THE LAST PHASE.

Mataura Ensign, 3 May 1919, Page 5

THE LAST PHASE.

PEACE TREATY READY. THE GERMAN WARSHIPS. QUESTION HELD IN ABEYANCE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) *4; Received Mav 3, 9.20 a.m. - - ‘ PARIS, Mtly; 2. The naval terras do not provide for tho sinking of German warships. The question lias been held in abeyance. DIVISION OF HUN FLEET. NEW YORK, May 1. The Paris correspondent of the New York ‘World’ says that the German fleet will be divided among the Allies. It has been tentatively agreed that. Britain shall receive six Dreadnoughts and six battle cruisers, France nine .waf ships, Japan three and Italy live. BASIS OF DISTRIBUTION. FRANCE NOrIIATTSFIED. Received Alov 8, 11.55 a.m, , NEW YORK. May 3. The New York ‘World’s’ Paris correspondent states that the distribution of the German Jh’Jeet will -he based on the Allied naval losses. The United States will .not benefit by the distribution., Tho smaller craft will be distributed among the smaller Allies and nations. France is not satisfied with the. "itrangemon-t and wishes the appointment on the basis of The losses of fife in the war in all branches of (he service, ALSACE AND LORRAINE. FRENCH SOVEREIGNITY RECOGNISED. Received Mav 3, 9.5 a.m. ’ . COPENHAGEN, April 80. _ Berlin messages slate that tho Vatican has recognised the French sovereignty over Alsace and Lorraine and French bishops have replaced the Germans at Strasshurg and Mel/.. FINALITY REACHED. '" PARIS, April 80. The Treaty was finalised to-day. The Germans at, Versailles will not know its contents until Saturday, perhaps Monday. Tho important reason for delay is the.anxiety t-o ger, the Italians conciliated and in attendance. The pi ■event- 'intention is to give -the Germans a, fortnight lor consideration and then a week tor discussion by ihe interchange of Notes. Daring the intorval the Council tv ill. have ainplo work in fixing thy Austrian, Turkish and Bulgarian terms. It is hoped, to get the "Austrians in Paris before President Wilson leaves on May 81. Jim text- of the Treaty will he preHCTWfd to r,he IB minor Powers the day before its presentation to the Germans, hill, no amendments will he accepted. THE PRELIMINARY TREATY. FORECA Bt7>FcO\TENTS. Received May 8, 9.20 a.m. PARIS, May, 2. Tho ‘Echo do Paris’ states' that the. preliminary treaty is. a. compromise, the preamble showing why tho Allies and the associated Powers entered the war. It mentions the necessity for a League of Nations. The second chapter relates to tho German frontiers, and the ilnrd to of.lter. frontier changes, the fourth to military, naval and aerial questions, tho fifth to the German colonies, and other chapters deal with reparation, economic and financial matters and labor legislation. The document finally stipulates the guarantees for carrying out, the treaties, PARIS, April 29. Mr .Keith Murdoch says the Peace Treaty to bo .presenfed to the Germans ;will provide, that all 'the Go.verhineiit’s property in fotmer German territories shall pass io the new Government- exercising authority therein. The decisions of local courts will he final. The new Governments may repatriate resident Germans and formulate conditions under which the Germans may reside, hold property and trade or work in (heir termer colonies.

POSITION OF KTFL CANAL. The Kiel Canal will Ho placed on a similar footing to Panama. Canal. lls approaches will Ho maintained free and open to . vos,sols of commerce or war ot all nations at poaco with Germany on berms of entire equality. The Treaty will provide for tlio appointment by each country of a suhcommission whereon will He a. (lei'man representative to control the return of prisoners, Germany undertaking the cost of repatriation. She will also undertake to accent all repatriated prisoners, but tlio Allied’countries may send German internees to a- neutral country of permit them co rehiain in Allied territory. (lermany to undertake to facilitate inquiries for missing soldiers, to rostdto property taken from them, and to furnish a. list of dead prisoners and their graves. She is to maintain such graves. . The general effect of the eeone.nee clauses in the Treaty is to give (lie Allies -the most-favored-ualion treatment for five years. Another provision will lie that the Allied and associated Gov- ... eminents shall preserve ike rigid, to retain and liquidate all property rights and Interests of German nationals or companies controlled Hy them in their territories. Compensation is to be "iyen vapco.rding to local laws. Contracts with "enemies shall he regarded as dissolved drum the date of the war, except, in respect to monov owing to parents and copyrights. Rights in i ruins trial, literary and artistic property are restored, hbih in Allied countries and in Germany, luit the action taken in Allied countries during the war with respect to patents and copyrights is upheld and will remain in force.

THE ITALIAN DEADLOCK. ROME. May I. *Tho newspaper ‘Popolo Romano’ declares that the Italian delegates will not return lo the Paris Peace Con foronc'o until the demand for Finnic Is conceded. LONDON, May 2. The American Ambassador ni Rome had a lengthy conference with Siguoi Orlando and Baron Sonnino. The impression prevailed in Paris chat Signor Orlando's, speech indicates a, desire to escape from an awkward dilemma, without undue loss of prestige. The belief Is current that, Orlando will return in ample time for the signing of Peace despite the Rome declarations that Flume must first be guaranteed to Italy. THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

JAPAN'S PLACE IN THE SUN. PARTS, April Jft. Addressing British correspondents tonight, Ia ml Robert Cecil said that ho did noi think either the Monroe doctrine clause or the stipulation regarding the right of withdrawal as weakening the Covenant. “Yon could not. anyhow, force a nation u> remain in t!m League against its will," he said. “The Monroe doctrine has never been applied except, to prevent European nations introducing European polities viflto America, ft is absurd (o mainthat the Covenant ever contemplated such a purpose." Referring lo lire Japanese amendmeut. Lord Cecil exprcv-cd the opinion that there had been no lack of recogre.tion of Japan in Hie Covenant. Indeed, Japan had been given a premium';, ytosicion in -(.be League name!v, on the Council, —a fact which certainly admitted the national equality of .Japan with other nations in the-oleare.se and strongest possible way.