THE PEACE TREATY.

Taihape Daily Times, 13 May 1919, Page 5

THE PEACE TREATY.

PREPARING TO RETURN.

THE GERMAN DELEGATION.

PARIS, May 10.

American correspondents in touch with the Germans, say that the Germans have decided to leave for Weimar Count Brockdorff Rantzau ordered all the German delegates to be ready to depart in forty-eight hours., owing to the severity of the terms. Rantzau requested individual interviews with president Wilson, M. Clemenceau, and Mr Lloyd George, but all refused. The delegation takes a stand against every chapter of the terms. For instance, it demands an army of at least half a million, and describes the reparations as fabulously over-estimated. They refuse even to consider such new frontiers.

MAY NOT BE SIGNED TILL AUGUST. OTAWA, May 11. Government advices from London state that it is not expected that the Beace Treaty 'will be and signed by the King until August 1.

BELGIUM'S INDEMNITY.

NEW YORK. May 11

The New York World's Paris correspondent says that Germany will undertake to .pay Belgium debts to the United States. Belgium will receive a total of £1,200,000,000 indemnity from Germany, of which £100,000,000 will bo received privately.

GERMANY SHOULD NOT SIGN.

APPEAL TO PUBLIC OPINION IN

ALLIED COUNTRIES.

Received May 13, 8.55 a.m. BERLIN, May 12

Prince Liehnowsky emphatically declares Germany should not sign unless with a view to an early war of revenge. She also should appeal to pub' lie opinion in Allied countries to overthrow the Governments and secure more moderate terms.

GERMANY WILL SIGN TREATY.

ALTERNATIVE TO POLITICAL

CHAOS.

Received May 1- Q , 9.15 a.m

ONDON, May 12. The Daily News' Berlin correspondent states that despite the storm of protests, it is definitely settled that Germany will Schiedemann told the jtPeace Committee that refusal would mean political cbaos. The correspondent adds: Weimar will undoubtedly confirm the Government's decision. The counter-proposals will not attempt an amendment, but will present an independent scheme. Acceptance of the terms does not involve acquiescence.

GERMAN OPINION.

FEELING REACHES AN INTENSE

PITCH,

CONTROLLING HOTHEADS.

Received 9.50 a.m

LONDON, May 12

Berlin reports indicate the whole of Germany stands in an attitude of protest. Peeling has reached such intense pitch that there is a prospect of desperate steps. The authorities are alive to the danger, and have strengthened the Berlin garrison by fifty thousand, making an effort to quell the hotheads, who are urging the people to arm themselves to resist foreign rule. The publication of Lichnowsky's denunciation of the treaty on the eve of the Weimar meeting, whereat the terms will be examined, has strengthened the bands of the Lichnowsky says: "We "cannot under any circumstances accept the proposals and allow ourselves to be stampeded by threats. The terms mean permanent political and economic destruction. We do not; see any prospect of reaching an acceptable basis, and regard the breaking up of the Versailles Conference as right tactics." Lichnowsky says: Our opponents need peace a s much as we do. Certainly public opinion in enemy countries will swing round if the negotiations fail, and there will be an early resumption of the conference on a more advantageous basis The treaty is a mockery of Wilson's principles. A rupture of negotiations cannot make food conditions much worse. Stampfor, editor of "Vorwaerts" who returned from Versailles, says: We sought peace and found war. It is a frightful fact that though „ weaponless we are still at war. A real peace is only attainable by negotiation. Our opponents will not negotiate. It is lunacy to believe that putting six German

names on a piece of paper will bring peace. It" is merely a new stage in the -wjprld struggle, longing destruc- £ j tion »r salvation, Wvien we declare 1 we wont' sign we must stick to it. The enemy will only become alarmed ]by its brutality when forced to deve-

lop it. We must force him to occupy all Germany and make her a colony of the League. We will then test the enemy's units.

HUGE BELGIAN PROTEST.

AGAINST PEACE TERMS

Received 10.10 a.m. BRUSSELS May 12

A huge and imposing demonstration was held on Sunday to protest against the peace terms failing to'secure solid frontiers, independence and restoration, also for denying Belgian aspirations to the Scheldt colonies. THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE TERMS TOO INDEFINITE. Received 10.10 a.m. LONDON, May 12.

It is reported that President Poincare and Marshal Foch regard the terms of the new triple .alliance as too indefinite It should provide for constant diplomatic support in the event of protracted friction—for instance, over the regime of the Saar

ORLANDO PLOCATED. RETURNS TO CONFERENCE. Received May 13, 9.20 a.m. LONDON, May 12

The Daily Telegraph's correspondent at Paris states it is able to confirm that Signor Orlando only returned on receipt of a message from Mr Lloyd George and M. Clemenceau, pledging the fulfilment, of the Pact of London, whereon Italy will take a stand if Wilson is obdurate. Orlando hopes that the abandonment of certain clauses of the pact interfering with the nationality principle will result in Mr Wilson making some concession with regard to Fiume.

RANTZAU GOES TOO PAR. LONDON, May 10. Mr Murdoch says: Rantzau's speech continues to affect the situation. I learn from the highest British source that the Council is united in its determination not to proceed with the negotiations in such a spirit, which is interpreted as a display of "Deutscheland über Alles" arrogance. When the British and American delegates expressed surprise at Rantzau's extraordinary attitude, M. Clemenceau replied: "Yes, you have never seen bullying Prussianism before, but we hav? lived under its shadow fifty years, powerless and humiliated.''

MR MASSEY'S COMMENTS. j I PARIS, May 10. Mr Massey, there I were many flaws and dcfSts in the Treaty, and too many risky experiments, giving Germany loopholes to evade her responsibilities. The reparation clauses were disappointing. They seemed to have loosened at the last moment. The net around the Kaiser has wide meshes;' evidently the legal j view of the sancity of heads of States | had prevailed. The display of aggres- I sive arrogance of Germany's military caste yesterday at Versailles should be j regarded as a warning. Rantzau forgot j the ordinary courtesies and spoke defiantly and rudely, only using suavity when referring to President Wilson and proletariats. ITALY SIDETRACKED. LONDON, May 11. , The Paris Matin explains Italy's absence from the defensive alliance between Britain, France, and America, and says Signor Orlando was present, at all conversations, but waited for j the French" to speak, while the French | waited for Orlando to express a wish to join. The result is regrettable, as the causes of misunderstanding are of the slightest. AUSTRIAN" PEACE TREATY. Received May 13, noon. PARIS, May 12. The Austrian Peace Treaty is practically complete; Italy obtains boundaries the same as those provided in the Treaty of London. GERMANY'S NEXT MOVE. CONFIDENTLY AWAITED. Received May 13, noon. PARIS, May 12. The Allies arc confidently awaiting the Germans' next move. The rumoured intention to withdraw from Versailles is discredited. RANTZAU'S SPEECH.

DICTATOR RATHER THAN SUPPLAINT. PARIS, May 10. Rantzau, in his speech at the Peace Conference, said: We are ready to face any wrongs done, and do not wish to belittle the responsibility of the men who made the war, political, economic, and military. We repeat the pledge made at the beginning of the war with regard to wrong done to

Belgium; but Germany is not the only i criminal. If you think of guIIE and punishment, the measure of guilt can only be, decided by a neutral commission, and we repeat our demand for such an inquest. In this Conference i where we stand we are not quite ] without protection. You have shown j no fine art yourselves. You took six : weeks to fix the armistice terms and six months to present the peace terms. Hundreds of thousands have died of cold and hunger since November through the blockade. Think of that when you think of guilt and punishment. Since November .you have inscribed a peace of violence on your banner. In October we were prepared to acept peace on President Wilsons terms, and the Allies agreed to this basis In this matter the conscience jof the world, is behind us. No nation 'could violate it without punishment. The task of reparation could not be undertaken without our adversaries' co-operation and you cannot execute i it without us."

Rantzau continued by saying reconstruction would possibly proceed rapidly if they had an understanding as to the best methods. He thought it wrong to utilise German war prisoners, as it would engender hatred among the people whose husbands and brothers were kept at penal work. Both victor and vanquished must take into account the danger of Germany succumbing under the burden, with its incalculable consequences. He saw hope in the solidarity of the. League of Nations only when its portals were thrown open to all nations. Then those

who died in the war would not have died in vain. He concluded by urging such a peace as would not lead to future resistance. The tone of the speech throughout was cynical, at, times arrogant and even insolent, and the manner of it left a wrathful feeling among many of the listeners.

ATTEMPTED SETTLEMENT

OF ITALIAN QUESTION

Receievd noon

PARIS, May 12

The Council has decided to refer the German Notes, on the employment of German war prisoners to Allied experts.

Representatives of the. Peace Conference have renewed attempts at our Italian settlement/ Colonel House and Baron Sonnino are conferring.