PEACE CONGRESS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16516, 7 May 1919, Page 7

PEACE CONGRESS.

GERMANS RECEIVE TREATY

TO-DAY

ANTICIPATION OP TERMS

(By Cable.—Pr»s» AfMciatlon.—Copyright.) (Australian ud N. 2. Cable Association.) PARIS, May 5.

The Peace Treaty will be handed to the Germans at 2.15 p.m. on Wednesdav.

It is understood that the Germans are appointing committees to consider the Council's terms sectionally. A rumour is current that they may refuse to sign.

'Ilie Peace Treaty will provide that all the powers conferred upon the Sultan relating to the Suez Canal by the Convention of 1888 will pass to Great Britain. Germany renounces all rights in Morocco to France, and abandons ail property, the German Government compensating the German nationals for their lost possessions. Tho Council has decided that it is unable to give Poland full ownership of the Danzig I Docks, but tho Treaty will guarantee Poland power to develop Port Grondo. Brest-Litovslc will bo excluded from Poland. Tho conditions governing the return of Alsace-Lorraine will be I ently favourable to France. The provinces will bo handed over loci;., stock, , and barrel, without debt, the frontiers to be those of 1871; French nationality will be assumed by the inhabitants. Germany is to repay the forced levies made on Alsace and Lorraine for war expenditure, and becomes responsible for civil and military pensions. The French Government secures the right to liquidate the German nationals' property in these provinces, Germany to indemnify 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 gold acquired by various transactions during the war, including tho Turkish and Austro-Hun-garian payments in exchange for paper loans, and the booty removed from Russia and Roumania. All Germany's claims for repayment from her former Allies are transferred to the Allies. (Received May 7th, 1 a.m.) LONDON, i\lay 6. It is now announced that the Germans will receive tiie terms at 3 o'clock ou the afternoon of tiie 7th. REPORTED ULTIMATUM. (Received May 7th, 1 a.m.) UEiILIN, May 5. The newspapers state that tnu Gei'man delegates, at a meeting qn bunday, resoived to send an ultimatum to tile Entente, that they would quit i J ariß it any further deiay occurred ill submitting the terms. Tno ultimatum waß handed to Colonel Henry, Mid a foply demanded before 5 o'clock on Monday evening. UNAVOIDABLE DELAYS. "LONDON, May 5. Official.—Tho Peace Treaty is almost ready for presentation. Tne German delegates are at Versailles, but unexpected delays have arisen owing to the Italian difficulty. The New Zealand representatives ate exceedingly anxious to return to the Dominion at the earliest possible date, but cannot leave until the Treaty is signed, the amount of the indemnity fixed and apportioned, the mandates in regard to the i'orinoi' German colonies finally determined, and other matters of great importance to New Zealand disposed of. It can be stated that any opinions as to the Germans signing or refusing to sign the Treaty are mere speculation, but it is certain that the final settlement w,ill bo at least a little more protracted than was originally anticipated. Belgium has agreed to feign the Peace Troaty. , CLEMENCEAU'g BELIEF. PARIS, May 4. The French Cabinet reviewed the essential clauses of the Troaty, M. Clcmeilceau subsequently infdfrfled a French Ifltefviewer that he believed it would be a good poaco. "Le Mathi," however, is pessimistic, afld says that peace is not here yot, although the Germans afe at Versailles. "Le Matin's" views, however, are somewhat discounted by its stroiig opM. Olelhenceati. The B*£ Three continue to deliberate. Franco's indebtedness is growing formidably, and the crop prospectß are exceptionally bad, and tne cattle in poQr condition. ITALIANS~RETITRNING. Paris, May 5. It is reported that tho Allies have offered Fiume to Italy after throe years' existence ns a free port. Tn the meantime tho Jugo-Slavs will build their own port, Signor Orlando and Baron Sohnino will roturn to Paris immediately. (Received May 7th, 1 a.m.) LONDON, May 5. An Exchange Tolegraph Agency message from Paris reports that the Fiume question has been settled to Italy's satisfaction. Fiumo will be autonomous for two years, and Italian thorcafter. THE SHANTUNG SETTLEMENT. 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 Tsing-tau. The Chinese have issued a further statement expressing indignation at not receiving an official written communication respecting tho Shantung settlement, which gives Japan even greator privileges than the Germans possessod, inasmuch as Japan secures permanent control instead of over a fixed period of years. CHINESE MISSION RESIGNS. * NEW YORK, May 5. The Paris correspondent of the "New York Herald" states that members of the Chinese Peace Delegation and the Special Mission cabled tlioir resigna-! tions to Peking when they learned of I the terms of the Shantung settlement.