THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1918, Page 5

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

DISPOSAL OF GERMAN NAUY. AMERICAN OPINIONS ON THE SINKING PROPOSAL. New York, Dec. 20. Press dispatches from Paris say that the American delegates, with British support, suggest the sinking of the surrendered German fleet as a solution of its disposal. Mr. Daniels said he had not heard the suggestion officially. At the State Department it was learned that, so far as known, no such proposal was included in the American peace programme.

The press, commenting, says it would be better to sell the materiel, in wis German ships and employ 'i\ n l.mev w rebuild devastated Frcii:r ' I'llyiiim.

They point out that ii:e. ..:.;. ;t as weli sink the George Washiii.mo:i, Leviathan, and other German ships taken over by the United States.-—Aus. N.Z. Cable Association.

LORD NORTHCLIFFE INTERVIEWED. PHASES OF THE CONFERENCE. THE LEAGUE-OF-NATIONS PROPOSAL. Received Dee. 23, 8.15 p.m. New York, Dee. 22. The New York Times's Paris correspondent interviewed Lord Northcliffe, who said that the League of Nations appeared to him to be a somewhat abstract, academic subject. He said the proposed league would receive a powerful backing from all political parties in England, and is, apparently, warmly endorsed in France. The New York Times's Paris correspondent states that there will be three main preliminary peace conferences, Firstly, meetings of members of missions from various countries to determine what their own countries want.

The second stage will be a series of conferences between England, America, France and Italy, and it is not expected that the smaller nations will participate in these conferences. It is expected that the four big nations will have agreed on their plan by the end of January, and that the smaller Allies will have the month of February in which to state their cases and present their claims, It is not proposed that Germany shall have anything to say in the formulation of peace terms. The peace programme will probably be handed to Germany by the end of March to reject or accept without argument.

When Germany signs the peace terms other treaties will be handed to Bulgaria, Turkey, Austria and Hungary for them to accept or reject.

It is not expected there will be any rejections. After these treaties have been signed, the league-of-nations proposal will be considered.—-Aus. and N.Z. Cable Association.

IMPERIAL WAR CABINET. ' TO MEET DURING HOLIDAYS. London, Dec. 20. It is understood that meetings of the Imperial War Cabinet will be held continuously throughout the holidays in order that those representing Eritain at the Peace Conference at Versailles may be in a position to speak authoritatively for the whole Empire.—Reuter.