HYTHE CONFERENCE

Southland Times, Issue 18825, 19 May 1920, Page 5

HYTHE CONFERENCE

THE MIMMUM INDEMNITY TRIAL OF WAR CRIMINALS (By Telegraph.-■ Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Aust. - lian and N.Z. Caolc Association.) PARIS. May 17. M. Millerand, interviewed by the Matin, said: “Mr Lloyd George and myself quickly reached agreement. A communication which will immediately be sent to Germany reminds her, that she was only invited to ?va to give explanations, especially regarding her failure to carry out the military clauses of the Treaty. The Allies meanwhile will continue all measures necessary to ensure the execution of the economic clauses. MINIMUM INDEMNITY FIXED. FRENCH PRIORITY NOT CONCEDED. (Reuter's Telegrams.) PARIS. May 17. (Received May IS. a.5 p.m.) It is stated in well-informed circles that Mr Lloyd George and M. Millerand laid clown at the Hythc conference the sum of 325 milliard marks as the minimum German indemnity, in order to avoid difficulties owing to the fluctuation in rates of exchange. , Mr Lloyd George whs unable to recognise the priority of I ranee s claim to reparation. contending that there could be no distinction between the victims of the war. This objection was inspired by the attitude of the British Dominion Governments, who are counting upon the money due from Germany in order to assure payment of soldiers’ pensions. The French delegates proposed payment of the indemnity in 33 annual instalments, and the raising of a large loan covered by Oermanv, France, Britain, Italy and Belgium, with the indemnity as security. THE IRREDUCIBLE MINIMUM. PARIS, May IS. (Received May 19, 12.45 a.m.) France has agreed to a minimum indemnity of .iIO.tKK), UOt), OOO, which is liable to revision upwards.

WAR CRIMINALS

THE LEIPZIG TRIAL

FIRST INSTALMENT OF NAMES,

LONDON. May 17. (Received May I s , 11.25 i^m.) In the ikeise nt Commons at question time. Mr Bmiar Law stated that all the Allies on May 7 forwarded to the German Government the tir-t instalment, containing 45 name- of war criminals compiled by the Inter-Alhed f omnii.-siuii. Lhe .Allies at the same time requested that the trial of the prisoners by the Leipzig Court should begin without delay. They also pointed out that the German Government must adequately guarantee' the protection of any Allied Witnesses, and allow Allied representatives to be present at all sittings of the Court. Mr Bonar Law reminded the House that the Allies rescr'Y.-d all their rights under Articles 2‘2S and 22!) of the Treaty of Versailles if the procedure at the Leipzig Court was unsatisfactory. THE NEUTRAL ZONE. EVACUATION OF RHINE TOWNS. NO UNTOWARD INCIDENTS. PARIS, May 17. The evacuation of towns on the right bank of the Rhine was carried nut (quietly in the morning. The population was warned by a laconic proclamation by General Degoutu-. .-ay mg that the Trench, would keep their word. A TRIUMPHAL EXIT. HOSTAGES TAKEN. TRIBUTES FROM GERMAN PEOPLE. PARIS, May 17. (Received May 1‘). 12.5 a.m.i The mam body m the French marched in daylight to Mayem-e. bands playing and flag- dying. As hostage- the French took the Burpomtifter, the chief of police, and several councillor-, and ai-o 1 .uoo.tlOf) markin money. They will be returned when the troops have bum evacuated without molestation. The Germans in several places presented flower- and fruit as tributes to the exemplary behaviour the podiis. BRITISH TROOPS IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS. EARLY WITHDRAWAL CONTEM PLATED. LONDON, May 17. ''Received May IS, 11.25 [cm.' It is understtod that all British m ops in France and I-hinders will he withdrawn before the end of the -nmnier. THE EX-KAISER. DEPARTURE FOR DOORN. FAMILY ROWS AT AMERONGEN. (United Service. 1 AMSTERDAM, May 17. file Kaiser f■ t’ An.ciMairc ; !or Item, on May lii. II" but by a back door, avoiding crowd- of photiigr iphcrs. He gave Count Bentinek a bu-t ot him-elf and distributed photographs. The hut days were marked by family rows, one being visible from the mad. The Kaiser -hook hi- fi-t in his daughter-in-law's face. The Kaiser was very agitated. THE TURKISH TREATY. PRESS COMMENT IN INDIA, OKI.HI. May 17. The Fiigli-h press, commenting on the Turkish Treaty considers that Turkey got off lightly owing to Moslem agitation in India. Indian paper- severely condemn the Treaty ;. nd co.i- ab c that Moslem claims have been caiiph" ay ignored. PUBLIC CLAMOUR. RISING. CONSTANTINOPLE, May IS. (Received May If), 12.45 ti.m.) The puuhc clamour agajn-t the Treaty is rising amongst all classes and the press. Refusal to sign is predicted. PERSIA. A BOLSHEVIK INCURSION. (The Times.) LONDON, May 17. ( Received May IS, 5.5 p.m.) Advices from Teheran state that on May--11 a Bolshevik force at Astra crossed the border. They stated that they had no quarrel with Persia, but the British must withdraw.

INVASION FROM AJERBAIJAN. BRITISH TO BE EXPELLED. TEHERAN, May 18. (Received May 19, 12.5 a.m.) Bolshevik forces invaded Persia from Ajerbaijan. They declare that it is their intention to expel the British from Persia. THE POLISH OFFENSIVE. A BOLSHEVIK COMMUNIQUE. ADVANCE IN THE KIEFF REGION. LONDON. May 17. A Bolshevik wireless message states:— We have started to advance in the Kieff region. Fighting is proceeding ten miles north-east of the town. MOSCOW’S SILENCE. A SOVIET EXPLANATION.

LONDON, May 17. (Received May 19, 12.5 a.m.' A Moscow wireless message states that the silence was flue to a great fire in an ammunition depot, which seriously threatcoed the station. PROPAGANDA AMONG THE RUSSIANS. RELEASED PRISONERS AT WORK. WARSAW, May 17. (Received May 18, 5.5 p.m.) The Poles are feeding their prisoners and releasing them. The prisoners are being provided with handbills. Thirty thousand who have been freed are becoming propagandists against the Soviets. There is no fear that they will fight again. EVACUATION OF NOVOROSSISK. PATHETIC SCENES. LONDON, May 17. {Received May IS), 12.5 a.m., 1 The Daily Chronicle’s Constantinople correspondent describes rhe evacuation of Novorossisk, where 10,000 people hud been living in railway trucks and others herded ten in a room in shops and offices, with typhus raging. Among the dead are Prince Eugene Trubetskoy, the well-known philosopher, who just before his death said; ‘Tor the hr.'t time in my life I cannot see the next step.’ Among the hist refugees to depart was a lone woman, simply dressed and indistinguishable from other wretched refugees, who watched the failing land with peculiar intensity. She was the Grand Duchess Olga, the voungest sister of the Czar and the last of the Romanoffs to leave Russia.

CHINESE EASTERN RAILWAY. JAPANESE ACTIVITY. ALLEGED SECRET AGREEMENT WITH SEMENOFF. (United Service.) LONDON, May IS. (Received May IS, 11.25 p.m.) There is a recurrence of the Harbin report- of Japanese activity in Manchuria. It is stated that they entered into a secret agreement with Semcnoff by which they have taken over the Chinese Railway from Chang-Chun to Harbin. They are also said to have signed a secret agreement with the chiefs of native robber bands, who are bound to organise brigandage and foment disorder in Manchuria and destroy property so as to provide the Japanese Government with a pretext to intervene and seize the Chinese Eastern Railway in the name of the protectors of the peace of the Far East.

C2ARIST DIPLOMATS. SOVIET REQUEST TO CHINA. PEKIN, May IS. (Received May IS, 11.51) p.m.) The Soviet authorities at Irkutsk have asked the Chinese Government to banish from China all diplomat- and. consuls of the Czarist Russian Government. ANGLO-RUSS lAN TRADE. BOLSHEVIST MISSION IN LONDON, LONDON, May 17. (Received May IS, 1J.25 p.m.' Bolshevist trade delegates now in London arc attempting to revive Anglo-Russian trade relations, but they declare their inability to give guarantees, whereas the British Government are insisting on the strictest guarantees for the protection of British traders. ALLIED MISSION TO RUSSIA. PROPOSAL FOR THE LEAGUE COUNCIL LONDON, May 17. (Received May 18, 11.25 p.m.) In the House of Commons, replying to Mr Wedgewuoi 1 Benn, Mr Bonar J.aw stated that the Council of the League of Nations sitting at Rome would d-i-euss the question of sending a mission of inquiry to Soviet Russia. THE SHANTUNG QUESTION. CHINESE STUDENTS' STRIKE ENDED. SHANGHAI, May 17. The Chinese students who rebelled on April 14. against the Pekin military Government'- direct negotiation with Japan regarding the Shantung -ftdement have returned to their duties and the strike is at an end owing to failure of support from the crafts unions. A wave of patriotism ha--wept over the country.

AMERICAN PEACE RESOLUTIONS. HOUSE AND SENATES WASHINGTON, May IS. (Received May IS, 11.50 p.m.) The Senate's Peace resolution has been referred to the House of Representatives Committee for the purpose of reaching agreement upon a single form. The House and Senate have adopted differing pence resolutions.