PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taihape Daily Times, 21 February 1919, Page 5

PEACE CONFERENCE.

WORLD'S MOST MOMENTOUS ISSUE. NEW YOKE,. February 15. Interviewed at Paris prior to Ms leparture, President Wilson said: Tie nost tremendous issue in the world s situation. People are nore interested in where the day's rood is coming from than who will be fad rulers. Lifting the blockade s imperative, unless we <vish to see Serauany becoming the same as Russia." President Wilson said he sonsidored the Russian situation almost insoluble. The invitation to a conference at Prince's Island attracted the least desirable Russian factions, I s'\ :■ FRANCE'S VIEW OF THE ' COVENANT. PARIS February 1 The reception of the covenant is marked by caution and hopefulness. There is a strong underlying feeling that an earnest attempt is vital to Europe because the strain of competition of armaments will disrupt civilisation. War has so shocked the moral of even the victorious • countries that the old style of unrestricted armaments must prove suicide but the League is not yet created and will i have critical hours before the covenant is adopted. The worst danger lies in Franco - American differences. France says: "You forbid us alliStticea.and armaments and offer us wAyf"a league as a guarantee against barbarous Germns —who invaded devastated and robbed us four times in a hundred years —coming yet again. We regard the League as inadequate unless the members American and British guarantee to maintain armies trained and ready to sail withfn fourteen days for our protection. Britain would probably agree to this. President Wiilson will not. He thinks the project would not pass the American Senate. There the matter stands. M. Bourgeoise fought hard in the last i days of the Commission for the inclusion of two clauses —one to establish a permanent military commission under the league to control disarmament and act as a unified command in the 'event of trouble. The other to provide a permanent military and naval organiation for the execution of the covenant's obligations and for immediate efficiency in armed measures in case of urgency. * THE RACIAL QUESTION ■- - PARIS February 19. Baron Makino urged the inclusion of the clause expressing in effect that all countries would be free to all peoples of the world. It was imimediately made plain that such a Clause was impossible and the proposal was withdrawn temporarily. It is understood the Japanese delegates will bow gracefully to the inevitable though references to racial bars will be made during the discussions later on. AMERICAN PRESS OPINIONS NEW YORK February 19 The press points out that the League's constitution is a distinct step towards lessening the likelihood of future wars. Some papers declare that the economic penalties against any signatory known to be ignoring the covenants by starting hostilities would be sg severe that only a nation blinded by fury or the spirit of militarism would dare face the eonsequences. There is general satisfaction that the constitution provides for freedom of decision for individual nations belonging to the League in event of armed force being resorted to for the purpose of enforcing the league's mandates. * It is pointed - out that the interests of the Union of South Africa and of Australia have been consulted in the provision that South-West Africa and the South Pacific Islands will be entrusted to the care of mandatories in geographical proximity and the laws of the mandatory state will apply.

One paper says the constitution does not provide safeguards for peace because the signatories reserve the right of liberty of action in the use of force.

Correspondents report that Republican Senators intend to dTsregard President Wilson's appeal not to debate the League of Nations covenant at present. The United Press Paris correspondent learns from a high authority that France will abide by the decision whether it favours or disfavors the adoption of the League. Mr Taft, speaking at Philadelphia, Mud all must thank God as they read tile provisions of the Legue of National covenant, which would prevent war. Presid<gnt Wilson should be warmly congratulated.

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A SUDDEN CALL. LONDON, February 1. Mr Lloyd George ha?- bs«ii urgently summoned tc Paris, &s£ leaves today after meeting with the miners.