PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taihape Daily Times, 18 March 1919, Page 5

PEACE CONFERENCE.

NGURU ISLAND.

ITS FUTURE OWNERSHIP

BRITAIN MAY CONTROL

*AR7& March 16, On Me subject of Mr. P*ghes im * the right to fortify the £thern Pacific Islands, the view

Id by Mr Lloyd George, Mr Balfour d Lord Miiner is that it is hetter to

cept a general agreement not to for:y than to grant a .similar conces)n to Japan for the-Southern Islands, LOuld President Wilson insist on e incorporation of the League cove,nt in the peace terms, the preliminy discussions may come to a head, t otherwise the points will not be cided for a considerable time. il?he seciOndclass mandate rigidly ap--3s to the principle of the open door Le third to the closed door, ilguru Island, for which Australia uts the mandate, possesses almost dimited supplies of the phosphates ost valuable for agricultural requireents in 'Australia, It will be rememired that. Mr. Hughes and Mr Masjr presented separate memoranda aiming the mandate. Lord Milner's emorandum puts the strong British ew, stating that there are ample ipplies of sulphuric acids, which are scessary for making phosphates into iperphosphate feritliser, which is •owing more precious to British farBm is now on the island, but it

■pmid for from local revenues, supImientod from the Imperial funds. h-d Milner urged that the island be itaehed to the British groups admintered by the High Commissioner for le Pacific.

This course appears most likely of doption, unless Mr Hughes and Mr. [assey can reach a reasonable agreeent whereby Australia will get the :andate on condition that New Zeamd gets stated quantities of phossatcs yearly.

Mr. Hughes uncompromisingly prejnted a further memorandum setting nt that Australia wrested the island 'om the enemy and maintained the arrison throughout the war. This as not impressed the delegate, who eclare the "wresting* consisted iu erely landing from a whaleboat. It ; to be hoped that Mr. Hughes and [r. Massey will agree to a joint repremtation. The Australian mandate ertavply includes a proviso that Gerian properties be taken over, aftd tfte alue added to Germany's reparation md and counted as part of the 3~usralian share of the reparation.

THE PEACE TREATY. CANNOT AWAIT THE LEAGUE Received 10.40 PARIS, March 16. There is considerable anxiety regardag President Wilson's insistence on he inclusion of the League of Naions in the Peace Treaty. Wilson hus hopes to prevent opponents in anerica rejecting the treaty, and thus estroy peace. The British and French onsider the League not yet ripe for olution, and that preliminary peace annot await the completion of the .league.