THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1918, Page 3

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

FUTURE OF THE GERMAN . COLONIES. QUESTION GROWING IN PROMINENCE. New York, Dec. 22. Mr. Laurence Mills, The New York Sun's Paris correspondent, says that the question of the disposition of the German colonies is becoming prominent. Now thit President Wilson is going to England some sections of British opinion apparently favor a temporary administration by the United States. Another suggestion is that Holland should administer Danzig, and Switzerland Constantinople.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. Johannesburg, Dec 23.

The Native National Congress has adopted an address to the King expressing gratitude for the Allied victory, emphasising the loyalty of the natives during the war under difficult circumstances, and requesting tliat the native protectorate shall remain under the control of the Imperial Government and not be handed to the Union without the consent of the peoples. The resolution also requests the extension of the franchise to the natives, and urges that the territories in South-West and East Africa shall not be disposed of without consulting the inhabitants, and not be handed over to the Union until the franchise bas been extended to the natives.

Dealing with the republican propaganda, the address requests that in the event of the white races agreeing to such form of government it is desirable that the Imperial Government should not allow it without consulting the native inhabitants of the Union and the protectorates, and not sanction it unless the majority of the native population consents.—Aus. and N.Z. Cattle Assoc. London, Dec. 23.

The British Government has not invited Mr. W. M. Hughes to he present lit the Peace Conference. The case for the retention of the German colonies and the Australian view of the tariffs, indemnities. and raw materials points affects the third of President Wilson's points.— United Service.

(The President's third point states: "The removal, so far as possible, of all economic bArriers and the establishment of an equality of trade conditions among all the nations consenting to the peace and associating themselves for its maintenance." The fifth of the fourteen points' applies especially to the colonial issue: "A free, open-minded, and absolutely impartial adjustment of all colonial claims, based upon a strict observance of the principle that in determining all such questions of sovereignty the interests of the populations concerned must have equal weight with the equitable claims of the Government whose title is to be determined.")

COOL ASSURANCE. Capetown, Dec. 24, German residents in South-west Africa have forwarded the Administrator a petition for transmission to President Wilson, claiming permission to erect a republic in imion with the republic of Germany. The petitioners claim that they not only represent a majority of the white inhabitants, but interpret the views and wishes of the majority of the natives. —Reuter.

TO MAKE PEACE SECURE. Washington, Dec. 21. President Wilson has issued a message ir which he state 3 that public opinion the Allies strongly sustains the proposals for the close co-operation of self-governing peoples to make peace secure.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. PRESIDENT WILSON AND OUR BRITISH POLICY London, Dec. 25, The Daily Express correspondent at Paris 'u'-; authority lor saying that there is no lear of President Wiisou taking any view at variance with the fundamental principles of British policy on sea ,or land.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. GREEKS CLAIM FREEDOM. New Yorl:, Dec. 2!. A representative Creek Convention has cabled to President Wilson r.nd 11;e Allied leaders asking, on behalf of 400,000 Greeks, that America insist at the Peace Conference upon freedom for Greeks everywhere.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.