, May 7. The Ukrainian Commission confirms the capture of Kieft and reports that General Pabelenk’s troops have accupied Odessa. The Galicians are revolting against Bolsheviks. The Ukrainian-Roumanian alliance is reported to be completed. Trotsky Is scared. He admits that the Polish attack is the most serious problem the War Office has been faced with since the revolution.

RUSSIAN REINFORCEMENTS LONDON, May 8. (Received May 10, 1.30 a,m.) A Moscow wireless message claims that the whole of Russia is rising against Poland and that 120,000 troops are marching from Moscow to the Dnieper.

THE FIGHTING FOR KIEFF. BOLSHEVIKS ON DNIEPER LINE. GENEVA, May 8. (Received May 9, 11 p.m.) The Ukrainian Press Bureau states that Polish forces cut the railway forty kilometres from Kieff, threatening the Red Army’s line of retreat. MOSCOW, May 8. A Bolshevik communique states that the Bolshevik troops engaged superior enemy forces on the night of May 6-7 north-west and south-west of Kieff. The enemy broke into the outskirts of the town, but counter attacks held them up. Later, in accordance with instructions, the Bolsheviks withdrew in good order to the left bank of the Dnieper. SOVIET PEACE OVERTURES. REPLY TO LORD CURZON. LONDON. May 7. A wireless message says that Tchitcherin, replying to Earl Curzon in regard to opening conversations concerning the cessation of the advance in the Crimea, stated that the Soviet Government was ready to negotiate with Britain and was prepared to adj mit General Wrangel and British officers to participate in the negotiations. | The Soviet is preparing peace negotia--1 tions with the Caucasian States, and promises to consider British interests in the Caucasus.