PEACE CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16397, 17 December 1918, Page 7

PEACE CONFERENCE.

PRESIDENT WILSON IN* PARIS

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright ) (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.;

(Renter's Telegrams.)

PARIS, December 14. Prosideut Wilson was greeted with the thunder of guns and the limbic of military bands. lie received a great ovation from vast crowds, and was welcomed by M. Poincare, the French President. President Wilson has accepted the King's invitation to visit London. At luncheon in the Elvseo M. Poincare proposed the toast of President Wilson. After eulogising the Americans, ho referred to the devastations, promising to communicate the Gorman General Staff's cynical instructions in regard to them. He said: "Should those misdeeds go unpunished, France's sacrifices will havo bi»?n in vain. We have nmv built up together a peaco preventing reconstitution and organisation for conquest and oppression, a peace which will make amends for the miseries and sorrows of yesterday, and be a guarantee against dangers of tomorrow. While whatever safeguards aro established, it is impossible, alas, to assert that mankind has for ever been spared the horrors of war, the peace must include all the conditions of justice, and the possibilities for duration which it is possible to incorporate. France is ready, in the fullest confidence, to work with you to this end."

FREEDOM OF THE SEAS. (Reutor, via America.) LONDON, December 14. Yisconnt Grey, in a speech at Dewsbury, said that until President Wilson defined the phrase "freedom of the seas," and came to discuss it, he did not think there was any neod to anticipate difficulty about an agreement as to what it meant. Probably what was in President Wilson's mind was that the freedom of the seas should be secured to any nation observing the covenants of the League of Nations, and denied to any nation breaking them. If that was so, the League of Nations was tho solution of the wliolo_ question. He could not see why Britain should not accept tho formula that if tho League of Nations was formed there -was to be comolete freedom of the ecas so long as the League's covenants wore observed, but if they -were broken, then there was to be no freedom of the sens, and every means •would be used against tho Power breaking the covenants. EXTENSION OF RESPONSIBILITIES. (Australian and N. 55. Cfibl© Association.^ LONDON, December 14. The "l>aily Telegraph's" Paris correspondent states that, because there is no sign of a permanent Government in Germany, it is likely that tho Peace Conference" will bo extended, becoming a Council for tho Government of Central Europe. Tho Allies may occupy strategic points in Germany, possibly for twentv or thirty years. Inasmuch as tho North German Confederation will not be permitted in that period to maintain an army or a navy, the burden of administration will be thrown on tho Allies. Thero is a similar situation in Russia and Austria. It is most significant that no attempt is heing made by Germany to form a conference in the present caso with tho Allies, which suggests an even weightier burden for the Peace Congress. GERMANY'S COLONIES.

(Australian and N.Z. Cflblo Association.) NEW YORK, December 14. Mr Taft, interviewed in Philadelphia, said: "There is a doubt raised whether Britain will adhere to her attitude that she is not seeking territorial gain from the war. _ Germany's treatment of tho natives in her Pacific and African colonies demonstrates that the colonies must not bo returned to her. Tho question arises, under President Wilson's fourteen points: Who shall administer the colonies? Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa wish the colonies to be incorporated in tho British Empire. This would cause a cry of Imperialism against Britain;. Tho best courso is for the colonies to be administered by a League of Nations." Several newspapers, commenting editorially on the desire for negro rule in Germany's African colonies, state that it would be hard to imagine a more foolish notion than the suggestion that the colonies should be returned to the natives, without foreign supervision. It *is the reductio ad absurdum of the principle- of self-determina-tion.

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS. (Australian and K.Z, Cable Association.) LONDON, December 14. (Received "December 16th, 9.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, December 14. Mr Roosevelt, in an article on tho League of Nations, says: "Germany and Turkey must not be admitted to the League for many years. Some of Russia's actions during the past year mako any international guarantoe on her part worthless. Tho League should only include the present Allies and the United States, and "must explicitly reserve rights regarding territorial possessions, the control of immigration, citizenship, and domestic problems generally. We must be careful about guaranteeing to interfere on behalf of impotent, disorderly nations when they lie outside our sphere of interest."

Mr Roosevelt further points out that it would be absurd to include in the League on an equality with the United States and Japan, such countries as China, Mexico, Hayti, Santo Domingo, and many others in the same category. An American corresnondent travelling with President Wilson states: — President Wilson is most keen on the League of Nations, and favours the punishment of the Kaiser. LONDON ; December 14. Tho League of Nations Union canvassed 1500 electoral candidates, and claims 528 of them as being in favour of the League.

POLISH AND UKRAINIAN CLAIMS. (Australian an/1 N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received December 16th. 9.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, December 14. The "New York Times" Washington correspondent reports that the Ukrainian Congress carried a resolution requesting the Peace Conference to settle the conflicting territorial claims cl Poland and the Ukraine by means of a plebiscite. CHINESE WISHES. (Reut-er, via, America.) HONOLULU, December 14. Tlie Chinese delegate, en route to the Peace Conference, said that China joined the war unselfishly. She would ask for right and justice in the Far East, and will urge that Japan should return Tsingtau. He added: —"Wo wish the open door for all tho world, but whether Japan is entitled to a preferential foothold is a question that the Peace Conference must decide." SCANDINAVIAN REPRESENTATION. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Reuter'a Telegramfl.) COPENHAGEN, December 14. The Government propose that the Danish and Spanish Governments take

steps to secure Scandinavian representation at the Peaco Conference, especially as regards the League of Nations and compensation for maritime war losses. THE INDIAN DELEGATES. (Australian and Gable Association.) (Reutor's Telegram*.) (Received December lGtli. " 45 p.m.) LONDON. l>eccmber 15. ITie Indian delegates to the Pca-o Conference Jiavc arrived in London.