THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1919, Page 5

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

IMPORTANT WORJC cart'ikd on by committees, ihe oulstion op reparation. deceived Feb. 10, 2 p.m. „ Paris, Fob. 8. Mr. F.-eser states that with the absence ..: two important figures, the conference apparently enters into a quiet period ss far as publicity, is concerned. Nevertheless the remaining members of the council are fully occupied in examining the intricate territorial claims raised during the past fortnight, which the fui. council w ! U adjudicate on resuming. Various commissions also have heavy Work U) get through, especially those on repatriation and enemy crimes. The latter iiai a herculean task. In the capacity of grand jury il will have an immense auoonvof evidence >•> sift in establishing prima facie xgainst the instigators of the war, and the criminal acts against the usages of war. Not the least difficult task i« that of securing direct trictrac* against those in high places in enemy "ountries from the great mass of evidence of sorts accumulating during the war.

The issues before the Reparation Commieskm we better confined, because something like a reasonably accurate statement of losses of the various countries devastate by the war is available. Probably the Commission's initial difficulty lies in the definition of the word "reparation," whether it is to cover not merely material damage through invasion and acts by Bia and air, but financial burdens cast en countries sending armies abroad to fight on the battlefields of Europe. The strictest secrecy is maintained over i«5 Commission's work. This has been emphasised by last week's Daily Mail inc'dent. It had an effect on member! v< the Conference who previously showoi signs of garrulity. The League ot Nations Commission is scarcely less secretive. It had several well-kr.own schemes under consideration. It may be said that the plan which it develops will not belong to any nation's scheme, but be composed of the best features of all. Vsuious forecasts are published as to the work. For instance, we are told that the ru.ts of warfare have been decided, which include the abolition of poison gas and tha bombardment of unfortified cities. Probably it will be Tuesday before the draft is ready for submission to the plenary session. Meanwhile certain clauses have been relegated to a subcommittee for clarification.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc SUPREME ECONOMIC COUNCIL. PROPOSAL BY PRESIDENT WILSON. Paria, Feb. *. received Feb. 10, 5.5 pjn. Supreme Wax Council President Wilson moved that under the present conditions many questions, not primarily of military character, are arising daily, which are bound to become of increasing importance as time passes, that should be dealt with on behalf of America and the Allies by civil representatives of their fovernments experienced in such queskona as finance, food, blockade, shipping, and raw materials, and to accomplish this there should be constituted at Paris a supreme economic council to deal with them during the period of the armistice. The council shall absorb or replace such other existing Allied bodies •ad their powers as may be determined. The economic council to consist of not more than fire representatives of each interested government; also that there be added to the present international permanent armistice commission two civilian representatives of each government, who will consult the Allies' high command, bat who may report direct to the Moaomie council. The motion was adjourned till Monday.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. WOJfIEH OF LEAGUE COMMISSION. NEARING THE END, Received Feb. 10, 55 p.nt Paris, Feb. 9. Official.—The League of Nations Commission is nearing" the end of its task, though a few matters which were referred to the drafting committee still require the commission's approval. The drafting committee consists of M. Bourgeois, Xetd Robert Cecil, M. Huysman and M. Venizelos. They meet on Sunday to prepare a final report.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. POOTBRENCE PROGRESSING WELL. Rwelved Feb. 10, 5.5 pjn. London, Feb. 9. J)IIr. Lloyd George has arrived in Lonon. He announced that the conference was progressing well—Aus. and N.Z. Cable ijssoc FRENCH CLAIMS ON SYRIA. R< reived Feb. 10, 2.15 p.m. London, Feb. 8. The Herald's Paris correspondent says that the French are dissatisfied with the King of Hedjar's territorial demands. They have been, compromising on many Stations, "bat the danger of losing Syria i aroused French opinion. MANAGEMENT OF TURKEY. London, Feb. 8. Interviewed, Herr Straus, former Unitod .States Ambassador to Turkey, ■aid: 'T' Will be a good thing for Turkey to be imri«f'a mandatory member Of the League of Nations, but the United States is too far from Europe to undertake the administration. It would be better for a ■mall Power like Belgium to be made / the mwidutory Power."—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Afpoc CONFMENCK WITH THE BOLSHEVIKS. Paris, Feb. 8. American and British peace delegates favor a conference with the Bolsheviks alone if the other Russian factions do not accept the Allies' Princess Islands offer. The Srenoh oppose the conference as not teprewntative of the other factions. —