THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 May 1919, Page 7

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

GERMANS WILL SIGN. REFUSAL TO PAY INDEMNITY. Paris, May 7 (9.30 a.m.) The Germans have agreed to sign the peace treaty, but refuse to agree to the ' payment of an. indemnity.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ALLIES ADHERE TO AMOUNT. THIRTY YEARS LIMIT OF TIME. London, May G. The Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that the financial terms impose on Germany the payment of a total amount for damages. The InterAllied Commission will consider modifications in the method of payment, but the amount cannot be altered. The commission repeats that the payment mnat be made within thirty years, thus the whole of Germany's existing and potential wealth will be '-mortgaged to the Allies for the purpose of the indemnity. The terms contain stringent shipping clauses, the Allies confiscating all ships over 1600 tons, half the ships between 1000 tons and 1600 tons, and one-fourth of the trawlers and fishing boats. All confiscated shipping must be handed over within two months. The treaty compels the German shipyards to work for the benefit of the Allies.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

REPARATION TEEMS. GERMANY' RESPONSIBLE IFOR- ALL LOSSES 1 AND DAMAGES. AMOUNT TO BE: FIXED-BY-A I COMMISSION. GERMAN FLEET AND ARMY MADE NEGLIGIBLE. London, May . The Reparation chapter in the Peace Treaty deals with reparation in 13 articles,, of which the principal are:—' 1. Germany- to be responsible for all the losses' and damages Of the Allies and their nationals due to the war. 2. The Allies admit that the German resources are insufficient to meet all such claims, but require Germany to compensate all damages to civilians through German aggression by land and sea. 3. An Inter-Allied Commission will fix the amount of the damages for which compensation must be paid and report the same to Germany by May 1, 1921, announcing at the same time the total claims which Germany must meet, and a scheme of payment spread over, thirty years thereafter.

The sth Article stipulates that Germany must, before May 1, 1921, pay 1000 million sterling worth of gold, goods and ships, and the first charge on this sum will be the cost of the armies of occupation and supplies forwarded to Germany to enable her to meet her obligations. 6. Germany must restore all property taken in invaded territory. 10. Germany must defray the cost of the Inter-Allied Commission, granting members diplomatic privileges and every facility. --. The first annexe details the damages which Germany must compensate, namely thoße caused to civilians by acts of cruelty, violence and ill-treatment, also all kinds of moral and physical damage ijt the occupied territory affecting the health, strength and honor of the victims and their dependents, ill-treatment of war prisoners, pensions, etc. of military victims, including sick, wounded and mutilated, ahd their dependents, allocations to families of soldiers serving with the colours, damage to property hampered, seized or destroyed by sea, land and air, excluding military works, finally fines and exactions on civil populations.

The second annexe, relating to the functions of the Inter-Allied Commission, requires Germany to issue immedi* ately and surrender to the Commission 1000 million sterling in Treasury bearer bonds as a guarantee of the first instalment payable before May, 1, IQSiI, also a further issue of bonds for 2000 millions immediately, and 2000 millions at ■a, date to be ftoed, the ruling rate of 'interest to be 5. per cent.—Ausv-N".Z. •Cable Assn. -, The third annexe with reference to reparation, in addition to the features already cabled, stipulates that Germany shall build a million tons of shipping for-the-Allies during the next five years. The fonrth annexe provides that Germany shall supply up to a maximum of 30' per cent, from her reserves of animals, raw materials, commercial equipment, and the proportion of hnfldingmaterial to Belgium. She shall provide France -with seven million tona of coal annually for 10 years. Slue shall also make good the shortage in output of Northern French coalfields* and provide Italy with 34,500,000 low witißn ten years, the value of the coal to be deducted from the total indemnity.—-Aus. N.Z. Cable Assn. Clanses in the peace terms compel Germany to renoutneo territorial and j political rights outside Europe, to disarm fortifications, to suppress her air forces. The treaty makes the fleet and army negligible, and stipulates that Germany must surrender the Kaiser for trial, repay all damages, surrender ter- | ritory to Poland, Denmark, Franco and Belgium.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

BTUME PROBLEM SOLVED. Paris, May 7, Italy has accepted the proposal to administer Frame lor four years as a mandatory, and afterwards to become the absolute owner. ITALIAN DEPUTIES RESTLESS. Paris, May 3. Rome messages indicate that the Italians are Tegretting their precipitate withdrawal from the Conference, and are awaiting ait opportunity to- return, without appearing ridiculous. ProbablyIthe, Council of Three will urge them, ta. return before the treaty- ib handed* t»ithe Germane. ' *n* Baton taaipor

have arrived and a settlement is imminent. President Wilson is receding from his position.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn AN AUSTRIAN PROTEST. Vienna, May 4. The Austrian Government, in a Note to the Entente, protests against the [ cession to Italy of the old Tryolean towns, bringing hundreds of thousands of German under Italian control, con- | trary to the !)th of President Wilson's, points, under which Austria agreed to the armistice—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SAFEGUARDING FRANCE. Washington, May 7. The United States representatives at Paris agree to submit to Congress and the British delegates agree to submit to Parliament the engagements made, subject to the approval of the League of Nations, to come immediately to the assistance of France in case of Germany attacking her without provocation. Paris, May 7. The Echo de Paris says that the United States, Britain and France agreed on supplementary guarantees oF the. permanent security of France against invasion.