PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taihape Daily Times, 5 February 1919, Page 5

PEACE CONFERENCE.

ME. HUGHES AMAZED.

ONLY AGEEED UNDER FORCE.

PARIS February 3. Le Matin interviewed Mr Hughes on the statement respecting theAandaffcry schfeme agreed upon in in December. Mr 'Hughes was' and jpaid he-did not agree to the manscheme until it was forced upon him last week.,

AMERICA AND SPONSORSHIP OF EASTERN COUNTRIES.

Received 8.4« a.m.

PARIS, February 3.

Notwithstanding a strong European pressure Mr. Wilson hesitates To undertake a share of the sponsorship of the Near Eastern countries.

It is reported England wants America to take over Palestine, and America is equally anxious for England to assume that task.

VENIZELOS' OPINION.

Received 10 a.m.

PARI& February 8.

In an interview M. Venizclos paid none of the statesmen now in Paris wished to go over-fast with the League, Unt thVConference would probably insist on the limitation of German armaments, which were impossible. Referring to the mandatory system, he and believed a solution would be Telched satisfying Australasians claims without invalidating the principle. Regarding Constantinople there were two solutions r Thp League'UouM entrust it? control to a single nation, or administer it itself. In any case the Sultan must go..

DOMINIONS NOT SATISFIED. MORE POWER WANTED. NEW YORK, Feb. 2.

The World's Paris correspondent states that Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand tare dissatisfied With the settlement of the disposition of the German colonies, although they have obtained a right to act as mandatory powers in the administration of the colonies. The Dominions hope to obtain further powers, on the ground that they have already successfully administered the colonies It sterns probable that Australia will I the "big five" for the right to , apply their own administration to New Guinea in order to safeguard the Commonwealth from the danger of eheap Asiatic labour immigration. It is stated that Britain is sympathetic towards the proposal for the reduction of naavl armaments in connection with the peaee treaty. The (arrangements have not yet been disclosed. The ueMls arc not yet concluded. MR HUGHES STILL DISSATISFIED. PARIS, February 2. Mr Hughes, interviewed, said, relative, to the Pacific Islands: "The security we ask is certainly as vital to us as that which France asks along the Rhine frontier. We have got a League of Nations now sitting qualified to dispose of the situation. Instead, we Hre asked to turn over the former German colonies to a League •which is not yet formed. We must have control over the territories to assure the application of Autsralia's laws, particularly that Australia's national policy of a "White" Australia can be maintained." PRESEOENT WILSON'S RETURN HOME. NEW YORK, February 2 It is reported that President Wilson will probably sail from Europe for the United States on February 13th, and will be publicly received lat Brussels before leaving.

ANOTHER POWER IN BAMOAN GROUP.

A REMINDER TO MR. MASSEY.

Received noon.

PARIS, February 3.

Mr. Wilson seldom gives peeps at any practical details in his mind, but gave one during the Council's 'discussion on the colonies. Turning towards Mr. Massey, he said: "There is another Power in the Sarooan group, and that Power is America. Be Sure that -within the League of Nations America will see that no Power does what Germany did in such places." THE GREEK CLAIMS* PARIS, February "2. The Greek claims include the abolition of Turkish sovereignty in Asia JMinor; no compromise with Bulgaria injespeet to Thrace; Italian influence EOc to extend as fair Northern Epirns; Greece will not object to Kalian occupation of Constantinople, but recognises international interests are involved; she also claims to occupy Treisibond. ~ A,

ARRANGING NATIONAL BOUNDARIES. Received 11.35 a.m. PARIS, 4. Mr. BalfouFTs engaged on a, plan of the Teutonic nations' boundaries, with the object of concluding peace as early as~possible.

FREEDOM OF THE SEAS. AMERICA'S PROPOSALS FOR SUBMISSION NEW YORK, February 2. A Paris message states: The American delegation is ready to submit to the Great Powers what it thinks constitutes freedom of the seas' and what the United States expects the Peace Congress to do regarding the government of navies and mercantile marine, as follows: — First—No nation shall have a fleet so large as to be able to control the seas.

Second—The sea rules laid down at the time of peace shall be unchanged while war is progressing.

Third —Every nation, whether beligerent or neutral, shall be held to strict accountability by the .League of Nations for observance of the sea rules in time of war

Fourth Contraband shall be explicitly defined in time of peace, and no neutral shall ship contraband to a belligerent, nor shall the ships of neutrals attempt to Tun a blockade.

Fifth The submarine shall be greatly restricted,, preferably forbidden altogether. The American delegates deny that the British fleet is the only fleet in the world strong enough to control the seas without the assistance of other nations. The American delegates contend that a single fleet powerful enough to defeat the combined naval forces of the world cannot be maintained without giving that Power unfair advantages, which are contrary to the spirit of the League of Nations They answer the contention that the American position is aimed against England,- saying the United States knows that the British fleet never would be used against her. The delegates make it clear that whatever the maximum naval force allowed one Power, the United States will have the right to build a fleet equal to that Power.

The American representatives contend that the practice of applying the contraband right of visit and search causes trouble and irritation between belligerents and neutrals whenever wars are in progress. It is realised that the severity of the British navy in this and other wars of preventing Germany from obtaining supplies had much to do with

winning the war, but the hope is expressed that Britain will agree to a modification of the rules that will remove the friction and ill-feeling caused by these practices. It Es pointed out that in the event of war between England and Germany, contraband shipped from the United States to Holland might find its way into Germany. The American proposal is that all neutral Governments unlisted in the League of Nations would bind themselves not to tranship contraband into belligerent territory. Thus, if cotton were contraband of war. and the United States shipped cotton to Holland, Holland would be bound by its obligaations to the League to prevent the cotton getting into Germany. In the cas 1 ? of infringement of this" Tule the League would provide means of heavy punishment.