PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taihape Daily Times, 7 April 1919, Page 5

PEACE CONFERENCE.

the payment of indemnities. what;, each nation will RECEIVE. Received April 7, 10.15 a.m. LODON, April '<3. Mr Lloyd George, interviewed by * 4 Le Matin,” stated at tbe end of April or the beginning of May the Conference would be able to invite the Germans to come and sign the Peace reaty. The reparation question complicated. There was a disagrejfement between the technical cxregarding the method of payment and the amount collectable; but there were no differences in the Conference. The plenipotentaries are settling those between the exprts. According to the newspaper “Le Journal,” the first instalment of the indemnity will be twenty-five million francs of which five millions will be payment by raw material necessary for the resumption of Germany’s economic existence. France will receive ten millions of the first instalment, Belgium five. The remainder of the indemnity •will be spread over thirty-five years, ■ammounting annually to fifteen millions, according to some, seven according to others. ■ rriTTn tit T*TTCTVTH" I TT TTrVTTT?

THE ELEVENTH HOUR.

PARIS April 3,

M, Tardieu (France) Mr Hoskins (America), and Mr Morey (Britain), constitute a committee to find a Rhineland formula.

Newspapers (unfavourably comment orjf the delay occasioned by referring so many matters to committees. The “Daily Mail” is showing marked hostility to Mr Lloyd George’s policy. It girds at the lack of publicity regarding the Conference’s dealings, and declares that if the Conference fails it will he. due to secretiveness. The Conference has now reached the eleventh hour. The stroke of twelve will ring in Peace or chaos. Erzberger had a forty minutes’ interview with Marshal Foch at Spa. He quitted the train looking deeply affected. f

British and American delegations are said to favour advancing Belgium one hundred millions sterling, to enable the country to solve industrial problems.

THE DEADLOCK CONTINUES,

PARIS, April 4.

The deadlock continues. The question is: Who will give in first Presipent Wilson and Mr Lloyd George offer France the neutralisation of the left bank of the Rhine and Saar Valley. M. refuses any solution other than the annexation of the Saar Valley yr?d a lengthy occupation of the Rhine. TjPte British delegation thinks the position grave, but expects an early decision. The greatest danger seems to be that the decision will raise a storm of perhaps repudiation, in France, whilst the publication of the indemnity terms is expected to disturb the British public. The Supreme Council, in response to the lashings of the Press, has issued a peremptory order that all the Commission’s final reports must be ready by Monday. The Economic Commission has been instructed to prepare for Germany’s refusal to sign the terms, the intention being to restore a sharp and complete blockade. No one expects a renewal of the fighting in the West. The Allies are confident that starvation will settle Germany. The /Dominions’ deSegatSons fexprfess hope that they will be kept in closer touch with the proceedings, which arc becoming more secret daily; indeed, the Dominions’ representatives have lately been finding time heavy on their -^t'ftnds. “BIG FOUR” IN AGREEMENT. . LONDON April 5. “Big Four” have practically agreed on all the most important questions, except responsibility for breaches of laws. Preliminaries will be finally settled in a few days. It is expected the Germans will be invited to attend Versailles within a fortnight. The Conference will apparently settle the question of the occupation of ■the left bank of the Rhine. PribaMy 200,000 Franco-Belgians will undertake the occupation under the control of the League of Nations. It is believed that out of the total German indemnity, France will receive 55 per cent. The “Evening Standard” says: According to a high authority, the Peace Treaty will be completed on Wednesday. Mr Floyd George will make a statement in the House of Commons before he signs the report.