THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 April 1919, Page 5

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

THE ADRIATIC QUESTION.

COUNCIL FAILS TO AGREE. PRESIDENT WILSON OBSTINATE. Received April 22, 10.45 p.m. Paris, April 21. The Council do not agree on the Adriatic question. Signor Orlando and Baron Sonnino did not appear at the afternoon meeting.— Reuter. Received Aprli 23, 12.5 a.m. Paris, April 21. A moat awkward impasse has arisen regarding the Adriatic question. President Wilson and the Italians refuse to budge an inch. Considerable excitement reigns at Italian headquarters. France and Britain maintain the strict letter of the treaty, which promised Italy Trieste, Pola, the Istria Islands and part of Dalmatia, but not including Fiume. France and Britain are prepared to concede Fiume under conditions, but President Wilson declares that the treaty does not concern him, as he cannot agree to a number of other nationalities coming under Italian sovereignty.— United Service.

GERMAN IMPUDENCE. TEE ADRIATIC QUESTION. Paris, April 21. What is regarded as the culminating week of the labors of the conference opens critically. The Germans have replied to the summons to Versailles impudently, intimating that they will send two Councillors of Legation empowered to receive the draft of the preliminary treaty with which they will immediately return to Germany. It i 6 understood that the Allies have replied that it is useless to send delegates not empowered to sign the treaty. The Germans hint that they will not sign until the country is consulted and even suggest a referendum. Another disturbing factor is President Wilson's attitude on the Adriatic. The council was unable to arrive at a solution at the last meeting. The New York Herald's Paris edition states that President Wilson has withdrawn from to-day's diseussion leaving the signatories to the Pact of London to settle the problem among themselves, creating the impression that Italy will secure a settlement satisfying to her as-pirations—Aus.-N.Z Cable Assn. President Wilson conferred with Baron Makino and Viscount Chinda.

COLONIAL EXCHANGES AND ADJUSTMENTS. FRENCH PROPOSALS DISCUSSED. Received April 22, 10.45 p.m. Paris, April 21. The British delegation discussed the French proposal? for exchange and readjustment of colonial possessions. It is understood there is no proposal that'tlie British leave the new Hebrides, though possibly there will be a division.—United Service. ITALY DEMANDS NATURAL BOUNDARIES. Rome, April 16. A meeting of ISO Senators and 250 Deputies decided to telegraph to Signor Orlando declaring that no peace would be acceptable which flouted the Italian people's determination to obtain their natural frontiers and annex all the Italian Adriatic towns.—Aua-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE GERMANS SQUEALING. Berlin, April 16. An organised newspaper outcry is being made against the Saar Valley solution. The Vorwarts and other papers declare that it will be impossible for Germany to sign peace on the lines of the senii-officlai message from Paris, reducing the fourteen points to a sham. Heir Richnowski says that a swordrattlipg peace is only maintainable by force, and must be rejected in the interests of mankind.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Association. London, April 21. The Berlin correspondent of the Daily Chronicle states that the Vorwarts' comments upon the of the peace treaty as telegraphed from Paris caused a sensation. The paper says: "The Entente makes a terrible mistake if it believes any German Government could sign such conditions. If the Entente intends these oonditioma to be fulfilled they moist themselves undertake the task and discover how they can deal with the German inhabitants of the Saar Valley. The Entente will soon find that the proposed payments cannot be collected, even if they take our sheets from our beds and our boots from our feet. No German Government can be compelled to sign a treaty affirming this will be a just peace calculated to give everlasting rest to Europe."—Aus.-N.Z- Cable Assn. PROBLEMS FOR THE COUNCIL. Paris, April 10. The Council of Four is concentrating on the Adriatic question. Tf the Italians maintain the attitude attributed to them of insisting on the possession of Fiume and standing by the Pact of London it may lead to delav in signing the peace treaty, because should thev refuse to sien it is a question under the pact whether the others could sign a separate peace. There is a belief that the Powers will brins the Kaiser to trial and endeavor to secure his exile from Europe- It is understood that a majoritv of the Crimes' Commission favor this course, although Mr Lansing- is opposed to a trial on the ground that there is no power under the law. The Japanese, too, are opposed to the trial, holding views on kinglv sanctity. It is believed that President Wilson and his other colleagues on the Council of Four do not share Mr. Lansing's views.—Aus-N.Z, Cable Assn. FACILITIES FOR POLES. Paris, April Iff. Danzig in to he a\free city. The Municipal Council willt be compelled to guarantee the Poles fitee access to the sea find adequate facilities for shipping. Tha corridor to Danzig brill b* Polish.