PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taihape Daily Times, 1 February 1919, Page 5

PEACE CONFERENCE.

NO LAND GRABBING. 4 PARIS, January 30 Lt times tlie Supreme Council lias ,nkty become a gathering of pollans anxious to find means of pleas r ian4 placating their electoral ’sterif Mr Wilson insists that blic opinion in America will Bitty resent anything savouring of id grapping. Mr. Lloyd George lally asserts that British opinion mauds that the Dominions’ wishes met. The Britih Cabinet’s prosal means that New Zealand will ve the full trusteeship of Samoa d Australia of New Guinea and ) Bismarck Archipelago. DOMINIONS’ NEW VOICE. LONDON, aJnuary 30. The Times, in a leader discussing e German colonies says: “Whatever the final settlement, the colonies 11 never return to Germany. More rmanently interesting is the conrence’s new recognition of the uninions’ national status. The Donions have taken their place in © ,-whole world’s ’sight as selfverning partners of the British npire, moreover exercising a double ice,one on behalf of the Empire and e others for themselves. Their posim at the conference shows ramark)ty how Empire .organisation £ms ken on a new stare in the crucible the world’s war.

THE GERMAN COLONIES. A POSSIBLE COMPROMISE. PARIS January 30 The Australian Press Association’s irnespondent states that the Conferice Council was occupied tail day in nsidering Poland. The Imperial Cabinet, Jniefthbers-,. ith the Dominion representatives, scussed colonial questions in the >renoon. The Dominion representives urged energetic action in ieir interests. If is believed that the American legates lan* not entirely unanimous sgarding the internationalisation of le conquered territories. Possibly compromise may bte reached by hich the territories will forthwith be mded over to the nations interested reservation in favour of ivinf* the League of Nations some oice, when the League is an aeeomlished fact. The French newspapers declare that le British Government will firmly' dhere to the position that the colnie? captured by the overseas Doinions should come within the mtaol of the Dominions concerned, he*correspondent adds: “I am unbl? to confirm this view from Ameca’s own representatives, but other ifomation strengthens the view iat America, has wmakonied , on her revious attitude. The Council reumes the colonial discussion toicrrow. It is reported that the French view egarding territorial acquisitions is hat --my should have the vyameroons nd Togoland, and have perfect librty of action in Morocco, purchasing be Spanish interests there for a bilion francs. The French agree to .ustralia having New Guinea, that Belgium should have Tabora and he western region of Victoria Ny,nza, and part of the western zone n the left bank of the Congo, makng certain compensations to Portu:aL

Up to the present the Great Powers lave sent only two representatives to inch, of the various commissions, initead of the five agreed upon last Saturday. Upon being interviewed, Mr Masey Mr Hughes both' refused to mswer questions regarding the disjosition of the colonies under the iVilsonian plan.

TRYING TO FIND A WAY OUT. ’HE QUESTION OF REPARATION. Received 9.2(Tlun. LONDON, January 30. The “MorHTng Post’s” special Paris orxespondent states the Imperial War Cabinet met Lloyd George and Colonel louse to discuss the mandatory proposal. Messrs. Hughes, Massey, and Jotha put the Dominions’ case, and ef-

orts are being maoS to* reach a compromise. One of the 'suggestions is hat a distinction should be drawn beween territories captured by the Briish and those by the Dominion troops, ut thisi’would hand over Mesopotamia ,nd East Africa to . the League and hem is no evidence that it would rove acceptable*to America. feeling regarding repaation is that Belgian claims should ome first. BritaiiTwiU probably only laixn for ships sunk and damage done n air raids. The French demands have tot been formulated. Serbia’s will bo eavy. «

REPORTED ANGLO-FRENCH I fV G AGREEMENT. A SARCASTIC GERMAN PAPER. Received 10 a.m. BERLIN, Jan. 30. “Vorwaerts,” discussing the reported Anglo-French agreement re German says: It is evident they intend to leave the musical declamatory part in the conference to Mr Wilson and take the business part into their own hands. We Germans prefer the politics of the honest robber, who says, ' r give that I may have” rather than the fine phrases embroidering imperialistic designs.

DECISION LEFT TO CONFERENCE Received 10 a.m. LONDON, January 31 The Central News Paris correspondent stakes Mr Wilson has acecpted the proposition that the fate of the colonies must be decided at the pcaoe conference on the conditions that the decisions are subject to ratifications by' the League.

VITAL APPARENT. Received 10 a.m. PARIS, January 30. As the Conference gets to grips with the various problems vita] disagreements become apparent. For example, Mr. Henderson stated in an interview at Zurich that the foundation society of nations must precede a/ universal abolition of tariffs and the open door. Australian and New Zealand delegates scout this suggestion, declaring import duties are, vita! to growing nations. Other difficult problems include the trial of the Kaiser, and the settlement of an indemnity. There is a fear of little prospect of the British taxpayer receiving immediate relief from Germany. It is expected Lloyd George will return to London on February 10 and explain the international situation to Parliament.

NO PEACE FOUNDED ON LOOT. WILSON'S PLAIN TALK. Received 9.50 a.m. NEW YORK. January 31. Mr. Wilson at Wednesday’s confer-ence-referred to the German colonies question in plain terms, refusing to consider a peace founded on loot. It is reported the Conference’s decision ttn the colonial question permits of self determination in civilised countries, such as Mesopotamia, and giving mandatory power where they are incapable of self government. It is understood the arrangements of the colonies are subject to review two years hence,' BRITAIN WILL NOT GIVE UP GIBRALTAR. FRANCE WILL SUPPORT DOMINIONS. Received 11 a.m. LGADON, January 31. Britain has finally refused to consider the transfer of Gibraltar to Spain. Australia continues her opposition to Wilson’s colonial plan. M. Clemenceau has promised Mr. Hughes his full support in respect of New Guinea. The “Daily Mail” says it expects Australia will not press its opposition. PARIS, January 31.

Mr. Wilson bolds tenaciously to the view that Australia, New Zealand and South Africa must not obtain the colonies except from the League of Nations. It is hinted President Wilson will return home unless his ideas are sanctioned in some form.

GERMANY'S LOST COLONIES. NO ANNEXATION. PRESIDENT WILSON’S ARGUMENTS. PARIS, January 30. President Wilson declares that his fourteen points accepted by the Allies include the principle of no annexations. President Wilson says; “If tha Conference tolerates acquisitions, wo shall renew the evil atmosphere of the Vienna Congress. Grave difficulties are foreseen in putting a comproraise into operation, seeing that Ihe couriered may theoretically be annexed subject to the will of the League. The question therefore arises; Who pays the Government for'the development of the conquered area, also whether the mandatory power will be allowed to exclude such people as it wishes? French, Italian and British overseas opinions concurs regarding international control as doomed to failure. Mr. Fraser states: Overseas delegates believe President Wilson’s firm stand is due to fear that Japanese 00-, ( cupation of the islands in the Pacific may cause an oufSry in America,

REPUBLICAN ' OPPOSITION IN AMERICA. Received 1130 a.m. WASHINGTON, January 31. In the Senate the Republican Senators bitterly opposed Wilson’s colonies plan, also vWfE reference to the conquered Turkish territories scheme. Senator Lodge declared the repoits were of such an effect as to be unbelievable. Senator Knox described them as preposterous. Senator Johnson said he would never vote for a treaty sending Americans to Africa or Asia.

THE MANDATORIES 'POLICY. LONDON, January 30. Mr. Cook is not unhopeful that the ultimate results of the Peace Conference will be satisfactory to Australia. Ho confesses he is hot enamoured of the policy of mamJatSries in the Pac: fic, but believes that when finality is reached, nothing untoward v% ill be decided" as far as the Pacific is concerned. It is difficult to understand the practicability of the mandatories policy anywhere, but particularly in the remote Pacific, inasmuch as the mandatory (power would presumably ho subject to the League of Nations, whose constitution is unknown, powers undefined and policy iihguessable. Anything short of direct control would be for Australia and Britaip a leap in the dark. Mr. Fraser, in the “Daily Mail,” asserts that the British Cabinet has accepted President Wilson's plan for choosing the Power contiguous to Conquered territory to govern it, safeguarded by the League of Nations. The British regard this as annexation, in fact if not in theory. South Africa and Australia protested against acceptance AMERICAN OPINION. NEW YORK, January 29. The United Press Paris ‘correspondent interviewed a high international law expert, who expressed the opinion that secret treaties were abrogated by the Allies and the Central Powers’ acceptanc of President Wilson’s fourteen points. Therefore, the Anglo-Japanese treaty, giving Japan the Marshalls and Carolines was now void. " LONDON, January 31. A high legal authority states that the Pact of London ha's nowlioen nullified as the signature of the armistice, including President Wilson’s fourteen points, supersedes, secret treaties. This question came into prominence during the discussion of the colonial claims. For example, reports have been published concerning the secret AngloJapanese treaty of 1916. giving Japan the Caroline and Marshall Islands, but np complications are expected lover thesn matters in view of the clearness of tbe Powers’ positions under the armistice. ITALY’S AFRICAN CLAIMS. ”• T-nivod 10 a.m. PARIS, January 29. The adjustment of the various claims in Africa is proving difficult. .Signor Orlando has now stated that Italy desires to secure parts of Somaliland at Djibouti, in view of the possibility of the growth of British, Belgian and Portuguese power.