THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1919, Page 5

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

■ I LEAGUE OF NATIONS. ■ SOMMMARY OF COVENANTBAte OF INDEMMNITTES. fesotived April 18, &5 p.m. London, April 13. Tna oSofel summary of the League of Nations covenant attract* attention. The le-drafting is admittedly clearer than was the original, notably regarding, the constitution of th» League, which comprise* as assembly representing all the eertnaating nations, and a council representing Are of the great Powers and four otters at tho council may select from time to tins.

The text fives greater prominence to labor requirements, obligations concernins; the white slave traffic, the opium trajfie, and public health- It specifically declares that the covenant does not affect the validity of international engagements such as treaties, arbitration, or regional undertakings like the Monroe doetrine.

for securing the maintenance of peace under the re-drafted covenant the covenanting states agree to reduce armaments, the plans for such reductions to be suggested by the council, but only adopted with the consent of the States themselves, and hereafter not to be increased without the council's concurmtee. Moreover, the States contributing armed forces to deal with covenant breakers arc safeguarded in •their right to decide how far they concur hi the council's recommendations as to the anjnwtt of force, if any, that should fci supplied; while, in regard to arbitration, the council cannot interfere in a dispute solely within the State's domesticjnrisdktion. ' Tw Observer's Paris correspondent states that tbe Council of Four has agreed on all the fundamental questions. The solution of the Saar valley problem is due to Mr. Lloyd George's suggestions! which established an autonomy similar to Luxemburg's, and is guaranteed by the League of Nations The indemnity question has been settled on the basis that Germany is regpottftle to all the Allied Powers for latW, including landed property, farming implements, shipping and war pen■Srh. After the first instalment the payment wjß be spread over thirty yetfl. France's claim to Saar coal as part of the indemnity does not involve a»y aceasation of annexationist designs. 'lr M»tffl states that out of Germany's first instance of 125 milliards of francs, payable in gold and credits abroad, Trance will receive seventy-five milliards. •— AIU. TSZ. Cable Assoc. j

PRESS COMMENTS. Becdred April 18, 6.6 pjn. London, April 14. Apart from pious generalities, the new; draftof the League of Nations coyenant d«M not attratt favorable comment. The Daily Chronicle states that the new provision permitting withdrawal, on a tW9 ycarr notice, of any State wtiich haa kept ita obligation#, and the provi«tcm for the Monroe Doctrine should facilitate the United Statu 1 adhesion. Although the Monro* Doctrine does no bisift' to the covenant, it will, go far to dMtro? the permanent character of the .Xaagnc. .Other amendments make it eaaier both io transform tad leave the

Jfce summary gives only shadowy ■oMrvision over armaments, but, perhaja, the full text will be stronger on «]& point. The most critical point is timl tiie draft demands unanimity for daaiaions both in the Council and in thf AMmbty. It seems Utopian. None of then States will ever cherish a design against the League or its neighbors. A free rate will be a ready weapon fpr this pMpose. The new draft is distinctly, parhaps decisively, inferior to the •Id, The Morning Post satirically likens thi position of the Monroe Doctrine to the 'tree of knowledge, and proceeds to ask whether ■ agreements and arrangements, within the British Empire for foirtaW", as to preferences will be subject to the League's supervision. If so, the Laagne coven a design to prevent closer union, and may even disintegrate the Empire. It will be monstrous if the covenant is signed and established before the text of the provisions is fairly conliderMl by the public and Parliaments. The Daily News aays the League, at least, offers a chance of reduction of armaments, arbitration, safety against secrtt negotiations, and some measure of justice for Labor, but in the constitution of tt» new Council, which is manifeatry controlled by the fire Great Powers, when they are in agreement there is an undoubted peri] of the continuance of the old erclushre alliances in a new form. —Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn.

teems to be disclosed. TO STATES declaring war on GERMANY. Received April 17, 5.5 p.m. Paris, April 10. The fire Great Powers will meet repreMiitativeg of all the States declaring war on Germany, with the object of disclosing the terms to be offered to Ger-many.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asin.

GERMAN DELEGATES SUMMONED. TO RECEIVE TEEMS. Received April 18, 5.5 p.m. Paris, April 16. A council, representative of tlie eighteen nations who declared war against Gerjnany, summoned under the presidency of M. Clemenceau to give formal approval to the invitation of the German delegates to Versailles, unanimously concurred in the invitation, and it is understood that a courier, with the summons, lift for Germany last night.—Aas. and N.Z. Cable Assoc.

IJUESTION Of RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. Received April 17, 5.5 p.m. Paris, April 16. The Jewish representatives failed to hecure the inclusion of religious liberty M a clause in the League of Nations.— .Ails. Cable Assn.

GIGANTIC NATURE OF TASK. 11/) YD GEORGE JUSTIFIES) PROLONGED CONSIDERATION, Received April 18, 5.5 p.m. London, April 16. In the House of Commons, Mr. Lloyd George emphasised the gigantic character, complexity, and gravity of the problems to be solved at the Peace Conference. He instanced the fact that ten new States had sprung into existence — some independent, some semi-independ-ent, and some possibly protectorates—and that the boundaries of these must be indicated, if not defined, and the boundaries of fourteen countries must be recast. This gives some idea of the purely territorial difficulties, but there are many other problems equally affecting the peace of the world and the destiny of the human race. The question of indemnities was not easily settled, and could not be settled by telegraph. Mr. Lloyd George referred to the international arrangement for labor, and the great experiment on which the whole peace hung, namely the Society of Nations. All and each of these separately would occupy months, i|id one blunder might precipitate universal war. In view of these things they were justified in talcing some time. It had been imperative in some respects that they should take more time, but for the fact that they were establishing machinery capable of readjusting and correcting possible mistakes.—Aus.-NX Cable Assn and Reuter.

SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES. Received April Is, 12,35 a.m. London, April 16. Continuing, Mr. Lloyd Ueorge said that that was why the League of Nations, instead of wasting, has saved time. They had to shorten their labors because, while trying to build, they had seen in many lands the foundations of society tumbling into the dust. No body of men had worked harder or more harmoniously. The journey was not ended; it was full of perils for all lands.

The Premier referred to the instrlnsic difficulties of dealing with the problems lof a multitude of nations. He believed I their difficulties had been surmounted. There were questions never heard of which almost imperilled peace. While they were sitting at Paris one question, never heard of before the war, nearly produced a conflict between two allied States. The Balkans created an atmosphere of unrest from which the war arose, and one of the fears of the present situation was that, owing to the break ing up of the great empires, Central Europe had been Balkanised into small States. Care must be taken lest causeß of future unrest be created by the settlement now being made.

THE RUSSIAN PROBLEM. The Russian, situation furnished one of the most complex problems ever dealt with by any body of men. There was no Russia and no organisation controlling Central Russia. There was not even a de facto government, for the whole of Russia presented the spectacle of a vast country in chaos, confusion, and anarchy. The best they could do was to provide security for those dwelling on the most accessible slopes of this volcano, and arrest the devastating flow of lava, so as not to scorch other lands. There was no question of recognition. It was never proposed or discussed, because no government represented the whole of Russia, and because the Bolshevik Government ! committed crimes against the Allies' subjects which made it impossible to recognise it even under other circumstances, and because at this - moment the Bolsheviks were attacking our friends in Russia. Regarding the proposal for military intervention the Premier declared i*; was a sound, fundamental principle of our foreign policy never to interfere in the international affairs of other countries, however badly governed, and, notwithstanding the state of British feeling, the difficulties of a military enterprise into Russia were immense, Even if a military conquest were possible, the political and practical difficulties remained. He was horrified at Bolshevik teachings, but would rather leave Russia Bolshevik until she saw what Bolshevism was doing than he would see Britain bankrupted by costly military intervention.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assn.

RATIFICATION OF TERMS. PREMATURE DISCLOSURE INADVISABLE. Received April 17, 9.40 p.m. London, April 14. The Daily Telegraph's Paris correspondent says the contention is gaining support everywhere that the peace terms should be ratified by the parliaments of the greater Allies before presentation to the enemy. Mr. Lloyd George, however, fears that premature disclosure would delay immediate acceptance, but he is anxious to, be in a position to announce to the House of Commons the general trend of the preliminary peace terms.— Aug. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

HELIGOLAND TO BE DISMANTLED ' RIGHTS OP ALLIED SHIPPING. Received April 18, 5.30 p.m. Paris, April 16. The Council of Four has decided that Heligoland is to be dismantled and destroyed as far as possible. The Council of Ten dealt with a number of smaller matters concerning the economic and general provisions for inclusion in the treaty, also the arrangement for the admission of Allied shipping to German ports.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

PRESIDENT WILSON'S MOVEMENTS. Received April 17, 5.5 p.m. Paris, April 16. It is anounccd that President Wilson remains till the German treaty has been settled.—United Press. FRANCE SATISFIED WITH TEKMB. Received April 17, 11.40 p.m. Paris, April 13. • "M. Clemenceau informed a deputation of Radical Socialist members that the settlercent of the reparation question meets fell Frances's demands. He paid a tribute to the Allied delegates fofr their attitude towards France.—Aus.-N.Z.

AN ACUTE CRISIS. PRESIDENT WILSON'S THREAT TO RETIRE. ! UNLESS FOURTEEN POINTS ACCEPTED. Received April 18, 5.5 p.m. New York, April 9. The New York World's Paris correspondent learns authoritatively that, if the Allies do not agree to accept the fourteen points as the basis of the peace treaty, President Wilson, with the entire American delegation, will withdraw from the conference, return to the United States, and ask Congress to declare that the state of war has ended between the United States and Germany. The Herald's Paris correspondent says that, apparently, Baron Makino is seeking to avoid a clash over the racial equality question at the plenary session of the Peace Conference by means of a circular note addressed to the various plenipotentiaries, the purpose of which is to obtain an agreement conserving Japan's stand on the question of racial national equality and the Anglo-Japan-ese alliance.

Mr. Frank H. Simmond9, writing from Paris, says that President Wilson's decision to send for the George Washington precipitates the final crisis. The French Government, while regretting that a break is apparently imminent, is resolved not to make more surrenders on points essential to France' 3 safety. Mr. Lloyd George has abandoned President Wilson, and is prepared to stand by France. It is told authoritatively that' President WiUon has in his possession the sketch of a separate peace treaty between the United States and Germany. President Wilson is now absolutely alone in Europe. He is without support from the French public and his popularity in England is declining.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

PRESENTATION OF TEEMS TO GERMANS. 1 PROCEEDINGS OUTLINED. Received April 18, 5-5 pm. Paris, April Ifi. It is definitely decided that the Germans will receive the terms at the Trianon Palace. M. Olemenceau will read the terms and then instruct the Germans to be, prepared to sign them at' Versailles Patau or- May 10, the anniversary of the signing of the Franikfort treaty in IS7I. i' i 3 aot known whether the Germans will be allowed to return to Weimar id the interim or be compelled to discos* the details at Versailles.

The Germans come by special train to Versailles without crossing Paris. It is expected the party, including advisers, will number 170. They will be kept in strict seclusion during their stay.—Aua. N.Z. Cable Assoc.