PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taihape Daily Times, 17 March 1919, Page 5

PEACE CONFERENCE.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

A HOME OFFERED

Received 11.45

LONDON, March 15.

The Brussels Chamber of Aldermen has offered the beautiful Bgmont Palace as the home of the League o Nations.-' *

V ARMISTICE DISCUSSION.

RESUMED AT BRUSSELS.

BRUSSELS, March 14.

The armistice negotiations 'interrupted at Spa have been resumed here. There iare 24 Gherman delegates. Admiral Sir Roslyn Weymss, First Lord of the Admiralty and British Plenipotentiary, will announce the Allies’ terms as regards food and shipping. The Germans will not be allowed to discuss them, but must accept or reject them.

armies of occupation.

BRITAIN’S TOTAL 902,000

ONDON, March 14,

In the House of Commons, Captain T l . Guest. Undersecretary for War, stated that th'e total strength of the British armies of occupation in all ■war theatres had been fixed at 902.000. The strength of the British ia.rmy in France, Belgium, and Germany, including the Dominion fckrecs on March I, was 1,324,006.

TROUBLED ERENCS OPINION.

‘ABOUT GERMANY’S MILITARY

Received 9.0

PARIS, March 13

French opinion believes that plan to permit Germany to organise a voluntary army of 100,000 men for twelve year enlistment will result, within five years, in Germany having a well officered army of several million men. It is pointed out that a long period of enlistment will encourage many younger men to take to a military career, and the training will practically (be an officers’ course. A large number of veterans of the present war are young men able to serve in future German armies.

THE PEACE TERMS CONSTDiERED BY PRESIDENT WILSON Received 9.0 LONDON, March 15. Desiring to more closely study the preliminary peace terms and to consider their inclusion in the IJeague of Nations scheme, President Wilson did not attend Saturday’s Supreme War Councils. Other members did not see the necessity for the inclusion, but Mr Wilson is anxious to see the scheme safely and definitely, throtgh at the earliest moment. Owing to Wilson’s absence the Council postponed the adoption of the final draft of the military, naval and air terms. The .Allies have arranged to send the Germans 370,000 tons of wheat, meat, and condensed milk monthly, and will allow them to fish in the Baltic. One hundred thousand tons of potatoes will be forwarded immediately for occupied teritories. Admiral Wewyss has reported that the surrender of the ships had been acquiesced in without discussion. The proceedings were of a most frigid character.

GERMAN MERCHANTMEN, SURRENDERED WITHOUT CEREMONY. Received 11.45. PARIS, Match 15. It is now announced that th!c German merchantmen were handed over without any ceremony. Vessels lying in neutral ports will be taken over there. Vessels in Gierrnian ports will proceed t.o various ports in Britain. The surrendered vessels will bo almost wholly manned by British, French and Ame'rican crews. Those which* are used for the transport of troops will be entirely nage involved roughly 3,500,00088'fl B by British. French and Americans. The total tonnage involved roughlyj 3.500,000 to be divided among the Allies, but as Italy possess!:s all the Austrian vessels she only received a j=mall portion of the German tonnage. TVanee received big ocean liners to the extent of from 75.000 to 100,000 tons. The- balance is divided between Britain and America, and will be used mostly for the transport of troops. As Amer-

ica is not interested in the cargo car- * suers Britain absorbs thilm-fcurthg of manned by British, French, and Americans.

t An Allied Economic Commission ig * feeing established at Hamburg to ai** ran(ro freights and cognate subjects, aa||f adjust accounts for present freights, which will hh mainly in accordance with the British Blue Booh

rates.