THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 January 1919, Page 5

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

HUGHES INTERVIEWED. JAPANESE EXPANSION, , INDEMNITIES CLAIMED, Received Jan. 22, 8.15 p.m. New York, Jan. 18. The New York World's Paris correspondent interviewed Mr. Hughes, wlw said the Japanese ware a great people, but our ideals and theirs differ fundamentally. We don't wish Japanese expansion ii our direction. We've a ■mall population compared with Japan, and neither our interests and aspirations are identical with theirs. Each of us, in otar different spheres, con safeguard the future while maintaining relations of perfect harmony with o»!« another. With reference to the naval situation. Mr. Hushes said that full protection by the British fleet was necessary for Australia's safety. He didn't fear that any difference would arise regarding British and American interpretation of the freedom of the seas. Reeeived January 22, 5.5 p.m. New York, Jan. 17. Mr. Hughes says that Australia feels she standi politically where America stood at the end of the revolution. She won her liberty on the fields of France, and deserves recognition as an autonomous ration. Her fighting record surpasses any nations. She wants self determination, and opposes the Pacific Islands being controlled £y another Power. Her war debt was a most frightful handicap, and Germany must pay indemnities to the utmost of her ability, Australia sharing proportionally to the part she played in the war. President Wilson's fourteen points don't include indemnities, but I believe that indemnities, nevertheless, are just. A League of Nations is desirable, but it most not impair a nation's right of self government, and, though valuable as an instrument for preservation of the world's peace, we must keep our powder dry. Australia has a splendid system of military training, which partly explains 1 our record in France. I don't think the League would abolish our system. I don't know the precise meaning of "freedom of the seas," but we must depend upon England to protect Australia's coastline, therefore we oppose any limitation of England's supremacy.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. (The first part of the above message is missing). '

, TAFT'S VIEWS. SFS.v. . aSamAS COLONIES UNDER LEAGUE. FUTURE OP CONSTANTINOPLE AND _, v DARDANELLES. Received January 22, 5.5 p.m. Washington, Jan. 18. Mr. Taft, in a speech a* Washington, said the German colonies must not be given to Britain or any other Power, but must be internationalised and placed under the control of a League of Nations. Germany had forfeited her title to her colonies by mistreatment of them. If the German colonies were given to Britain or France suspicion might arise that they were being exploited for selfish interests. Constantinople must be internationalised and administered by the League. The Dardanelles, the Sea of Ma mora and the Bosphorus must be placed under the guardianship of a Home Government representing the Allies. The American Monro doctrine and the sovereignty of all nations would be strengthened by the League. The projected new Republics of Ukraine, the Baltic Provinces, Finland, Poland and Czceho-Slovaks must be protected by the League. These new republics will hem in Germany and prevent her expansion towards Russia and the Near East.—AUS.-N.Z. fCable Asm.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS. DOMINIONS CLAIM ADMISSION. SOLVING THE RUSSIAN PROBLEM. Received January 22, 6.5 p.m. j Paris, Jan. 20. It is understood that the Dominions I Are asking for admission to the League of Nations, with the status of individual nations, whose sovereignty is admitted, although the right of Great Britain to control their foreign affairs remains uncontested. It is officially announced that good progress has been made with the discussion on Russia, and concrete proposals are expected to result from another ses-sion.—Aua.-N.Z. Cable Asm.

LABOR REPRESENTATION. A WARNING BY ME. CLYNES. ACTION OF AMERICAN LAiBOEITES. Received Jar. 22, 7.50 pjn. s London, Jan. If Mr. J. R. Clynee, speaking it Oldham, warned the Government of the gravity of the situation Speaking oi the pledge to tend a Labor representative to the Peace Conference, he said it was a breach of the Prime Ministers pledge at a moment of grave iabor unrest. Suspicion would increase, and the people's suspicions would oreed Bolshevism faster than it could be destroyed. Mr. Gompers (American Labor leader) and four other American Labor delegates have arrived. They intend conferring with British and French Labor leader* for the purpose of foundin? a new international organisation which will influence the peace terms towards improving the standards of life of the workers in all countries. —Aus.-N.Z Grtrte Assoc.

PRESIDENT WILSON'S SCHEME OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS. \4 . FEEKCH DISTRUST Received Jan. 23, 1.25 am. " London, Jan. 20. The Exchange Telegraph's Paris correspondent states that President Wilson has completed the draft of his scheme for a League of Nations, based on the study of the ideas of the various Allies, and embGffying the important French and British features, also some of those suggested in General Smuts' recent pamphlet. The general result is rather a combination of ideas than exclusively Wilson's. It is underwood that under President Wilson's scheme the present Allies form the nucleus of tli* league, whereto every free nation shall have access. The scheme provides for compulsory arbitration for disputes. President Wilson shows how the development of the new world spirit will prevent future war with Germany or Russia. He considers a peace settlement will be useless if it leave half of Europe aflame. It is understood that Mr. Lloyd George outspokenly agrees with President Wilson. The Morning Post states that the logical minds of Frenchmen will refuse to 'believe that President Wilson's idea will give them any protection. They fear that France may be sacrificed on the altar of impossible and impracticable idealsThe French idea is an alliance of the Allies against Germany. They realise that tie idea of a league is one wTiich would enable France to dispense with a standing army. Though this is the basis Oi thr Ar"wVAn SCheron- Tlt-itua'a mum. tion of (he fab#*s to *&*&£&>& ci [the concert of Baron* 'R vQB **>. tainly bo nceessarv to put many tv.'l- - and ports, even in eountr'»<, under international control.

s he Morning ost considers that probab'v along the modest lines of interna Uonal co-opeiation lies the best chance of testing the workability of a League of Nations.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc.

THE COLOR BARJAPS DESIRE ITS REMOVAL. Received Jan. 23, 12.5 a.m. Tokio, Jan. 20. The preaa is displaying little interest in the Peace Conference, and take for granted that Germany's colonies will never be returned. "Popular interest centres in the question of racial discrimination where Japanese are excluded from America and Australia. The newspapers urge delegates to insist upon the removal of the race bar as one of the fundamental conditions of the league of nations.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

VITAL LABOR PRINCIPLES. THE AMERICAN rLA.:. Received Jan. 23, 12.5 ajn. New York, Jan. 20. The United Press Paris correspondent says it is understood that the American peace delegation will aßk incorporation in the treaty of vital labor principles, namely: International child labor law protection, and women workers* uniform working conditions, including fixed hours of labor. The American plan for a league of nations embodies many features of General Smuts' and Lord Robert Cecil's plans. It is understood that Germany and Russia «ill be allowed to join only by etabilizmg their governments. THE RUSSIAN SITUATION. STATEMENT BY FRENCH AMBASSADOR. Washington, Jan. 21. In the Peace Conference debate jritJr i reference to the Russian situation, ; Savenui, the Banish Minister, wtp r conference to decide upon .-won in Russia as the only ,-' -' fiavill S | the country —Aus. JS " 1 Received Js- 7.50 p.m. Paris, Jan. 19. The Q>- —»» of Allied Ministers has receive*" . statement from M Moulens, Trench. Ambassador in Russia, concerning the situation. He was formerly inclined to view the Bolshevik policy as not dangerous, but events latterly had changed his view. It may be assumed that his evidence will cany considerable weight, and be the most recent which the Conference is able to obtain on the Russian situa-tion—Aus.-N.Z Cable Assoc. Received Jan. 22, pm. London, Jan. 21. The Peace Conference has greatly progressed towards an agreement on the Russian question. Concrete proposals are expected to be mada ou Wednesday.— Aus.-NZ Cable Assoc. ' !■!,■-'•

; SUPER-SECRECY. DOMINIONS' ATTITUDE. Received Jan. 22, 9.30 pm. London, Jan. 21 Representatives of the Dom.nions are unanimous against super-seereey at the Conferewe.—Aus.-K.Z. Oaßlo Assoc. i AN ARAB KINGDOM ■ FREE OF THE TURKS. Received Jan. ,22 10 p». Paris, Jan. 21. Emir Feisu!, son of the King of Hadjez, is here awaiting his father's instructions regarding the two delegates to represent the Kingdom at the Peace Conference. Colonel Lawrence, FeKul's aide, U expected to be chosen as the first delegate, In order to give greater weight to the proposal to be submitted to the Conference askrns for the formation of a federation of all Arab States from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf, free from Turkish domination, under the protection of the United Statej»r-A.us,-NX Cable Aw . ~" i

A CLOSE COMMITTEE, . GREAT POWERS. / Received Jan. 22, 10 p.mu Paris, Jan. 21. Mr. ..Fraser states that although tHe press asserted the principle of an open Conference, jet in practice the Confer-1 ence is largely secret. It haa already I constituted a close committee with great'. powers, which sit in open conference with full delegations at certain intervals. Tho Conference does not meet again before Thursday. Meanwhile the Great Powers continue to wrestle with the Russian problem. A special committee will be appointed to investigate international Labor conditions, with a view to securing a basis of uniformity in all countries in regard to the employment and treatment of workmen. A surplus of focd is now available, and it is expected the enemy conn trie? *'ill receive supplies within a month.— j AU3--M.2. Cable Assoc. ~„ •