THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 April 1919, Page 5

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

ORGANISING RESISTANCE IN GERMANY. TO EXTRAVAGANT TERMS. BOLSHEVIKS OFFER TROOPS. Received April 19, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, April 15. There is widespread propaganda in Germany in order to organise the public to resist extravagant terms. It is understood that the delegates will demud the immediate Taising of the blockade, the evacuation of the Rhineland, and the prompt release of all printers.

A Constantinople message indicates that the movement of resistance to the peace terms is growing. The Deutsche Etages Zeitung says the Russian Bolsheviks are negotiating with the German Government, and have offered half a million troops immediately, and will also permit Germany to select recruits from Russian prisoners to operate against the Entente.—Aus.-N.Z N Cable Ana.

SO DISCUSSION BY GERMANY. EXCEPT AS TO FINANCE. Received April 19, 6.5 p.m. Paris, April 15. ft is announced that, though the Germans at Versailles will be allowed eight days to consider the terms, the territorial and military conditions must be accepted or rejected without discussion, and that only finance will be open to debate. Germany is required to give up her claims to Morocco under the Treaty of Algeciras, which the Allies have decided to abrogate.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

IRELAND'S CASE. j GERMAN ATTITUDE TOWARDS TERMS. THE FRENCH INDEMNITY. Received April 20, 6.5 p.m. Paris, April IS. President Wilton received Walsh, an American delegate who arrived to urge that Ireland's case be heard by the Conference or League of Nations. It is believed that President Wilson made a noncommittal reply He pointed out the tremendous importance of making peace •with Germany before all other issues The President had an extremely busy day with callers, its crowning glory being til* conferring of citizenship by the Repubtie of -San Marino. It is reported that the peace treaty comprises nearly one thousand articles. A plenary session will possibly be held on the 25th, when the treaty will be submitted, and then handed to the Germans the next day. A good deal of bumptious talk niters through from Germany with regard to Iter attitude towards the peace terms, even before she knows the details. German newspapers strongly resent the Saar Valley proposition, and declare that Germany will never assent to it, as it upsets all her industrial schemes, of which the destruction of the French mining industry formed part. They also appear to have lost faith in the League of Nations, which, at the outset, they regarded as a lifebuoy, but sow as being merely a xaacMnr by which the Allies can impose more severe peace i-cmditions. M. Lacroise, speaking on behalf of the Financial Committee, said be could not doubt that the French Government had obtained from the Peace Conference the full recognition of France's primordial rights as a privileged creditor, but he was surprised at the Government's silence on the subject. The newspapers devote much attention to the financial statement, pointing out that even if France gets fifty-five per cent, of Germany's first instalment she will have a definite £250,000,000,000 to provide for national questions, whether the peace terms mean victory or ruin.— Au». and N.Z. Cable Assoc.

VIGOROUS PRESS PROTEST, AGAmsT ymom cone to china. JAPAN MUST GO. Received April 19, 5.5 p.m. London, April 15. The Daily News, in a vigorous leader, UtaMads that the Peace Conference shall rectify the colossal wrong whereunder China is suffering owing to the Japanese refusal to quit Shantung. This raises one of the gravest problems at present before the world, involving the whole

future of the Far East. China's grievance ia unanswerable. Japan, whose services to the Allies were inconsiderable, was extremely vigorous in the capture of Kaiocbaow. Japanese troops were landed 150 miles outside the leased German territory, disregarding international law, which the British respected. The whole of the Shantung peninsula was occupied and the entire railways, and they refused to withdraw from Shantung after the fall of Japan then presented her famous twenty-one points, demanding the power to officer the army, control the police, finance the mines, and manufacture firearms. China, under pressure, agreed, and .ftir/m to-dny i 9 practically master of northern China. There is a grave danger that the Chinese will fall into Japanese

hand? and be exploited and militarised. . This means the closing of the vast reand inexhaustible markets to and America, while the emergof a new military system of inealH^P/cukble dimensions will overshadow Asia, and perhaps ultimately wreck the world. The moment to deal with the menace h rn-v. for if it is nllowed to develop it will never be overtaken. The silence hi'herto maintained regarding Japan must cease and the issue be faced on the clear principle that China lelongs to the Chinese. Japan must go—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assue.

ITALY'S CAUSE PRESENTED. Received April 20, 5.5 p.m. Paris, April 19. Baron' Sonnlno has presented Italy's cause to the Council of Four.—Au».-N.Z,