THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 February 1919, Page 5

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

INDEMNITY TO BE CLAIMED. COVERING COST OF WAR AND DAMAGE. Received Feb. 15, 5.5 p.m. ' London, Feb. 13. Tlit British delegates at Paris have been instructed to claim an indemnity including the cost cf the war besides the damage actually incurred. A commission It considering the amount and the method of enforcing paymeat. It it laid that the treaty embodying the League of Nations would not be ratified until Parliament has expressed an' opinion thereon, though Parliament would not alter the details.—Reuter. i AMERICANS IMPRESSED. i BY TIES BETWEEN BRITAIN AND THE DOMINIONS. Received Feb. 15, 5.5 p.m. New York. Feb. 13. The Times' Paris correspondent states that nothing impresses the American peace delegates more than the presence in Paris of the representatives of the self-governing British dominions, who, like themselves, represent young nation? and civilisations in the process of development. The Americans see in the Empire a symbol of what the League of Nations will become, and it appeals to American imagination seeing the association of dominions bound to the Mother Oountry by the invisible links of common ancestry, purpose, and ideals.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. MANDATORY AUTHORITIES. CONDITIONS TO BE IMPROVED. Received Feb. 15, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Feb 14. Decrees for mandatory authority exercised over sueh territories as the Pacific islands are to be defined later by the executive council. Mandatories must submit an annual report to the league, a special commission receiving and examining such. The league is given power to publish all treaties between the league and its members. The extent of mandatory requirements vary according to the social and political development of the mandatory Power.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. ACCELERATING THE PACE. NO STARVATION IN GERMANY. Received Feb. 16, 5.5 p.m. New York, Feb. 13. The Herald's Paris correspondent states it would not be surprising if the representatives of the "Big Five." despite the absence of Mr. Lloyd George and President Wilson, complete the peace treaty before both men return to Paris. There has been growing dissatisfaction at the slowness of the Peace Congress. Members of the American mission to Germany declare that they have not found any evidence of starvation and want in German cities, though the rural population is doubtlessly suffering from lack of food.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. THE SAAR CANAL BASIN. CLAIMED BY FRANCE. Received Feb. 16, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Feb. 13. It is stated that France will demand at | the Peace Conference possession of the Star canal basin in Rhineland. She will not ask for any further annexations of German territory. Although there are a million Germans in the Saar basin, the French Government points out that the great majority are German colonists sent by the German Government to oust the French.—Aus. V-Z. Cable Assoc. THE RUSSIAN QUESTION. DEBATED BY SUPREME WAR COUNCIL. Received Feb. 16, 11.20 p.m. Paris, Feb. 15. The Supreme War Council debated the Russian question, and heard the deleStes from Lebanon Administrative uncil. —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. frAPAN OBJECTS TO MANDATORY. Received Feb. 16, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Feb. 14. Japan refuses to assent to the mandatory . plan in regard to the Pacific Island* until informed of the precise nature and extent of the mandatory control exercisable over the colonies Reuter. DBPARTURE OF PRESIDENT . WILSON. Received Feb. 16,1120 p.m. Brest, Feb. 15. .■"resident Wilson has departed, bound for the United States. He announced his early return, and said he had been received and treated as a friend in France. p-Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc.