THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 February 1919, Page 5

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

I THE MANDATORY f.SS STEM. IBS"PRINCIPLES OUTiam Received Feb. 3, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Feb. 1, Mr. Fraser states that the couucil was ai-iinly engaged to-day in discussion of the question of Transylvania. ne is authoritatively able to explain that the wellbciiig of the inhabitants in this mandatory territory is recognised to be the special concern of the league of nations, which will be responsible fcr seeing that the standards of colonial administration uow prevalent amongst the most advanced Powers are observed throughout all the territories in the mandatory system. Subject, however, to the conditions of the mandate, the mandatory Power will exercise its own discretion as to the management and development of the territory under its control. The question a3 to whether this prin' aiple should be adopted was discussed by the British Imperial Cabinet at London about the middle of December. It was then unanimously agreed that the British delegates to the Peace Conference be authorised to accept the principle with respect to all the territories and peoples which might be entrusted to tho safe-keeping of the British Emigre, subject to safeguarding the special ■interests of South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand in the territories adjaceull to those Dominions. It is understood that the modifications of the country undertaking the trusteeship being imposed upon conquered' territory coming within its control. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

HEAVY REPARATION BILL. LITTLE HOPE FOR INDEMNITY, POLISH AND RUSSIAN SITUATION. Received Feb. 3, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Feb. 1. The committee which b considering the question of reparation is likely to make an early report. The amount is likely to be so large that there is little hope of being able to extract anything in the shape of a punitive indemnity, and reparations will become the only charge on the enemy

Palestine, Mesopotamia, and Syria engage attention. Colonial questions will again come before the council next week, when the choice will be that of mandatories.

The commission to deal with Poland will leave Paris next Saturday It is desired to bring about a cessation of hostilities there, which merely give Germany an excuse to keep an army in self-defence.

A suggestion has been • Made that Fiume should be brought under Bome form of international control.

It has been arranged that Paderewski will meet the conference's delegation at ihe frontier. The conference is still in the dark regarding the Russian situation. The Soviets have not replied whether they will attend the Princes Island conference.

When the German delegates come to tlie conference it is practically certain they will have to accept the terms laid down, without much alteration, except in minor details. There will really be a separate peace with Germany, for Austria hardly counts, as most of her nationalities are already round the peace table. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. SECRET TREATIES VALUELESS. Received Feb. 4, 1 a.m. Paris, Feb. 1. Britain has to a large extent accepted President Wilson's view that the secret treaties drawn up between the several Allies during the war are valueless, ow> ing to the conditions on which peace was based.

Japan has accepted the conference's decision that no fortifications or naval bases be established on the German Pacific islands.—Aua. and N.Z. Cable Assoc

LEAGUE MASTERS. Pavis, Jan. 2?.. The meeting place of the representatives of the League of Nations after its formation will probably be Gibraltar, because it is the most eential position. Three months will be allowed to elapse in the event of b diepote between nations before peccmrse to war. The business of the League during a war will be to localise the conflict and assert the freedom of the seas,—Aas-H.Z. CaMe Assoc. Paris, Jsn. 3! D'.AnEWiio <??c3fcred that England and France wars drimk wHli victory and ■wished to swallow everything Italy would hs-ve & worthy Romsa peace on the Adriatie sisd 45*6 Alps wTi face the bost «oaspirs«y if noosawiy with a grenado m each hand and a Kudie m her teeth— Cable jjfescc.

WOIiLPS Oa-BLUra, ! " Hew T«€, Jan. 57. _ The Ikrfi.i co-respondent of the Chicago News intei-viewed Hen* Theodore Wolff who caid: "2 tEe jrsmsz terms exceed President Wilson's fourteen pointSj and if the left bank o! the ShJne sad East Prussia are taken ■2r<sia 'M, even the pacific Bavsriastj Trill rise ia a of patriotism. Wo ooald r.ot sign Mich a peace. We chonM prefer to see plebiscite as to Alssee-liKiaiae.—Aia--NCable Asaos.

IiVTESxTAXIOXf ASISEKJ lEJSS3. London., u'r.r. Si. It is understood that tha Itoiiaa 'is' 9 ' gate?, after conversation with President Wilson, agreed that j?iwa« should be an intercatioaiS PQrt. — ltaa,-'S'Z>. Cable Assoc. AiVL:BREACH O? COiM' " liE.s CI!. Paris, Jan. 5?. Presidest TWJ.vsn hao complained of So nlarir'3;' reports published in the newspapers re{»ardin«t the conference discission cn tl;o colonies He declared that the report; were a breach of confidence and obviously emanated from a British source.