THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1919, Page 5

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

WORK FOR LEAGUE OF

NATIONS.

PRESS COMMENTS.

London, Jan. 23The British, decision to leave the imjwrtant .task of disposing of Mesopotamia, Palestine, and the German Colonies to the League of Nations adds enormously to the interest of to-day's op:n discussion. Although unofficial, the newspapers accept the accuracy of the report, which arrived overlate for general comment bat the headlines indicate that it will meet with vigorous opposition in some quarters. General Maurice, writing from •ays those who regard the League ot" Kationi a* an amiable dream are expecting the French press' irritation regarding Russia. Great Britain, by her readiness to apply the principle of holding conquered territories in trn?t for the benefit of the inhabitants under general super-national authority, has adopted the "best method of soothing tVs irritation. Colonel Maurice says it must be reir.embfred that Great Britain holds inpre conqusred territory than any of the Allies. It is desirable to remove We suspicion that we, having got all we want, are now seeking concessions from others and not giving anything In return.

The Daily News, in a brief loader, Bays the decision has established the Jeague in its true place in relation to the conference and invested the whole proceedings with an atmoapbere of confidence and goodwill by the refusal ol a powerful nation to take advantage 01 it* position to secure valuable territory. The decision may well prove the greatest victory of the war. The I>.iily Telegraph's Paris correspondent says that President Wilson recently formulated the idea of treating the colonies as neutral States under the guardianship of the league. French official circles considered the scheme unoractkal and did not believe America would persist in supporting it, especially after a conversation in London ■when, it is understood, the British and 'American standpoint* were drawn nearer togeUwr.—Aiw.-N.Z- Cable Assn.

HOW THE CONFERENCE WORKS. London, Jan. 2.1. The Daily Telegraph's Paris correspondent says th? method of >\ork of the Peace Conference is now clear. Five I'c'v.th, represented by ten men, formulate a programme and arrive at decisions on various questions, which are embodied in resolutions for consideration at a plenary sittingThe correspondent states authoritatively that the League of Nations negotiations ara progressing most satisfactorily. He had been assured in reference to the disarmament proposals that they will first be applied to German armies.

It is now permissible to »ay that the conference's decisions regarding Russia ■were unanimous and" reached largely owing to M. Seravenius' evidence. Although he favored intervention, the French ultimately warmly supported Wilson's proposal. The same correspondent says Mv. Hughes has submitted a detailed scheme regarding New Guinea. Mr Massey re Samoa, and General Smuts re SouthWest Africa. Sir Robert Borden ha* also made a statement. It is understood that all pronounced against returning the colonies to Germany.—Aus.HX Cable Aasn.

JHE ARMIES OF OCCUPATION. London, Jan. '26. An official announcement has been Bade regarding the armies of occupation- Thirty thousand men arts now demobilising daily compared with SOW • fortnight ago, while the rate of demnbilisation will shortly he 40,000 daily. Obviously if this process continues in two months wc should be left without an organised body of disciplined troops in any part of t.'ie world in whica we are involved. To build up the old Voluntary army would take ut least the iTeater part of 1919 and before any Volume of volunteering can be expected it will be necessary that the rate of pay 1# made attractive and that large numbers of soldiers should have been released from the army and should have lieon able to exercise free choice regarding re-onliptment. We are thus confronted with the certainty of an utter gap between the great compulsory armies which won the war and the comparatively small long service professional forces which are required to garrison the British Empire. The forthcoming pronoials are intended to proTide for this intervening period. They ttsure that we have in every war thy-

ptre sufficient forces during 191!) to see K t'cit we arc not robbed of'the fruits of ■victory, and that the Germans with tlwrr confederates are made to executeffiithfullv and punctually the (.ondition-s of tha armistice and pof.ee treaty ,anl tlwr will also enable us to discharge our dtttlw towards our Allies and those de.ptndliig on ÜB.-Aua.-NZ. Cable Assn. London. Jan. 20. The Proas Bureau states that consequent on the discussion during the past tec day* in London between Ministers and "Various departments on the question of the prober maintenance of the armies of occupation and other matters connected with the strength and welfare of the British Army, the Prime Jfintoter convened a conference at Paris, »t. which Mr Winston "Churchill, Sir Erto «3eddes, Sir Douglas Haig, and General Wilson wera present- Far-reaching •pncliisions ware reached which will he tronght before Cabinet earl v this week, fend an announcement" covering the general policv will be made later. The Government's intention is to immediately substantially advance the pay of the armies of oaeunatiott and pivta good facilities for leave,'—Aus.-N.Z. Cable TAssn and Renter.

NEW ZEALAND'S DELEGATES.

AN OFFICIAL MESSAGE. Wellington, Jan. 28. The following oflWal message has been received from the High Commissioner:— The New Zealand Ministers' somewhat belated arrival is regrettable, as their absence from the preliminary British and inter-Allied conference and the first plenary meeting of the Peace Congress has thrust several disadvantages upon the Dominion, especially respecting New Zealand's representation and other important interests.

The Ministers and their secretaries arrived at Paris via Boulogne and Amiens late on Tuesday night. The delegates' reception, as at London, was most cordial and very welcome after a unique and occasionally tempestuous voyage by the patrol cruiser Ophir from Colon. They are now comfortably established at the Hotel Majesties Soc'iel, the headquarters of the British and Indian delegates.

The Ministers immediately got busy overtaking arrears of important work relating to the British proposals. The principal task confronting our delegates meanwhile is the question of New Zealand's representation. It is obvious that New Zealand's claim for the same representation as is given South Africa is considerably weakened by our Ministers' absence from important preliminary conferences. There was strong opposition from somewhat unexpected quarters to the British Dominions being directly repiesented at the congress at all, and the present anomalous arrangement is frankly a compromise in favor of Brazil for diplomatic reasons. The British War Cabinet strongly urged New Zealand's interests, but failed to overcame the opposition. The matter is being keenly fought by Mr. Masscy, v,h< immediately consulted Mr. Lloyd George and arranged to have the question discussed forthwith at the Imperial War Cabinet.

As regards the congress, it is only at the preparatory stage, but it has been definitely decided to discuss first the league of nations. Meanwhile important commissions and committees are being established. The next meeting will probably be held on Saturday.

It is already clear that the British delegation has a stern task respecting control of the former German colonics.

Owing to the lack of accommodation in Paris the four ladies of the New Zealand Ministerial party remain in the meantime in London.

THE BOLSHEVIKS' REPLY. PRINCE'S ISLAND TOO DISTANT. Received Jan. 28, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Jan. 25.

The Bolshevik Government at Moscow favorably replied to the invitation to the conference, but regards Prince's Island as too distant. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

WAR LOSSES AND PRIVATIONS. IMPRESSIVE ACCOUNT BY THE DOMINIONS' PREMIERS.

Received Jan. 28, 7.50 p.m. Paris, Jan. 25,

The British Dominions' Premiers gave the Supreme War Council detailed accounts of their war losses and the privations suffered by their countries. The information produced a deep impression, especially on M. Clemenceau and M. Pichon—Reuter.

POOH'S PROPOSAL. Paris, Jan. 25. It is understood that Marshal Focli's statement indicaterl a lack of co-ordina-tio': of the Allies' measures regarding demobilisation. He indicated clearly that the pledges obtained by force from Germany would be kept as long as there wan adequate military pressure. He consequently urged that there should be an agraeinent between England, Fiance, America, Belgium, and Italy regarding the number of men to be maintained in occupied Germany.

The Conference's warning to Eastern Governments is likely to be productive of good. Lately there have been difficulties, amounting sometimes to armed conflicts, between the Serbs, Italians, Serbo-Roumanians, Ukrainians, and Pole*, Czechs, Gecrgians, and Armenians, Arabs and Syrians. It is known too that thii Hungarian Government Is preparing to profit by the quarrels among the new nations that are forming in her territory.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE RUSSIAN PROBLEM.

Pariß. Jan. 2C. Mr Fraser says the fact that Soavcr. ius himself was an advocate of military intervention in Russia and declared that the Russians conid not be trusted to fight the Bolsheviks, even with the support of Allied troops, had an effect on the Russian decision. Moreover the Dominion representatives emphatically declined to send any of their troops to Russia- It is reported that the Bolsheviks somewhat reluctantly consented to send delegates to the Sea of Marmwa.

Possibly the Rhine, Danube, Vistula, Pd-nlflt. Struma. Congo, and Amazon will come under the control of the League of Nation', likewise the BerlinBagdad, Cape to Cairo, and Siberian railwavs. as well as shorter lines serving the Balkan countries Powftilv al«o the Dardanelles and Mesopotamia will be the nnlvjpct nf international con-trol.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

TEUTON ivn FINLAND PROBLEMS. (Received Jan 2R. 215 pm.) Paris, Jan. 27. The Supreme Council has drawn nn .». prnvrnnrnie embndving a constitution for the committee's study on econoTia rind financial oucstions. Tt> tV afternoon evchanaes of view?< on the Ornvnn colnnieq were con+'ni""' with speci?.! t.o the Pacific Oeo.n.

THK GERVAK COLONIES. 9", Tt, 'n vri-V +h« Anrlfl-TYpno*! +]»f» Harmon c^'onujo iho Vrwch pncC(*qq]OTl nf f TlO T orM +!,„ n' ti»rrif<V*" irof* 0 P T oVn - nn °-'vf»n to Portugal.—Aus.. N7. <Vb!e Assn

APPEAL TO REVOLUTIONARIES. TO OVERTHROW THE BOURGEOISIE.

(Received J.an. 2S. 2.30 p.m.) London, Jan. 27The Russian Bolshevists have not sent a reply to the Peace Conference's invitation to meet at Princes Islands, but a long wireless message received from the Bolsheviks callis on the revolutionary parties throughout the world to attend the Communist Congress aiming at the overthrow of the Bourgeoisie in all countries.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn Paris, Jan. 27. The Rolsh»vik foreign' -commissary wirelessed the Bolshevik representative in Sweden asking confirmation tor the Peace Conference proposal, and declares the proposal comes too late. It is n'ade when the internal situation is finally settled, but they will not reject the principle of the Conference and are prepared to carefully consider it.—Ans.N.Z. Cable Assn.

SMALL POWERS GIVE ADHERENCE. COMMITTEE ON MARITIME LAWS. Received Jan. 29, 1.-13 a.m. Vancouper, Jan. 27. The Peace Conference had a distinct gain on Monday, nineteen small Powers giving full adhesion to the organisation formulated by the live great Powers, thus securing a united front of Great and Small Powers to set out the work on the main subject before the commission. This was largely due to skilful direction by M. Cambon. The Great Powers at a simultaneous session appointed a committee on maritime laws, which is regarded by neus(upeis as embraced in President Wilson's freedom of the seas points.—Router

BRITAIN'S PART. TO CONTROL GEFvMAN COLONIES ALSO DARDANELLES AND MESOPOTAMIA. Received Jan. 29, 1.20 a:m. Paris, Jan. 20.

The United Press interviewed .British peace delegates, who said that Britain would be allowed to control the German colonies, the Dardanelles and Mesopotamia, with a strict accountability to the League of Nations- Naturally, if she was unable to render a satisfactory account her trusteeship would end.— Auo.-N.Z- Cable Assoc

TERRITORIAL QUESTIONS. TAKEN WITH LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Received Jan. 29, 12.50 a.m. London, Jan. 2d,

The Observer's Paris correspondent states the indications are that the heads of the governments here realise they must no longer waste time over the theoretical part of the peace business. The most striking fact in this respect is perhaps that the British Dominions' representatives were heard concerning the German colonies. It is deducible from this that the territorial questions will be taken by the conference simultaneously with the league of nations debate. I understand that a majority formed of inside delegations from the five leading Powers favor that course, hence questions of territorial delimitations, both in and outside Europe, are likely to be delegated to special committees forthwith.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Association.

HENDERSON INTERVIEWED. Received Jan. 29, 1 a.m. London, Jan. 24,

The United Press representative interviewed Mr. Henderson at Berne. He declared that the International Congress of Labor hopes the peace delegates will endorse the following programme: Formation of a league of nations, includin'.' Germany; an international labor charter securing the abolition of compulsory military service; general disarmament; prohibition of the manufacture of war material, except by international tontrol; and exclusively moral intervention in Russian affairs.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.