THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 February 1919, Page 5

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

WILSON'S PROTESTS BEPLED TO BY AUSTRALIAN , THE POSITION OUTLINED: Paris, Feb. 2. Mr Murdoch, replying to President Wu»oiia protests against British delegates talking to the press, vouched for the accuracy of the facts cabled, £>lso to: the following fspts: Our position regarding the islands \t.'.o clearly defined in the reso/utioiy passed by the Council on Thursday "setting out the whole position regarding the exGcrmaA colonies and Asiatic Turkey Th» resolution was practically identical vitk that which the Imperial Cabinet framed on the Dominion Premiers' formula. It was called provisional because thtt<retic*lly it contained a recommendation to the League of Nations, but it pledged the Council to its conclusionsIt contained eight clauses, the British draft of ten having been somewhat condensed. It first declares that no colony can be returned to Germany, putting on record the cruelty of Germany's colonial administrators and her policy of using the Wtonies principally as military and M,val centres and recruiting grounds fo: native armies. Tli* resolution declares that Armenia, Syria, Palestine and Mesopotamia must be severed front the Turkish Empire, and then establishes the mandatory principle under the League of Nations Which will he forthwith established. The Mandatories countries are given general «dmhii><tration with safeguards regardis? the natives. Tlw reservations are. (1) The open door for trade with 1 all peoples; (2) military works and the creation of naval, bases are prohibited. Then comes the vital clause for Australia and South >'"••» It-declares that the council considers it advisable that the same laws and regulations should operate in Samoa. New Guinea, the Southern Mend? and South-West Africa as in the mandatory countrv at the mandatory eo'mlry's discretion, provided safeguard* for the natives are maintained Mr Htwhes still refuses to admit him9olf vanquished Interviewed by the Matin, he said the Council declared tint a solution had been found This was wrong; there had been no solutirm. nut J. refe'ence to a body which did not exi«?t Thev demanded to know i.h» widitions of their occupation of the slnnd? It was against all precepts ot !nw that a court should re'"r an appelant to another tribunal which had not Ve?n established and of which the composition was unknown. "T ref'!f>e to ac-wt the position," said tfr TTii" v «s. He added a comparison lviween tha An«traH»n and AmorVm tbn war and said. "Our dead ire r.iire numerous thsn those of America. Australia nv"v»ni«pd the great ww* at the first moment, not at the <»r-vi»n*h hour." | ■Mr V»«Mrt attrt'ide is that he is frnitr i-.mfMwtt the arr-nToment will heMr/!!: The "lea'p't underc*:v<'':vr prom"* tbit the a?T"pmpnt is una! Anv%ow 19 caMed. it bpars t*>"> 'nrmal nun'-ivrj ird nc/'Pntnuee of all t!w great Powni>- -—Tjvtcd Service. GREEK CLAIMS. INCLUDE OCCUPATION OF CONSTANTINOPLE. Received Feb. 6, 1.5 ajn. Paris, Feb. 3. fhe Greek claims include the abolition of Turkish claims in Asia Minor, a compromise with Bulgaria respecting Thrace, and that Italian influence shall not extend as far north as Epirus They will not object to the Italian occupation of Verona Greece claims tha occupation of Constantinople., but recognises internationalisation interests, and also claims to occupy Trebizond.—Aua. and N.Z. Cable Assoc REDUCTION OF NAVAL ARMAMENTS. 3RTCAW SYMPATHETIC. Received Feb. 4, 115 p.m. London, Feb. 3. It is stated that Britain is sympathetic towards the proposal for the reduction of naval armaments in connection with the peace treaty. Arrangements have not yet been disclosed, as the details have not yet been concluded. —Aus. N.Z, Cable Assoc ABOLITION OF SUBMARINE WARFARE Received Feb. 4, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Feb. 3. A full committee of the league of nations meets to day. It is expected that one of the first things will be to abolish submarine warfare. The conference is expected to deal with German crimes this week.—Aus. N.Z. Gabk Assoc