THREE PRELIMINARY TREATIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1919, Page 5

THREE PRELIMINARY TREATIES.

DIFFICULTY OVER THIRD. London, March 18. The Manchester Guardian says that the concensus of opinion in British official quarters is that there will be three preliminary treaties, the first dealing with naval and military matters; the second, with territorial; the third, with repatriation and indemnities. The first will soon by ready for signature. The third is proving the most difficult, and probably will not be completed before June, when the first meeting of delegates to the l'lenary Conference will be held, probably expected the blockade of Germany will be finally lifted in June. The Allied statesmen will depart from Paris after the preliminary treaties have been signed, leaving diplomatic officals to work out the details of the final peace, which will be completed towards the end of the year. London, March 18. The Exchange Telegraph's Paris correspondent states that the preliminary peace terms will embody not merely the principle of the League of Nations, but the actual covenant. Thus the League will be an accomplished fact in the next few weeks, unless the Germans refuse to sign the preliminaries. It was found impossible to settle certain questions affecting Germany without referring to the principles embodied in the League. The Conference devoted considerable attention to the Kiel Canal and Germany's cables. The proposal to distribute Germany's cables among the Allies finds most support.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Association.

EXPEDITING MATTERS. Received March 26, 12.5 a.m. London, March 25. In order to expedite business at 'the Peace Conference, the principal matters will be referred to a committee consisting of M. Clemenceau, Mr. Lloyd George, President Wilson, and Signor Orlando, instead of the Council of Ten.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.