THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 January 1919, Page 6

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

; A HISTORIC GATHERING. PARIS A BABEL OF WORLD i POLITICS, Paris, Jan. 15. The great hotels and bureaux of Palis' ore a babel of world politics, wherein plans long pondered are being modified teady for the meeting of the Peace Conference. The possibilities of compromise are disclosed. Mr Lloyd George and itr Bonar Law had several conferences with Mr \V. M. Hughes, Sir Joseph Cook, and other Dominion Ministers in order that the latter may be able to sit at the conference table in turn as a full British, representative if Mr Lloyd George or Mr Bonar Law is compelled to return to London in connection with the opening, of Parliament, aa is likely. Though the fact that the British Empire has thitteeij, spokesmen is arousing criticism the importance of the matter is easily'exaggerated. The number of delegates Ims no connection with voting power, and the voting will probably not T>lay a large-part in the conference, otharwise it ArouM be impossible to reconcile the fact tlmt Britain has six votes, while the United States* .has only one.—Aus.-N.2. CuWe Assoc.

FIRST CONSIDERATIONS. ! 1 ISLEMEJJGEAU 'LIKELY XCPPRESIDE.New York, Jan. 15. The United Press Paris correspon- ' dent states that three questions con-' . ceraing the opening session of the Peace Conference on Saturday dominate interest, namely: Will the session be secret? j ? Will the Bolshevik problem or the League of Nations be the first consi.ler- , ed? Will M. Clemenceau or President Wilson preside It is impossible to learn whether the session will be secret. It is expected the question of the League of Nations j will be the first considered, 3ince M. Oemeneeau has pledged himself to that effect. It b most likely that 11. Clemenceau will preside, since President tVilson will attend merely as a member of .tha American delegation.—Aue.-N.Z. | Cable Assoc. ALLOTMENT OF DELEGATES. DISSATISFACTION IN BELGIAN CIRCLES. i London, .lan. 14, The Daily Express' Paris correspondent srtVd statements as to the number of delegates allotted to the various countries are premature and inexact. The British delegation will consist of a variable panel. enabling Dominion statesmen to be included irom time to time.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc. Paris, Jan. 15. Tentative decisions regarding delepates have aroused dissatisfaction in Paris, particularly the fact that Belgium ha j fewer representatives than Brazil. The Belgian diplomats are surprised and disappointed at their reduction. There are many caustic •boulevard comments to the egect that the American delegates to the conference hare failed to realise the tremendous sacrifices that Belgium, France, and Great Britain made to secure victory. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc

FRENCH DEMANDS. THE EXEMY TO PAY. London, .Tun. 14. The Exchange Telegraph's Paris correspondent states that France has formulated the following demands:—The snemy shall bear the burden of French war loans and pensions; repay fines imposed and taxes levied on occupied territory: pay a general indemnity for all war destruction, for example, machinery, tools, and securities; and pay a small indemnity to French cc'.lerjes, factories, landlords, and farmers for 'he period wherein their capital was unpro-ductive.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc.

THE RUSSIAN POSITION -A THORNY PRO3BLEM ' , Paris, Jan. 15. The result of the first day's pourparlers are far from satisfactory. It is evident that Russia is ihe thorniest problem. None of the Governments has really reliable information of what is passing ill Russia and Poland. The Echo de Paris states that Mr Lloyd George has not changed his opinion respecting the desirability of entering into relations with the Soviet Government and permitting its representation at the Peace Conference.—Aus.-N.2. Cable Assoc.

S'AMO-imiAN INTERESTS. A QUESTION OF BOUNDARIES. London, Jan. 14 The Daily Express correspondent at Geneva statc3 that an Innsbruck telegram reports a serious situation between the Slaves and Italians. Mobilisatiou ha 3 been ordered by South Slav nations next week, including ten elite classes who, will endeavor to get into touch with the Czechs in Presburg. The chief centre of the trouble is Fiun e, v,hither Italians are sending a fleet to support their troops The Daily Telegraph's Milan correspondent says the great conference question for Italy is the settlement of the boundaries of Jugo-Slavia and Italy. The depths to which the Italian people are stirred is incredible to outsiders. A vast majority believe that if the Italian claims are denied Italy's war sacrifices will have been in vain.—/ ■■i.-M.Z. Cable Assoc. WAR COUNCIL RESUMES. Paris, Jan. 16The Supreme War Council has r»<raraed it*