Peace Conference.

Taihape Daily Times, 13 January 1919, Page 4

Peace Conference.

VARIOUS DETAILS ARRANGED DOMINIONS ’ REPRESENTATION. Received 9.10 a.m. PARIS. January !) The preliminary Inter-Allied Conference fixed for January 9th has been postponed until Lloyd Geojjge’s arrival. M. Clemenceau confers with Mr. Wilson and Colonel House on January 10th. The Dominions will be represented by a small deputation at the preliminary meeting, but are expected to claim and be granted individual representation ias small nations at the ultimate Peace Conference. LLOYD GEORGE AND W. M. HUGHES ARRIVE. Received 9 a.m. PARIS, Jan. 12. Lloyd George and W. M. Hughes, have arrived in Paris to attend the Conference. THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS. Received 9.10 a.m. PARIS, January 10 The impression is growing here that Mr Wilson and the American Peace Delegation arc giving increased attention to the British plans of the League of Nations, which may be finally adopted. Lord Robert Cecil, who has been the authority on the League, is now constantly conferring with the American delegation. It is felt that Lord Robert Cecil’s views closely coincide with Mr. Wilson’s.

GENERAL SMUTS’ SCHEME.

A NOTABLE CONTRIBUTION.

Received 9.50 a.m,

LONDON, Jan. 10

General Smuts has issued an important pamphlet upon the position and constitution of a League of Nations. The opinion is that the Peace Conference should regard itself as a first meeting of the League. The prime principle of settlement' should be the cases of Alsace-Lorraine and the GernSan colonies. There should be no annexation of territories by any of the victorious States. Probably Finlond, Poland, Czechoslavakia., and Jugoslavia will be capable of becoming independent States immediately, but TransCaucasia, Mesopotamia, Lebanon and Syria will probably require the guiding hand of some external authority. Other countries, such as Palestine and Armenia, should be controlled by the League of Nations, ■which may properly be regarded as reversionary of the German, Austrian, Russian, and Turkish Empirs, which failed because thw were founded on the exploitation of weaker nationalities. The League must control, not direct-

ly, but by nominating a particular state to act on its behalf. The nomination should be subject to the coiidition that the people in question, having the right to choose the power which thy prefer, should have a mandatory duty, though this cannot be applie'3 to cases where it is impossible to consult the country in the forming. The two extremes to be avoided are a superstate and a mere debating society.. The League must be practical and effective as a system of world government. The Council should be small, composed of five permanent members, nominated by the British Empire, France, Italy, United States and Japan. When Germany has a stable democratic government she may nominate another permanent member. To these should be added four additional members chosen from a panel representing the lesser powers, such as" Spain, Hungary, and Serbia,whose nominees serve In rotation. There would thus be ten members on the council, which would resemble the Versailles Council. N.o resolution of the council should UJ®? valid unless passed by more than a two-thirds majority. General Smuts is of opinio, i that conscription is the taproot of militarism and, unless cut, our labour would be in vain. Members of the League must bind themselvs not to ero to wsr with each other until the council arbitrated on the dispute. This prohibition must be guaranteed by force in addition to an economic and financial boycot.