PEACE CONFERENCE

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 3778, 2 May 1919, Page 2

PEACE CONFERENCE

INTERNATIONAL DUREAU OF LABOUR. FIRST MEETING IN OCTOBER. (Aub.-:\.Z. Cablo Association.) London, April 2.). It has been announced that the first meeting of the Peace Confcr■nrj«'s iiitai'initional Bureau of Laloui' will bo held in Washington in October. TEXT OF THE TREATY TO HE PUBLISHED ON ' SATURDAY (Received May 2, 9.-0 a.m.) London, May 1. It is expected the Peace Treaty will b" handed to the newspapers 011 aSluiday. THE GREAT PEACE PACT MAY RIO SICINED THREE WEEKS 'HENCE It is unlikely that the treaty text will bo handed to the Germans before Saturday, or possibly Monday. I'hey have a "fortniglit to examine the document, and three weeks therefore ylnpso before signature. The Germans will remain at Versailles, but may send the treaty to Germany by courier. If a plenipotentiary seeks to return to Germany it will be regarded as a breach of negotiations. BRITISH TAKE PROMINENT PART. FORECAST OE THE PROVISIONS. WHAT GERMANY WILL LOSE. (Received May . 1 p.m.) Paris, April 30. The Rritish delegates have prayed a more prominent part in tho work of the Conference than appears on the I surface.

The Labour Convention in the Treaty is solely a British achievement.

The Rritish can claim a great share in the framing of the League of Nations' Covenant, and to this Sir Eric Druinniond's appointment as tho League's Secretary is believed to bo due. The air terms are almost entirely the work of the British, although the French naturally exercised a preponderating influence in fixing the military terms, yet it was on Premier Lloyd George's i Ttsistcnce that the Conference secured the abolition of conscription in Germany.

The British also insisted on the Kai ser's punishment.

Nothing can yet be said about repatriation, but .when, the Treaty is published it will certainly be found that particular losses,, such as those by the submarine campaign, will receive full compensation.

Under the Treaty, Germany loses 70 per cent of her iron ore, one-third of her coal. 20 per cent, of her potash, and between 7.000,000 and 8,000,000 of her population.