PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taihape Daily Times, 3 February 1919, Page 5

PEACE CONFERENCE.

THE GERMAN COLONIES. A STEP FORWARD. I FINAL SETTLEMENT FAR CL*. Received 9.20 a.m. LONDON, February 1. The official disposal of the former colonies and other enemy tertorielH&as not finally been settled, a •ovisiofiST agreement only being sached. Even this is indefinite and able to vital alteration; but'it may 3 assumed the inter-Allied Conference is practically adopted the principle f internationalised control by mandates appointed by the League of Naons. The mandatdr-y Powers have ot vet been selected, but it is safe to ssume New Zealand will be the manatory State for Samoa, Australia for low Guinea, South Africa for Southast and' South-west Africa, Japan for tie Pacific islands north of the equaor. The disposal of other territories is till undecided. It has been reported hat Australia has rejected the proviional agreement. Such a report is lisleading. Africa, Australia, and New Zealand have agreed to accept the aandatory principle with certain vital eservations and safeguards, hut the Australian delegate must obtain the :onsent of his Government. This was he basis of theTnisleading report that Australia alone disagreed. The reservations and safeguards stipulated by :he delegates concerned in the future )f the African colonies. New Guinea provide for the administra:ion oT each colony under the laws of

i mandatory, to which a colony will be attached: also for the prohibition )f certain abuses and practices foreign :o British policy, such asf'slave trade, inns and liquor traffic, and prevention if military draining of natives other than for policing the colony. With :hese safeguards the Pacific dominions lave provisionally agreed- to a maniatory control, but. the question is still ’ar from a .final settlement. A STRENUOUS FIGHT, AUSTRALIA TAKES THE LEAD DOMINIONS TO BE MANDATORIES Received 8.55. • PARIS. January 31.

Mr, Murdoch states as the Council reached the'final phase of the colonial discussion it required obstinate argument. Finally Mr/'Wilson said to Mr. tralia is prepared to concede?” “Absolutely,” replied Mr. Hughes, “and it is conditional upon Australia receiving the mandate and consent from Australia/’ This was more than a mere gesture dissent.. It means the Commonwealth remains in the strongest possible position, as her consent is reserved until it is absolutely certain she receives the mandate under these terms. The importance of the concession is great, because while Australia’s defence,and navigation' laws will apply, the formula was Mr. Hughes’ suggestion, and had' first to be fought through the Imperial Cabinet, where Messrs. Hughes. Massey and Botha all registered a formal protest against the British acceptance of the mandatory system, and produced the formula, as the minimum acceptable under the protest Botha’s. Massey’s, and Hughes’ formula was wrapped' in a lengthy resolution of ten clauses, whereof the eighth wthe vital provision, also accepting thconditions previously mentioned in t'-Govcrnior-eCneral’s terms 1 by Wilson, these being prohibition of slave salb of liauor to natives, military training of natives except as police, also reservations regarding the amount of defensive works permittable. The delegates don’t regard the provisional settlement as absolutely final, because the essential part of Mr Wilson’s plan is that the League of Nations must he ifee-body issuing and defining the mandates. But the Council accepted the formula and the authoritative British statement leaves no doubt that Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa will get mandates on the closed door basis. The statement regards the mandatory system as an extension of British colonial methods, and claims it benefits the Empire because foreign colonial administrations previously handicapped British traders.

SOME PRESS OPINIONS.

POURING VITRIOL ON HUGHES. ’ WHAT AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS THINK. Received 9.30 a.m. LONDON. January 31. Opinion in Radical circles regarding the Australians’ attitude on, the Pacific is voiced in articles in the "Daily and Manchester Guardian.” The former makes a vitriolic attack on Mr. Hughes under the heading of "A Public ’banger.” and eaysf “Doubtless Mr, is acting on Mr, Watts' instructions,- but -was not bound to give Australia’sVc-iaims to .pewspapers in the form of an inflammatory manifesto. After the (d’efeat of his protection cruaide Mr. Hughes sank Into obscurity.

Is he now to be permitted to emerge to trouble the peace' of the w r orld? Have we got a Red Kaiser and are we to be saddled with Hughes?” The “Manchester Guardian” substitutes argument for invective, and asks: “Since there Is no question that the colonies can be restored to Germany, is it essential to the dominions they should severally be given full possession? Such policy is likely to breed jealousy, dislike, and conflict. The claim of any nation to seized territory with populations is essentially immoral. NEW YORK, January 31.

The “Herald," editorially says: “It must be remembered that New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago for the past four years have been administered by the Australian Government. During this period the people of these islands have settled down peacefully and contentedly to Australian rule. The internationalisation of these islands wollTcl be difficult, and might bo unjust both to Australia and the place disputed.” The “Sun’s” Paris correspondent says Mr. iWlson suggested two classes of mandatory government for the German colonies under the League of Nations, namely: “For civilised colonics the nation to hold the mandate would be selected through an expression of the will of th© inhabitants. The League would choose the mandatory nation, for uncivilised territories.

The “Tribune/’ editorially says: “There would be no objection to transfer the German colonies 'ftT a League of Nations if the trusteeship was only temporary. Permanent ownership by the League would entail embarassment. The colonies should "be used to cancel some existing claims against Germany for indemnities. PARIS, January 3'

The Australians here feel Mr. Wil son has failed to distinguish between measures essential to Australia’s safety and petty f?rflhsrial ambitions. Mr. Wilson during a long conversation with Mr. Hughes admitted the Australian economical and political claims’to the German cbldhies, but would not change his view. One Australian delegate, referring to this conversation, said: “I am Convinr ed if ours was the only case Mr. Wilson would have been with as.”

MR. LLOYD GEORGE SHOWS

HIS HAND,

PARIS. January 30.

Mr Murdoch states; Such "ffiep movements, thought shufflings anu diplomacy as marked the last four days’ vehement debate must inevitably affect in an important degree the general trend of the world’s affairs, Although President Wilson won the main point, it was evident last night that his position had been seriously- weakened. As distinguished members of the Council said, during the last hours of the debate, Mr Lloyd George held the trump cards. He did not play them, hut he gave President Wilson "a peep which seemed disturbing. Mr. [Lloyd Gerogc’s trumps consisted of the ability of Britain to lead a European Alliance which would form its own League of Nations, based not upon fantastic schemes for foreign supervision of territories strategically necessary for young democracies, but upon the great principles of traditions of the, British Government. In other words, President Wilson learnt that if he insisted in dictating the exact form of a League of Nations, and all the settlement?, .’hi? league would not; ;be formed During the debate a Dominion delegate said to President Wilson: "You are the elected President of the United States but not the elected president of the League of Nations.” The general effect of dragooning all the Powers into the general application of the mandate system has been to greatly strengthen the conservative conception of (a. League of Nations. Europe gave in to President Wilson primarily because he seemed determined to make the non-acceptance of the mandate system into a crisis, and to return charging the Allies with a breach of faith in the non-observance of his fourteen points. This charge might have been difficult to refute, and America, on such a charge, might have stood behind President Wilson, It has been made plain to President Wilson, however, that he has forced the Allies to insist that the League i oTNations shall not be giveiT"power mischievously to interfere with the ' administration of such places as New Guinea and S.outh West Africa. In other words, the League of Nations’ scheme will be considerably weaker than was hoped. President Wilson waa yesterday compelled to concede this, and when he accepted ' the British formula providing in the case of the South Pacific Islands and South West Africa, Oiat the same laws shall apply as in the mandatory country, its effect is to reduce the League’s authority. Thus the “League's mandate clauses necessarily mean an open door and the League eeae.es to stand pre-eminently powerful for general freedom under supernational | authority.

Mr. Fraser writes: M. Tardieu, the IJ'cnch •flojjegatfc, interviewed, was

asked whether, on the institution of a League of Nations, all agreements made during the war would be tom up, said such agreements would be examined by the Peace Conference as soon as definite terms and the League of Nations were arranged. There was every hope of a settlement between the jpoles and Czechoslovaks.

WILSON’S UNCOMPROMISING STAND. LLOYD GEORGE’S DISCONCERTING ATTITUDE * RISKING DOMINION’S LOYALTY Received 8.55 a.m. PARIS, January 31.

A Paris message stags' the trusteeship is provisional in the sense that the League of Nations may review the position two years hence and the conditions of tho conquered territories. An. tralia’s claim for a fee simple of New Guinea was considered the strongest amongst all the colonial claims. Thus the other claimants to conquered territory wiere glad to allow Australia it© put up <S.hc first fight. The Americans demanded, firstly, a League of Nations; secondly, the inviolability of the armistice; thirdly, a settlement of each natiomal claim on principles applicable to all the others. The Australians viewed America’s attitude as taking an undue advantage of her strength, and while willing to regard Mr Wilson as working for a principle, yet were convinced he had in mind the necessity of reassuring American people against Japan, Mr Wilson lengthily conversed with Mr Hughes, and sympathised with Australia’s economic arguments, but never wavered on the main issue. The “Gaulois” in an article headed “towards, an American peace,” says it fails to understand Lloyd George’s disconcerting attitude 'towards the Dominions in. failing to secure the, legitimate compensation merited by their sacrifices and devotion to the Allied cause. His attitude risks their loyalty towards the motherland. A DIPLOMATIC VICTORY FOR WILSON. VITAL TEST OF LEAGUE OF NATIONS. Received 9.10 a.m. PARIS, January 31. Belgium’s war claims amount to six hundred millions sterling. It is understood the statement that the Imperial War Cabinet accepts the theory of the internationalisation of German colonies goes far beyond the fact.

Messrs. Hughes, Massey, and Botha attended the Quai d'Orsai on Thursday and suggested some modification of their original proposals. Mr. Wilson maintains that the Powers agreed to discuss peace on the basis of tin fourteen points, therefore they were bound to subordinate individual advantage to the basis of these principles. The*'' British delegates appreciate this, hut are endeavouring to reconcile Mr. Wilson’s principles with Dominion in terest. If true, as is generally believed, the mandatory idea has been accepted in principle, this will probably be regarded as a great diplomatic victory for Wilson, but the practical scheme expected to effect considerable modi'! cations. It is understood the Don ’ nion Ministers are now engaged In preparing a plan which will remove its most objectionable features and safeguard the Dominions’ vital interests It is considered in some quarters there is no possibility of Australia successfully persisting in her opposition to the general principle, but her proposals for removing possible future dangers will be sympathetically considered. It is believed M. Clemenceau promised to support her therein.

One report state where the mandatory Power is a neighbour of the colony the former will bo allowed to apply its own immigration laws to the colony. LONDON, January 31.

The “Daily Express? says the future of the Pacific races 1 and the whole question of the economic competition of the white and yellow races is one wherein America is equally interested with Australia and "New Zealand. Meanwhile Japan is lying low, but is certain to demand every political and economic advantage under the fotrT teen points. It is no exaggeration to say this question is severely testing the idea of a real League of Nations and the discussions must have an important bearing on coming Europear territoiral rearrangements.

It is understood the Italian delegates, after conversations with Mr. Wilson, agreed that Fiume be an international port. SOLUTION ONLY PROVISIONAL. Received 11.30 a.m. PARIS, January 31. The “Echo de Paris' 'says the Conference solution of the question of the colonies Is only provisional. Ministers have no right to bind their countries to involving diminution

of sovereign rights. The various parliaments will have something to sa.before ratifying the peace treaty.

THE LEAGUE'OF NATIONS. TO MEET AT GIBRALTAR. Received 10.35 a.m. IRAKIS, January 31. The meeting place of the representatives of the League of Nations after its formation will probably be at Gibraltar, because it is the most central position. Three months will he allowed to elapse in the event of a dispute between the nations before a recourse to war. Th business of the League during a war will be to localise the conflict and assert freedom of the seas.

WILSON COMPLAINS OF ALARMIST

REPORTS.

Received 10.30 a.m. PARIS, January 31

Mr. Wilson has complained of the alarmist reports published in newspapers regarding the discussion on the colonies, and (declared the reports are a breach of confidence, obviously emanating from a British source.

ITALY DISSATISFIED.

Received 10.35 a.m

ROME, January 31

D’Annunzio, Italy’s poet and distinguished airman, declares that England and France, drunk with victory, wish to swallow everything. Italy will have a worthy Roman peace on the Adriatic, and the Alps-. She will place a new conspiracy is necessary with a grenade in each hand and a knife in her teeth. IF THE FOURTEEN POINTS EXCEEDED. GERMANY WOULD RISE. Received 9.30 a.m.

NEW YORK, January SI. The “Chicago News’ ” Berlin corres - pondent interviewed Theodore Wolff, who said: “If the peace terms exceed the (fourteen points, and if the left bank of the Rhine and East Prussia are taken from us, even the Pacific Bavarians would rise in a: wave o£ ■patriotism. We couldn’t sign such peace, and would prefer to see=a plebiscite fe Alsace and Lorraine. ;

JAPAN’S GENEROUS SPIRIT.

LONDON. Jan. SO

The correspondent learns from la reliable Japanese source that Japan will abide by any decision the conference reaches, provided the Caroline and Marshalls do not revert to Germany, of which them is not the slightest fear. Japan-has no objection to the unconditional return of Kiaoehau to China She seeks no consideration for the sacrifices entailed in taking the fortress - - PARIS, January 31

The “Matin.” states that tneNTapanlanese programme .embodies : nine points. It agrees that Australia take Xew Guinea; the Samoan question be decided in agreement with AngloAmerican opinion, Japan to have the Marshalls, Carolines and Ladrdnes, also Tsiugtau an dlviaochau. o— —. CONFERENCE AT PRINCE’S ISLAND IMPRACTICABLE. Received 10 a.m. NEW YORK, February 1. The “World’s,'” Tokio correspondent cables an interview with General Kbvath, head of the Omsk Government. He says; “It would be impossible to conclude an armistice with the h

shevtks. They would not recognise any agreement proposed by the conference between Allied and Russian representatives at Prince’s Island. Impracticable travelling conditions made it impossible for Russians to reach the island by the date named.