PEACE CONFERENCE

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 3778, 3 May 1919, Page 2

PEACE CONFERENCE

THE TERMS ARE NOW READY

uERMANS WILL GET 21 DAYS TO CONSIDER. (Aus.-N.Z. Caolo Association.) Paris, April UU. '.Ihe Peace Treaty was'" completed .g-iiay. I ne Germans at \ ersaillcs ,viil not Know as contents until Saturday and purhaps .Monday. ah important icasuu lor the delay ~s toe anxiety., to gel tlie luuians concilia icd and im attendance. '1 lie pre.•.unl intention is lo give the Germans .1 lortnignt lor consideration, then a .reek for discussion by an intercliange ji notes. During tlie interval tlie council will have ample work fixing ,he Austrian, Turkish and Bulgarian terms. it is hoped to get the Austrians in Paris before President Wilson leaves on tbe 31st.

'Ihe text o ftho treaty will be presented to 18 minor Powers the day b.*for_ the presentation to the Germans, but no amendments will be acceptable.

KEITH MURDOCH'S FORECAST

DISPOSAL OF THIO KIEL CANAL

Paris, April 21)

Mr Murdoch says the Peace Treaty to be presented to the Germans will provide that alt Government property in former Carman territories shall pass to the new Governments exercising authority therein, tho decisions of local courts to be final. The new Governments may repatriate resident Germans and lormulato conditions tinder which Germans may reside, bold property, trade, or work in the lormor colonies.

,'I lie Kiel Canal is to be placed on a similar footing to the Panama Caual. Its approaches will be maintained free and open to vesseds of commerce or war of all nations at peace with Germany on terms of entire equality. The treaty will provide for tho appointment by each country of a subtoniniisston, whereon Gormany will be represented, to control, the return ol prisoners, Germany undertaking iiio cost ol repatriation. She also mil undortakts to accept all repatriated prisoners, but tlie Allied countries may send German internees or prisoners lo a neutral country, or permit ..iieni to remain in Allied territory.

Germany is to undertake to facilitate cnquirius for missing soldiers, restore property taken from them, and i urnish a list of dead prisoners and their and maintain such graves. The genoral effect o ftho economic clauses in the treaty will bo to givo the Allies most favoured nation treatmont for five years.

Another provision will bo that the A Moid and Associated Governments shall preserve the light to retain and liquidate all property, rights and inlorests of German nationals, or -companies controlled-by them in their territories. Compensation is to be given according to tho local laws. Contracts with enemies shall bo, regarded as dissolved from tho dale of the war, except in respect of money owing to patents and copyrights. | Rights in industrial, literary, and artistic property are to be restored both !in Allied countries and in Germany, but the action taken in the Allied countries during the war with respect ito patents and copyrights is upheld iund will roirrain in force. ORLANDO WILL RETURN. IN TIME FOR THE SIGNING OF PEACE. London, May 2. The American Ambassador at Rome bad a lengthy conference with Signor Orlando and Baron Sonnino. /The impression prevails in Paris that Signer Orlando's speech indicates a desire to esNa\pc from an awkward dilemma without undue loss of prestige. The belief is current that Orlando will return in ample lime for tho' signing of peace despite his Homo declarations that Fiumo must first bo guaranteed to Italy. DISPOSAL OF THE GERMAN FLEET. QUESTION HELD IN ABEYANCE. (Received May 3; 9.20 a.m.) Paiis, May 2. The naval terms do not provide for Hit- sinking ol the German warships. The question is held in abeyance. THE WORK OF RESTORATION. GERMAN SKILLED WORKMEN TO ASSIST. Eight hundred thousand German prisoners in France will be exchanged for an equivalent number of skilled workmen who will assist in tho restoration of the invaded areas. GERMANY'S HOPES. TO SECURE VITAL CONCESSIONS. (Recoived May 3, ,9.30 a.m.) Loucron, May 1. The Daily Chronicle's Geneva correspondent learns from a reliable source that a confidential conference was held in Berlin on aturday between the Government and the'most-! influential leaders of thet Assembly, .when they discussed the situation prior to tho Peace Delegation's departure.

Here Brockdorlf-Rantzau said he was confident tboy would secure vital concessions in the Saar Valley. He would refuse- to sign any terms involving its veiled annexation. Rantzau further stated that armistice negotiations wit hthe Russians wrre progressing favourably. A truce was desirable for the purpose ol freeing tho Germans to. deal with the Poles.

Rautzati opposed an alliance with Lenin winch would compromise Germany s future, 1 He preferred to cstabhsh good relations wit hthe antiBofslieviks by offering more effective support than the Entente. ANOTHER FORECAST PARIS NEWSPAPER. GIVES A SUMMARY (Received May 3, 1 p.m.)

, Paris, May 2. Ihe Echo de Palis states that the I rehniinary Treaty is a compromise. Ihe preamble, in showing why the Allies and associated Powers entered the war, mentions the necessity for the League of Nations. ( Tbe second chapter relates to tbe German frontiers, and the third to other frontier changes. The fouth chapter refers to military, naval, ami aerial questions; the fifth to the German colonies, and tlie other chapters deal with reparation, economic, and financial matters., and tho labour legislation. . The document finally stipulates the guarantees for carrying out the Treaty ' !