THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1919, Page 5

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

SIGNATURE OF THE TREATY. THREE WEEKS ABBABI Received May 1, 7.40 pm. < London, April 30. It it unlikely that the text of the treaty will be handed to the Germans before Saturday, possibly on Monday. They have a fortnight to examine the document. Three weeks will therefore elapse beofre signature. The Germans remain at Versailles, but may send the treaty to Germany by courier. If the plenipotentiaries geek to return to Germany it will be regarded as a breach of the negotiations.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. __ THE LEAGUE'S PDRST MEETING. SALARY OF SECRETARY. Reoeived May 1, 5£ p.m. Paris, April 29. The first meeting of the League will be held at Washington in the autumn, when President Wilson will be elected president. Thirteen neutrals have notified their intention of being present, and it is expected that enemy Powers will then be admitted. Sir Eric Drummond's salary as secretary is to be £SOOO a year, with £SOOO for expenses. —United Service. THE GERMAN CONCESSIONS. TO BE GIVEN JAPAN Received May 1, 5.5 pan. New York, April 30. With referenoe to the Chinese-Japanese agreement the World's Paris correspondent states that the tentative agreement provides that Japan shall receive the German concessions in China, such as mines and railroads, which will remain under Chinese sovereignty but be operated by Japan. Japan's interest at Shantung is limited to the original provisions of the Chino-Japanese treaties. Japan's paramount influence hi China will profcabry be recognised, as it was in the Lansing-lehii treaty. It is pointed oat that the special position in China is already recognised fn the Monroe doctrine clause in the covenant.—Aus. N.Z. Cbble Assoc. SUBMARINE CABLES. THE UKRAINE ARMISTICE. Received May 1, 7.40 p.m. Paris, April 29. The Foreign Ministers are discussing the question of the submarine cables captured from the enemy. It is believed there is a proposal to place the lines under the League of Nations, but there is much opposition. The Ukrainian armistice commission is sitting in Paris under General Botha's presidency. The Ukrainian delegate i» expected to reach Paris shortly. T!ie Swiss President has arrived, probably in connection with Switzerland's neutrality. This raises an interesting speculation regarding has future relationship to the League of Nations.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. RATIFYING PRELIMINAItY PEACE. Paris, April 30. All the Allied belligerents, except Italy, will attend the conference plenary secret session on Saturday, when they will be invited to ratify the text of the preliminary peace treaty. The German delegation will receive the text on Mon-day.—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn. GERMANS STILL ASKING. New York, April 30. The World's Paris correspondent states that the German peace delegates will ask that Germany be given a mandators over some of her former possessions'in the Far East. As this will be refused they will ask that Germany be granted unqualified trading privileges in all lands controlled by the stewards of the League of Nations.—Aus.-NJZ. Cable .Assn-. KAIOCHAU DISPUTE SETTLED. Paris, April 30. Official.—The Kaiochau dispute has been settled. Japan has agreed to surrender Tsinchau to China in due course. —AUB.-NJZ. Cable Assn. Paris, April 30. The Council of Three . met and debated the Italian question and Kaiochau. It is reported that a solution of the Kaiochau question has been reached which China and Japan accept.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. OPPOSITION TO LEAGUE. London, April 29. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times, says that Senator Lodge, who will be leader of the majority in the Senate has issued a statement that the League Covenant will not be acceptable, unless further amended. The correspondent adds that a bitter fight in the Senate against the Covenant is contemplated although the Republicans are for the League.—Aus.-N.Z. <\able Assn. THE BUREAU OF LABOR. Received May 1, 940 pjn. Loßdon, April 29. It is announced that the first meeting of the Conference's International Bureau of Labor will be held at Washington m October—Aus. N.Z. Cable Association. THE KAIOCHAU SETTLEMENT. Received May 1, 9.40 p.m. London, April 30. Although it was generally feared that the Kaiochau settlement would be even more difficult than Fiume, Paiis correpondents assert there is no likelihood l of Japan withdrawing from the Confer"once. It is believed that a generally acceptable solution of the Kaiochau difficulty will bo reached forthwith.—Aus. N.Z. Cable A»»o*

MANDATES TO BE TIXED. AFTER PRESENTATION OF TREATY. Eeeeived May 1, 10.45 p.m. > Paris, April 29. President Wilson wished to postpone finishing the mandates until the League meeting, but Mr. Massey and General Smuts strong-ly urged early finality, and it was agreed that the mandates should be fixed after presentation of.the treaty, but before signature. The only mention of ths mandate system in the treaty will he the dauses in the covenant as published.—United Service. THE MANDATORIES. Received May 1, 5.15 p.m. New York, April 30A United Press message from Paris istates that the assignment of the mandatories for protected territories will be left till the first meeting of the League of Nations at Washington in October. Mr. Lloyd George and M. Clemenceau are expected to attend.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.