NEARING FINALITY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 8 April 1919, Page 5

NEARING FINALITY.

GREAT DIFFICULTIES BEING EXPERIENCED.

MR LLOYD GEORGE'S APPEAL FOR PATIENCE.

REPARATION DEMANDS.

BY CABIjE—PEBBS ASBOGrATIOX-COSYJUQHT

PARIS, April 5

There are many signs of an early termination of the "Big Four's" deliberations. Mr Lloyd George informed the Dominions' representatives that he expects to go to London at the -end of the week to present the term© to Parliament.

Officials at the Quai <TOrsai informed French -correspondents that the terms would be ready in a very few days. The atmosphere is clearer, despite the new defiance of the Italians and the piteous final appeals of the Belgians. Practically nothing ie known about the Four's" secret conclaves, but there is a predominant impression that things are going better. American correspondents >say that President Wilson is forced by the dreadful conditions of Europe to concentrate all bis -energies upon immediate peace, sacrificing his cherished ideas, and leaving the League of Nations a mere efoadow of what he had iioped it would be. L'Echo' de Paris admits that the" ~'{Big Four's" secrecy is foiling all the j .journalists, and adds: "There is rea-, i*on to believe that the terms will Tie: •-announced to the parliaments before Easter."

The whole of the French presg » smore optimistic and generous towards and America, though gravely -anxious towards the general acceptance of the terms.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable •Assn.

PARIS, April 6. Mr Lloyd George, interviewed by Le -Matin to-day, begs the public to give the "Big Four" another fortnight's •credit, He said: "Is that too much rto ask for those who are attempting the gigantic task of rebuilding the •••world? We are nearing the end and will finish before Easter." The statement is generally interpreted as meaning that the leaders are making a final ■ appeal for patience. To-day one of the delegates, who i® very close to Mr Lloyd George, was asked if it meant that the crisis was over. "No," he *aid; "Japan, Italy and France . may yet withdraw, but that is unlikely. It is probable that some agreement will be reached. The main trouble now is that, in order to reach an agreement, the vital preliminaries are being sacrificed, and the peace may be the laughing stock of the world, being unbalanced and seemingly pro-German. The next fortnight -will be extremely important."—United Service.

PARIS, April 5. The Americans have been eharply .pessimistic throughout.the week. The anticipation that the narrowing of the conference down to four would.-produe© rapid results has not been realised. The Italians are credited with preparing strong action owing to the reluctance of other delegates to allot Fiume to Italy. What is certain, is that Signor Orlando withdrew from the Council of Four when M. Trumbitch .presented the Jugo-Slav claim. Signor Barzilai,. one of the Italian delegates, declared that the (failure of the Council to respect Italy's rights- would lead to a dire internal situation in Italy. The delegate added that Signor Orlando could not in justice to theipeople negotiate with representatives of the .people which fought Italy until .ihe last hour. It was below the dignity of the Italian delegation' to deal wl£h those responsible for the major portion of the deaths caused by the war. LONDON, April 71 The Daily. News' Paris correspondent .states that th» "Big Four" have decided to demand reparation according .to the principle set down in tihe Allied Note of November^o. "This lias been & most, vexed .question. Its settlement will do much to compose the differences ■ over the other problems. France is really, more: interested in this than in Rhmeland x>r cthe Saar Basin.

' Though the new wave of ;may not be 'justified, there does at least eeem to fee a prospect of the early l production of-flie draft trea^y^-rAiw.--IN.Z. Cable A«sn.