SETTLING THE TERMS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 62, 13 March 1919, Page 5

SETTLING THE TERMS.

GERMANY'S FUTURE NAVY. MSS THAN FIFTY SHIPS. PLEBISCITE IN SCHLESWIG. LONDOX, March 12. The- German fleet will be restricted to six ironclads, five cruisers, and 12 large and 26 small destroyers. Germany will be required to comply with the military terms within two months. It is expected that the conference will accept Denmark's offer for a Schleswig plebiscite. It is considered certain that Poland will receive Dautzig. A special department has been created to identify and recover machinery stolen from France and Belgium. Germany's food requirements have been assessed at. 300,000 tons monthly, to be entirely composed of wheat and meat at the outset. The conference is likely to appoint forthwith a commission to define the meaning of the colonial mandate. Mr. Hughes has sent a Note to M. (Temenceau, urging dispatch. He said the uncertainly embarrassed Australia.

The Supreme War Council will resume immediately its conference with the German representatives at Brussels. It is expected that Germany will accept the following programme, which will bo proposed by the War Council:- The partial removal of the blockade, the establishment of neutral credits by Germany, and the use of the German gold reserve if necessary.

The correspondent of the X'nited Press on board the President".* vessel says it is understood that Mr. Wilson is opposed to any changes in the draft, constitution of the League, of Nations. He will undoubtedly push such oppoMtion when he reaches Paris. The Paris correspondent of the I'nited Press states that it is understood that the German delegates to the Peace Conference will particularly urge the adoption of measures for the protection of workmen throughout the world, such as equitable conditions of labour and the right to organise unions.—(A. and X.Z.) " DON'T ARGUE."' SURRENDER OF THE FLEET. ADMIRAL HOPE'S DEMAND. LONDON. March 12. '"Don't argue,"' said Admiral Hope, representing the British nt Spa. "We imperatively demand the immediate surrender of the entire German mercantile fleet." Admiral Hope then declared that the commissioners were not empowered to listen to counterproposals, whereupon the negotiations were suspended. The French newspapers unitedly support Hope"s attitude. declaring that Herr Sehi'idemann instructed the plenipotentiaries at Spt to dispute the ground foot by foot during the discussion of the armistice terms. The "Petit .Journal" declares that the Gorman attitude is . the-Aj-esult of the belief that Mr. Wilson is weakening the Allies. The "Paris Journal" declares that the civilian delegntes. whom Mr. Wilson insisted should stand beside Marshal Foeh, weakened the hand of the Allies. The '-Echo de Paris" calls the (rt-r----man attitude a feeble attempt at blackmail, and says that the Allies must compel submission if necessary with guns and bayonets. After a long discussion an agreement was ultimately reached, but the details arc not yet known. — (A. and N.Z.)