THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 May 1919, Page 5

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

THE TREATY. TO BE HANDED TO GERMANY TO-DAY, BELGIUM AGREES TO isms. Paris, May 5. The peace terms will be handed to the Germans on Thursday.—Aus.-NZ. Cable Assn. Paris, May 5. The Peace Treaty is to be handed to the Germans at 2.15 p.m. on Wednesday. The Belgian Crown Council decided to sign the Peace Treaty.—Aus.-NA Cable Assn. London, May 5. Belgium has agreed to sign the peace treaty. AN ULTIMATUM TO THE ALLIES. Received May 7, 1 a.nt London, May 0. It is now announced that the Germans will receive the terms at three o'clock on the afternoon of the 7th. Berlin, May 6. Newspapers state that the German delegates, at a meeting on Sunday, issued an ultimatum to the Entente that they will quit Paris if there is further delay in submitting the terms. The ultimatum was handed to Colonel Henry demanding a reply before five o'clock on Monday evening.—AW.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RETURN OF ITALIAN DELEGATES. REPORTED SETTLEMENT OP PIUME DIFFICULTY. Rome, May 5. SSgnor Orlando and Baron Sonnino return to Paris immediately.—AusN.Z. Cable Assn. Paris, May 5. It is reported that the Allies have offered Flume to Italy after '.three years' existence as a free port; meantime the Jngo-Slavs will build their own port.—AUß.-N.Z. Cable Assn. > JAPAN AND CHINA. Paris, May 5. A Japanese official communique states that Japan will return Shantung to China, retaining only the economic privileges granted to Germany and the right to establish a settlement at Taingtau.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. New York, May 5. Tie Paris correspondent of the New York Herald states that members of the Chinese Peace Delegation and the special mission cabled their resignations to Peking when they learned the terms of the Shantung settlement. Paris, May 4. The Chinese have issued a further statement expressing indignation at not receiving any official written communication respecting the Shantung settlement', which gives Japan even greater privileges than the Germans possessed, inasmuch as Japan secures permanent control instead of control for a fixed period of years.—Aus.-NX Cable Assn. FRENCH PREMIER OPTIMISTIC. Paris, May 4. The French Cabinet reviewed the essential clauses of the treaty. M Clemencean subsequently informed a French interviewer that he believed it would be a good peace. The Matin, however, is pessimistic, and says that peace is not here yet, although the Germans are at Versailles. The Big Three continue to deliberate without conclusions. France's indebtedness is growing formidably, crop prospects are exceptionally bad, and cattle »J» ia poor condition. NOTES ON THE TREATY. Paris, May 3. Germany will renounce her rights to IS German main cables, but the Coun,cil has not yet decided how to dispose of them. President Wilson opposes the British scheme of redistribution, and urged that it was undesirable that submarine cables, which are of great international importance, should become a British monopoly. He suggested that the Allied associated Powers should act as trustees of these cables pending the establishment of an international conjrentum. The Council authorised President Wilton to draw up a formula covering this Suggestion, providing that subsequently the Allies and the associated Powiers determine under what national or international mandate they will be (necL AH the Allies have accepted the Prilt&6 protectorate over Egypt A clause in the Peace Treaty will require Germany to recognise the protectorate and not to interest herself in any negotiations relating to Egypt. All the powers conferred upon the Sultan relating to the Suez Canal by the Convention , of 1889 pass to Britain. Germany renounces all rights in Maroow to France and abandons all property, the German Government compensating German "Mfrmals for the loss pf their possessions. The Council decided that It was unable .to give Poland the full ownership of Danzig docks, but the treaty will guarantee Poland power to develop Port Grondo, and Brert-Lftovsk wHI be excluded from Poland. Tie conditions governing the returning of Alsace-Lorraine win be eminently favorable to France. The country will be handed over lock, stock and barrel, without debt. The frontiers Willi be those of 1871. The French nationality will be assumed by the inhabitants, Germany will repay the forced levies'made on Alsace-Lorraine for war expenditure, and will become responsible for crvfl and military pensions. The French Government secures the right to liquidate the property of German nationals in these provinces, Germany indemnifying the dispossessed persons. An interesting clause will provide that land-locked States may possess ships and give maritime certificates which all ports must recognise. Germany will undertake to disgorge the golf acquired by various transactions during the war, including the Turkish and Austro-Hungarian payments in exchange for paper loans, and -4he booty removed from Russia and Rouma&la, AH Germany**'claims to repayment £ram her former aUiat.are transferred talk* JtifcnV'-SlitelAßiak ZJ~ :