PEACE TREATY.

Evening Star, Issue 17034, 3 May 1919, Page 5

PEACE TREATY.

SAAR VALLEY COMPROMISE DISPOSITION OF GERMAN WARSHIPS. Press Association—Br Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PARIS, April 30. The Peace Treaty was finally revised to-day. The Germans at Versailles wilL not know the contents until Saturday, or perhaps Monday. An important reason for the delay is the anxiety to get tho Italian delegates conciliated and in attendance. The present intention is to give the Germans a fortnight for consideration, and then a week for discussion, by interchange of Notes. During the interval the council will have ample work in fixing tho Austrian, Turkish, and Bulgarian terms. It is hoped to get the Austrian* in Paris before Mr Wilson leaves on May 31. The text of the treaty 'will be presented to the 18 minor Powers the day before presentation to the Germans, but no amendments -will be accepted. NEW YORK. May 1. The 'New York World's' Paris correrpondenfc says : The German fleet will be divided among the Allies. It has been tentatively agreed that Great Britain will receive sue Dreadnoughts and six battle cruisers, France nine warships, Japan three, and Italv five. PARIS, April 22. A compromise has been reached between the French and American views on tho Rhine problem, whereby Britain agrees to *end an army to France without delay if German troops cross the Rhine, and Mr Wilson has promised to endeavor to persuade the Senate to agree to a similar undertaking by America. Details of the Saar Valley agreement show that France is assured of the full ownership of the coalfield, but a Commission under the League of Nations will be entrusted with the government of the valley. There will be no change in citizenship, but after 15 years the inhabitants shall decide by a plebiscite whether they wish the new regime to continue, or to belong to France or Germany. In the" last case Germany may repurchase the mines at the valuation of an international Commission. WAITING ITALY'S MOVE. ROME, May 1. The newspaper ' Popolo Romano' declares that the Italian delegates will not return to the Paris Peace Conference until the demand for Flume is conceded. LONDON, May 2. The American Ambassador at Rome had a lengthy conference with Signor Orlando and Baron Sonnino. The impression prevails in Paris that Signor Orlando's speech indicates a desire to escape from an awkward dilemma without undue loss of prestige. The belief is current that Signor Orlando will return in ample time for signing the Peace Treaty, despite Rome's declarations that Fiurne must first be guaranteed to Italy. LEAGUE OF NATIONS. PARIS, April 50. Addressing the British correspondents to-night, Lord Robert Cecil said he did not think either the Monroe Doctrine clause or the stipulation regarding withdrawal as weakening the covenant of the League of Nations. " You could not, anyhow," he said, "force a nation to remain in the League against its will. As regards the Monroe Doctrine, it has never been applied except to prevent European nations from introducing European politics into America. It would be absurd to maintain that the covenant ever contemplated such a purpose." Referring to the Japanese amendment. Lord Robert Cecil opined that there had been no lack of recognition of Japan in the covenant. Indeed, Japan had been given a prominent position in the League—• namely, on the council, a fact which certainly admitted the national equality of Japan with other nations in the clearest and strongest possible way. NAVAL ARMAMENTS. LONDON, May 1. Mr Daniels, Secretary of the United States Navy, was a guest at a luncheon at which the Duke of Gonnaught presided. Mr Daniels said it would be a calamity—worse, a crime—if the United States and Britain entered into competition in naval matters. It would not be for the world's good if any nation possessed a navy capable of dominating the world. Britain, with her great Empire, needed a great navy, as_ did America with her huge coast line. Neither country need entertain any suspicion regarding the other. There must never be a competition between Britain and America. On the contrary, lie felt assured there would be a combination of navies, as there had been during the war GERMAN RESTITUTION. LONDON, April 30. The ' Daily Chronicle's' correspondent at Namur states that there are 500 barges in the Meuse River loaded with loot which the Germans took from France and Belgium. Millions of tons of this loot have already been and the barges and trucks are being unloaded by German prisoners. Goods which cannot be identified bv the owners well be sold. Horses and other stolen stock have already fetched £5,000,000. A BELGIAN GRIEVANCE. PARIS, April 30. The Belgians have presented a Note to the Peace Conference pointing out that the seven milliard marks which Germany compelled them to accept during the war at 125 centimes per mark are now worth only one-third that sum.