POST-WAR AFFAIRS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VIII, Issue 312, 5 December 1918, Page 5

POST-WAR AFFAIRS.

Proposed Allied Occupation If Germany Fails to Restore Order. Preliminary Conference In London. Allied Policy Agreed Upon. [FBI» AMOCUTIOK COPXBIGHT.J Copenhagen, December 3. A message from Berlin states that Marshal Foch delivered an ultimatum to the German armistice delegates, demanding the handing over of the best and strongest locomotives. The ultimatum expired on December 2nd. The result is not yet known, but “ Vorwaerts ” and other German newspapers emphasise the fact that there is no hope of a prolongation of the armistice, and if an acceptable civil order is not established, the Allies will occupy Germany. A Paris message states that the British armistice commission occupies the Kaiser’s house at Spa. PRELIMINARY INTER-ALLIED CONFERENCE. ALLIES IN FULL AGREEMENT. London, December 3. The inter-Allied Conference was resumed at Downing street. A huge crowd cheered the representatives. Prior to the conference the Imperial War Cabinet met. Sir R. L. Borden, Air. Hughes, and other dominion representatives were present. The conference ends to-day, and the Allied delegates leave to-morrow evening. (Received 5, g. 45 a.m.) London, December 4. The conclusions reached by the inter-Allied Conference were submitted this morning to the Imperial War Council for endorsement before their adoption, as was agreed in connection with items of policy to be pursued at the Peace Conference. The Prime Ministers of Canada, Newfoundland and Australia, and other Ministers not participating in the inter-Allied Conference, attended this meeting, which lasted hdlf-an-hour, after which the inter-Allied Conference deliberated at length, w*hen the Imperial War Council was called in to attend a joint sitting. Ihis lasted an hour, and marked the conclusion of the conference. It is emphatically declared that the Allies absolutely agree, and have the backing of representatives of the entire British Empire. It is confidently anticipated that Franco-Italian opinion will support the conference’s conclusions.—(A. & N.Z.) FRANCE CLAIMS RETURN OF 1871 INDEMNITY. Paris, December 2. The Municipal Council unanimously resolved in favour of recovering from Germany the two hundred millions levied on Paris in 1871, with interest. THE INDEMNITY QUESTION, thatAn Prussia alone 2,009,170 of the ——. population ot over -10,000,000 held _ „ private wealth to th? value of £10,000,000 000 MOLLD NOT BE £5,353,282,550. These esumates IJIrUssIBLL. were, of course, on the conservative side, since persons valuing their The Commonwealth Statistician own wealth for taxation purposes (Mr. C. H. Knibbs) has no doubt were usually sufficiently careful not about Germany’s ability to pay a I to overstate the amount. Therefore war indemnity of at least £lO,OOO,- ! ?■ considerable sum, amounting to at 000,000 to rehabilittate the countries t east 20 per cent., had to be added she has so ruthlessly destroyed. In- I m order to arrive at what might be terviewed on the question by a Mel- I called normal values. The estimates bourne Age reporter, he said he had W-re tor private wealth only, the noticed that quite a large number i undeveloped weaita ot Germany not of people were representing that it being brought unilcr review. It had would be impossible for Germany to to be remembered that a large inpay a war indemnity commensurate demnity for four years’ ruthless dewith the wantonness of her attack on struction would be extended over a the world’s peace. Seeing that she j considerable period, and with this in had wrecked the instruments of pro- j \ iew should be pointed out that duction in Belgium, France, and j Germany s wealth had grown with elsewhere, it was obvious that she 'great rapidity, and that that rapidwould have a start on all her com- j •ty would probably ba enhanced in petitors. Unless her advantages ’ tbe future. St-inmann Bucher, beWiere counter-balanced by the effec-; Iore t-be war, estimated Germany's five rehabilitation, at her own ex- j wealth and the growth of it. In view pense, of the industrial power of the lof the latter, a payment of desj oiled countries, Germany might £10.000,000.000 indemnity would cerbe said to have won the war pohti- ; tainly not be impossible, and would gaily, although she had lost it mill- ; not even be crushing, although it tartly. Official statistics published would compel the German nation to in Germany before the war showed practise severe economy. THE 20th CENTURY CRUSADER. PRESIDENT WILSON ABOARD THE GEORGE WASHINGTON. (Received 5, 11.55 a.m.) New York, December 3. President Wilson sailed for Europe aboard the steamer George Washington. Before the President’s departure, he expressed, in conversation with several persons, his determination not to return until militarism in any form was crushed, for only thus could the peace of the world be accepted and preserved. The Presidential party included Mr. Robert Lansing and Mr. White, the two other members (Colonel House and Mr. N. D. Baker) being already in Europe. As the George Washington drew out into the river President Wilson stood on the flying bridge while the band played “ Over There.” There were elaborate decorations on the pier and ship. Air and river patrols were active to guard against suspicious persons. The steamer appointments were most luxurious.—A. & N.Z. REPUBLICANS REMOVE ALL OBSTACLES. New York, December 3. The United Press Washington correspondent states that in a violent attack on President Wilson, Senator Shearman introduced a resolution in Congress declaring the Presidency vacant for the rest of Dr. Wilson’s term due to the President’s trip to Europe. Mr. Mann, Republican leader, deprecated making difficulties for the President at this juncture. He did not think the American people would tolerate meddling in a matter so vitally concerning thein as the President’s presence at the Peace Conference. Republicans as a body would not countenance the resolutions against the President’s attendance. THE FAR-SEEING ROOSEVELT. BRITAIN MUST HAVE NAVAL SUPREMACY. 'Received 5, <7.10 a.in.' [ New York, December 4. Ex-President Roosevelt has issued a statement to this effect: *' The British Empire imperatively needs the greatest navy in the world. The U nited States should instantly concede this. The United States should have the second largest navy in the ■world. France needs greater military strength than the United States, but all our young men should be given military training. There must not be an :n’'-rnre f cof freedom of the seas that would prevent the Briti-ffi Naw repeating in a possible future conflict the tremer.dcu.- -ervi--e it rendered in this war. Britain must retain the German colonies which she has conquered.”—(A. & N.Z.)