THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1919, Page 5

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

SECURING GERMANY'S GOLD.

CONFERENCE PROCEEDING SATISFACTORILY. ' PRISONERS' LABOR Received Jaa 16, 7.30 p.m. Paris, Jan. 15. llie Allies have taken steps to secure tleraany'i gold reserve, estimated at one hundred millions sterling. The Conference proceedings are eminently satisfactory so far, and are marked fcy groat cordiality and a conciliatory spirit Mr Lloyd George and President Wilson are pulling together in every important point Tha Conference decided that the labor i of the war prisoners should henceforth be devoted to reconstruction work in the devastated areas. —Times Ser/ice. THE AMERICAN DRAFT. K» SUBMISSION TO PEACE CONFERENCE Received Jan. 16, 8.30 p-m. New York, Jan. 12 The New York Times' Paris correspondent states that the draft of the American plan for a League of Nations been completer! and will soon be published It differs essentially from General Smuts' plan. It is expected that the American plan will be the first promulgated at the peace Conference, and that the British and French will then offer coimter-ptaaß.-Ain.-N2. Cable Assoa

DOMINIONS' REPRESENTATION TffETR r.T.ATMS RECOGNISED. AS IMPORTANT PREOEDBNT. Becelred Jan. 16, 7.30 p-m. Paris. Jan. IS. It is understood that the arrangements with regard to the Conference personnel, besides granting the Dominions as a whole ample representation at all the sessions, provide for the extra representation of each Dominion whose interests are affected from time to timi. Thus Australia's two delegates and New Zealand's one will attend the discussions an Germany's Pacific colonies, while all the Dominions would attend in full ■trength at the general ronfeience to which the smaller nations are summoned, . The representatives credit Mr. Lloyd George with this recognition of their claims, which is considered likely to establish an important precedent In future Imperial relations.—Aus -N.Z. Cable AsIKbtipn. A GRAVE MISTAKE. £0 EMTE DEALINGS WITH BOLSHEVIKS. Bsoerred Jan. !£, 10.45 p-m. New York, Jan. 13. The papers, commenting on the Paris dJielosure that Britain proposed dealing with the representatives of the Russian factions, consider such a course a grave mistake. Some consider it would be a compromise with crime. It is also poist* ed ont that more information is needed ai the question before judgment can be passed regarding the course proposed by Britain-—Aae.-XZ Gable AssocMONTENEGRO'S POSITION. HALY AND THE ADRIATIC IXETORAL. XV AWKWARD SECRET TREATY. Received Jan. 16, 9.15 p-m. Loudon t .J an. 13.

The Daily Chronicle's Paris correspondent states that simultaneously with the arrival of representatives of the socalled 'United Kingdom of Serbians, Croatian*, and Slovenes, the so-callea government of Montenegro, representing ex-King Nicholas and his friends, issueo & manifesto to the newspapers denouncing the Nicholas dethronement and the union of Montenegro with Serbia as illegal They declare their intention of invoking the- aid of the Peace Conference to restore Nicholas. Oo the other hand, five ex-Premiers and other notables at Cettinge have isaoed a declaration in favor of the union. The correspondent declares that Montenegrins have never forgiven Nicholas for his capitulation to Austria. They pursued a straight line e. or since, culminating in the National Assembly, which proclaimed a union with Serbia on December 21. Nicholas has been the French Govern meat's guest, hence the French censorShip hitherto suppressed comments on big position j Other more important interests are also at stake. A secret treaty in Apr.l, 1815, premised Italy as a reward for entering the war nearly all her demands, Including a portion of DalmatU, the Adriatic Islands .and the Gulf of Valium It wiwi an old-fashioned bargain made at the time when Italy's intervention promised to be a decisive factor in winning the war, tut the rise of JugoSlaviim and ,the importance of President Wilson's views now give a different outlook to the position. The matter ca"be arranged with good-will, hi Signor Siuolati'a resignation suggest* that Baron Sonnino dfegs to fHCMt

LEAGUE OF NATIONS, UNITY OF BRITISH AND AMERICAN AIMS Received Jan. 16, 8.30 pjn. New York, Jar. 12. Mr. Babington Smith, Acting-Eritiai Bigh Commissioner in the United States, said in a speech, that President Wilson's demand for a League of Nations rightly interprets tho earnest desire of the whole world Ha added: "I am firm ly convinced there is unity in the aims of Britain and the Unit. d gtates, though there may be divergencies aa ta the means and methods, but the.ie can easily be reconciled." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoo PRESIDENT WILSON'S VIEWS. INSISTENCE ON EVERY POINT. Received Jan. 16. 2.15 pm. London, Jan. 14. The Daily Express' Paris correspondent says that President Wilson carries large portfolios to his meetings. He states a definite opinion on every question raised, and puts forward his viev.s insistently and emphatically. The belief prevails that there has been a difference in views on the armistice terms. The terms America generally Xavors L, a policy giving Germany a chance to get on her legs, as there is, in President Wih'n's opinion, nothing to be gained by pressing her too hard, while there ia everything to toe gained by creating conditions favorable to tha formation of a stable government.

Great curiosity is felt regarding American attitude on such questions as the future of Luxemburg, Syria, and the German colonies-—.'.U3.-K.Z. Cable Assoc. THE BRITISH DOMINIONS. Received Jan. IS, 2.15 p.m. Paris. Jan. 13. The character and extent of the representation of the British Dominions at the Conference are still uncertain. The Boinir.io.i3 claim to be regarded a3 actual nations and thereby entitled to i separata representation. AU&.-N.Z. Cable Assoc.