A MOMENTOUS DOCUMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1919, Page 5

A MOMENTOUS DOCUMENT.

THE FRENCH VIEW. STRAIGHTENING UP GERMANY. Received Feb. 17, 10.50 p.m. Paris, Feb. IG. M. Pichon, addressing Allied journalists, said the French Government is unanimously in favor of the League of Nations, and has no intention of weakening it, though doubtless some necessary extentions and alterations needed to be made to the covenant, which is a momentous document. Its adoption was a great step. Any amendments would probably be first examined by the eom- ! mission before submission to the plenary session. President Wilson expressed the hope before leaving that many questions would be ripe for decision when he returned. M. Pichon, refering to the happenings at Weimar, said they necessitate our taking precautions to make it clear to the Germans that they are beaten., The Germans already speak at Weimar as if they were not guilty of international crimes. They speculate on divisions between the Allies, but the last few days' discussions conclusively disappoint them. The Allies are determined to make the world safe against Germany. The French elections a few months hence would satisfy Germany in regard to the attitude of Alsace-Lorraine. He believed not a single doputy would be sent to the Chamber who would protest against AlsaceLorraine's return to France. In reply to a question he said he saw no reason to refuse to recognise the new German Government, which was the outcome of a duly-elected Assembly. FRENCH OPINION. INTERNATIONAL FORCE REQUIRED. Received Feb. 18, 2.20 p.m. Paris, Feb. IG. L'Echo de Paris believes the League of Nations project represents a coming struggle between two contending conceptions, namely, a super-State absorbing a part of the sovereignty of the States,, and an alliance of equal independents associated for defence. The paper thinks .France is insufficiently guarded in the absence of an international force. Le Journal regards the league as a formidable engine for the service of peace so long as it is prepared to swiftly use its strength, but force is still subordinate to the decision to intervene at the moment of peril, that is, perhaps, when it is too late. The Gaulois questions if an international force would strengthen France's security, but postpones its definite opinion until details are available of what amounts to the foundation of a new world. Other opinions regard the fate of annexation as sealed. President Wilson characterised Germany's colonial system as one of extermination in order to get possession of helpless peoples, and at the same time impliedly lauded England's policy that many weak peoples beginning as colonies had been lifted into the sphere of selfgovernment.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. IMPORTANCE OF BRITISH NAVY MR. MASSEY INTERVIEWED. Paris, Feb. 17. Mr. Massey, interviewed, said he was confident that the members of the conference were anxious for the success of the league. It would not he any scheme (hat would absolutely prevent war, but undoubtedly its operation would make wars less frequent, because it gave time for the exhaustive consideration of disputes. It could not be denied that the league must have force if its authority was to be exercised. It would still be necessary to keep a certain military and naval strength. He could see no other way to enforce discipline on unruly or unscrupulous nations. The finance of the scheme called for serious consideration, and the question of disarmament required careful investigation. Without the British Navy Germany would have dominated the world. That navy was still the most important influence for the world's peace, and we must be careful how we allow it to be interfered with. Gcrms'iiy's atrocities must be punished fully, and compensation secured for the injuries inflicted, othcrwi-e we might expect similar things in the future. i He heartily wished the league success. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.