PEACE CONFERENCE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 25 August 1919, Page 5

PEACE CONFERENCE

WHY PROGRESS IS SLOW

MANY VERY DIFFICULT QUESTIONS. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT (United Service.) (Received Aug. 25 9 a.m.) PARIS, Aug. 22. Mr Keith Murdoch writes: The slow, halting footsteps of peace ar© due to bewilderment. Even the greatest diplomats in Europe are in a maize of difficulties. Foreign Ministers, att-ended by ambassadors, experts, soldiers, and the principal bureaucrats of the' chancelleries, still meet daily. M. Clemenceau presides when he is able to spare the time from France's difficult domestic problems. M. .Piohon, Mr Balfour, Signor Tittini, and Mr Pcli are regular attendants. Mr Polk has proved an able and resourceful diplomat, but President Wilson insists that every important question shall be referred to Washington. The delegates expect that another four months will be required to bring negotiations to a conclusion. The signature of the Austrian Peace Treaty is expected about September, but t.h-3 Allies' final reply, as drafted, contains substantial modifications on the original terms. Much, easier economic terms are made.. The Bulgarian delegates, who are iving sumptuously at the Bois de Boulogne, have proved clever and artful diplomats. They gained very strong American sympathy, partly du e , to American colleges and I.angcoll eoleges, and the large tobacco trade of Bulgaria. The American delegation has urged easier treatment of Bulgaria. Under the arrangements of the Council regarding Greco-Bulgarian claims this part of the Balkans will become pieba Id and disrupted. Ifc is ethnographically correct, but .unquestionably contains seeds of future war. The Council's excuse is that the Allied public would not send a single division to enforce any other peace against tho militant and aggressive Bulgars. Even this peace -s eminently favorable to Greece, which gets Smyrna and islands in Asiatic territory. + V?* T v, rki; sh Peace will not be i tackled till October, owing to most serious Anglo-French difficulties in Serbia, These difficulties are acute, and French, feeling is" bitter The newspapers are daily attacking tho British Government. The real trouble is due to the Arabian dislike of the £reneh, but nothing; will convince f ranee that this dislike is not due to the influence of British agents. There I is a most serious clash of Anglo- £ -trench interests through Asia Minor, a Lengthy and detailed negotiations i seem to be the only way of settlement. Another outstanding question is \vhe- t ther President Wilson wil] be able to g persuade the United States against ci the popular feeling not to accept n mandate for Armenia. Refusal would leave the Council at its wits' end. t Britain feels that her hands are full, c yet does not desire another European- s Power so close to India. I The Conferenr-e takes the most Jt serious view of the Shantung agitation, t regarding .Tapanese-American feeling v ns the darkest cloud on the international horizon. h The Conference reports show' that s Germany is industrious and calm, and i h far ahead with its reconstruction. f;