PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taihape Daily Times, 26 April 1919, Page 5

PEACE CONFERENCE.

: GERMAN DELEGATES ARRIVE. Received 9.10 a.m. -.PARIS, April 25. '.. The, German Peace delegates* (arrived at Versailles. :- ' BRITISH PROTECTORATE OVER ,EGYPT. Received 9.10 a.m. LONDON, April 25, The United States Government has recognised the British Protectorate Egypt. ORLANDO WILL RETURN. Received" 9.10 a.m. PARIS, April 25. Signor Orlando will return after Consulting the Italian Parliament THE RIFT IN THE LUTE. ORLANDO ATTACKS WILSON. Received April 26, 9.40 a.m. PARIS, April 24. Signor Orlando has issued a counterproclamation, pointing out Mr Wilson's attitude is au innovation, attempting to oppose the Italian Government to the people. Mr Wilson is treating the Italians as a barbarous people. Mr Wilson has discovered his fourteen points are elastic for every nation except Italy. Th e Italian people would not submit to the imp'osition of a will other than their own, or anything of the; sort offensive to their pride. PARIS, April 25. Signor Orlando left for Rome. He had an ovation on his departure. JAPAN'S THREAT TO BREAK OFF. Received April 26, 9.40 a.m. PARIS, April 24. The "Daily Chronicle's" Paris correspondent asserts that the Japanese are prepared to sever peace negotiations rather than give up Kiaochau. ORLANDO'S GALLERY PLAY. AMERICAN OPINION Received noon. . • WASHINGTON, April 25 Official circles ' look upon Signor Orlando's withdrawal as done for effect. They believe Ms attitude is one merely designed to impress the Italian people. It ls ; pointed out that strong opposition to the Of lan do Government has been voiced in Italy both by Nitti and G-iolitti.

MEXICAN RESENTMENT Received 10.10 WASHINGTON, April 24 There is bitter resentment in Mexico at the failure to be invited to send neutral representatives to Paris, especially in view of the Mexican repugnance to Monroeism. RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WAR MINORITY REPORT. Received 9.30 a.m. PARIS, April 25. The American Minority Report on the Responsibilty for the War refuses to countenance any prosecution of the heads of State for illegal acts where the people have been .responsible for the Government. Therefore the Kaiser is not; punishable. ' PRESIDENT WILSON'S STANDPOINT. HONOUR MUST NOT BE SACRIFICED. AMERICA'S ONLY WAY. VERY WEIGHTY REASONS. PARIS, April 21.

April 21

President Wilson has issued a lengthy "♦official statement dealing with. the Adriatic problem. He points out that Italy entered the war upon the basis of a definite pftvate understanding with Britain anff France known >as the Pact of London. Since that the whole circumstances have altered. Many other Powers entered into the struggle with no knowledge of that private understanding. The AustroHungarian Empire, then an enemy of Europe, and at whose expense the Pact was to be kept in the event ,of victory, has gone to pieces. Not only that, but several parts of that Empire, it is now agreed by Italy and her associates, shall be created independent States, and associates in the League of Nations—not with those who were recently our enemies. They are to be among the smaller States whose interests henceforth are to be scrupulously safeguarded. The war ended by an armistice and peace with Germany on clearly defined principles proposed. Therefore we cannot ask the great body of Powers to proposef peace with Austria new* basis of independence- and light- ihj States which originally constituted the Austro-Hungarian Empire and

the States of the Balkan group on principles of another kind. If these principles are to be adhered to. Fiume must serve as the outlet 1 and inl : et oij commerce, not cf Italy, but of the lands north and north east of that port — for Hungary, Bohemia, Roumania and the States of new Jugo-Slavia group. If Fiume were assigned to Italy it would create a feeling that we had put that port, upon which all those countries depended for access to the Mediterranean, in the hands of » Power of which it is not an integral part, and whose sovereignty must inevitably seem foreign, not domestic, or identified with the commercial and industrial life of the regions which the port must servo. It was for these reasons that Fiume was not included in the Pact of London. Elaborating these arguments President Wilson says that the new plan of European order, centring in the League of Nations, will provide against any unfair treatment of Italian nationals in these regions. Ho points out. that through her sacrifices and those of her allies, Italy's ancient unity has been restored. Her frontiers have been restored to the great walls which are her natural defence. President Wilson appeals to Italy to extend to the newly liberated peoples across the Adriatic magnanimity and friendly generosity, the preference or justice over interest. The Allied nations made supreme sacrifices, not for national advantage nor defence, but for the settled peace of the world. America, as the initiator of peace, has compulsion upon her to square every decision with the principles she enunciated, and ean do nothing ero£ He trutsts and believes Italy will ask nothing but what is unmistakably consistent with these sacred obligations. Only en such lines can the world's peace be made secure. PRESIDENT WILSON ADAMANT. PARIS, April 23. Mr Murdoch writes regarding President Wilson's statement on the Adriatic question. President Wilson said on Monday that he intended to make a statement if the Italians persisted in their claims to Fiume. Mr Lloyd George attempted to mediate, and then advised the Italians to abandon the claim, in view of President Wilson's unbending opposition. He also urged "President Wilson to give time for negotiations, but. President Wilson, without further consultation, distributed the statement, asserting that his position was being misunderstood throughout the world. The statement was, therefore. :ssued with the knowledge, but without the consent, of the Council of Four.

Mr Lloyd George has authorised the following statement: The Treaty of London allotted Fiume to Croatia, but the Italians occupied it. Britain and France informed Italy that they would not support her claims to Fiume. They also think it is against her best interests to: insist upon having the Adriatic Islands and Dalma.tia,. though they will abide by the letter of the treaty if Italy insists.

Mr Murdoch adds: Britain and France again begged the Italians to reconsider their attitude. Italy's financial, food, and coal requests being principally addressed to America gives President Wilson additional power over the situation. KING AND PARLIAMENT WITH ORLANDO. | ROME, April 24. ; The King of Italy and a large numI ber of members of both Houses of Parliament telegraphed Signor Orlando, j urging him to stand firm. | REPLY TO PRESIDENT WILSON. ' PARIS, April 25. | Signor Orlando, in a counter-mani-j festo, expresses regret at President Wilson using such means of appealing j to friendly people, especially when J negotiations were at a critical point. j He deplores the attempt to distinguish j the Italian Parliament from the people. Truth and justice are not any one person's monopoly. The Conference more than once nearly failed completely in trying to apply the Wilsonian principles. It is unbelievable that anybody could find a simple solution of the many complicated problems. The whole of Italy's past and future is bound up in her Adriatic claims. President Wilson has authorised the statement that he is prepared to accept the consequences of the manifesto, and adds: The Italians for some days have been threatening a rupture. U.S. MAY MAKE SEPARATE j PEACE. DEATH-KNELL OF LEAGUE OF NATIONS. PARIS, April 24 It i s reported that President Wilson's manifesto was prepared several days ago, but was withheld pending discussion of Mr. LTbyd George's prohibition. American circles declare that it is America's last word on the subject; It may mean that America

will make separate peace, tear herself adrift from the European situation, and leave the Allies to arrange peace in their own way. It probably strikes the death-knell of the "League "of Nations. It is considered unlikely that Britain and France will depart from the pact or make separate peace without Italy. President Wilson/s dictum practically applies to the JapaneseChinese case, which involved nearly similar points. Briefly, America does not stand for cutting up any natiors among the victors.

FRENCH PRESS OPINION. PARIS, April 24. French newspapers refuse to regard the situation as insoluble, but they support Italy, The "Petit Parisien" says there is a suspension of the pourparlers, not a rupture. T'io "Matin" declares that the situation is grave, owing to the" High state of Italian feeling.

The "Echo de Paris'' violently attacks President Wilson. It urges! France to follow Italy's example, declaring that France has much to gain by direct action. Too maYiy concessions have been already made to President Wilson's idealogy. The "Journal'i' remarks, President Wilson's act is contrary to all diplomatic usages. The Italians made the best answer promising the best results. ITALIAN RESENTMENT AND DISAPPROVAL. Receievd noon. PARIS. April 25. The Italians are incensed at receiving news of Mr. Wilson's manifesto through the press instead of being officially informed. .They regard a personal declaration in this manner by one of the highest members of fcle Conference as contrary to European usage. The "Matin" says: "We toil Mr. Wilson that the Pact of London Is sacred to France. We have no power to conclude peace without the accord of Italy.

GERMAN DELEGATES DELAYED Received noon. ', PARIS, April 25. The German government has officially announced the German delegates will be unable to reach Versailles before May Ist. Seven journalists will accompany the mission, GREAT EXCITEMENT IN ITAiLY. ROME, April 24. Signor Orlando's decision to return, was cheered in the streets of all the big cities. Demonstrations and excitement arc universal as a protest against Wilson's stand. PRESIDENT WILSON'S REASONS. PARIS. April 24. President Wilson issued his statement because he conceived that Italian residents in America, as well as in Italy, would gain a wrong conception of bis attitude over the Adriatic question. A MOST UNFORTUNATE AFFAIR. PARIS, April 24. Newspapers almost unanimously disapprove of President Wilson 's untimely manifesto. Tho "Journal" describes the incident as a crisis, adding: "The bridges are down." The "Matin" says President Wilson's attitude is inexplicable at a, moment when, on his advice, the Germans had been invited to Versailles. It is quite inexplicable that the Germans hav e been invited when serious disagreements are threatening.