FINAL PEACE MOVE.

Mataura Ensign, 12 January 1920, Page 5

FINAL PEACE MOVE.

ALLIES RATIFY TREATY,

, SCAPA FLOW SINKINGS. t

CONCESSIONS TO GERMAN V , (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter.) 'Received Januarv 12, 9.5 a ?u. LONDON, Jin. 10. A letter from M. Clemenceau, handed to von Lersuer after the exchange of ratifications, records an assurance relative to the safeguarding of economic interests vital to Germany. In connection .with' the Scapa Flow ' reparations it states that the Allied and associated experts think the information upon which they founded their demands for 40,000 tons of dock material erroneous as regards 80.000 tous floating docks at Hamburg. If it was found so they would reduce their demands to 000,000 or even, to a minimum of 275,000 if fully convinced of the necessity for reduction. The Scapa Flow sinkings were not considered to constitute a war crime ibr which individuals would bo designated for punishment. In accordance with the Peace Treaty Germany must immediately band over 192.000 tous, the time limit given for the balance not exceeding 30 months.

FUTURE OF SYRIA. NEW AGREEMENT REACHED. (Reuter’s Telegrams.) Received January 12. 8.55 a.m. PARTS, Jan. 8. ‘bo Temps’ understands that the main provisions of the agreement betcAvcn the Emir of Feisul and the French Government are as follow: Tho Amir agrees to France exorcising a. mandate over the whole of Syria, and Franco consents to the formation of an Arab State embracing tho towns of Damascus’, Homs and Aleppo, which will bo administered by the Amir with tho assistance of French advisers and inspectors in the region of El Bekaa, which is claimed by both Lebanon and the Arabs. The State policing arrangements will* be provisionally under the control of Arab gendarmerie with French military inspectors. The definite allocation of the Bekaa region will be made by the Peace Conference, but it is probable that the claims presented by, Lebanon will be accepted. Tho Arab State ‘ accepts the financial and economic collaboration of France to the exclusion of all other countries.

MESSAGE FROM KING. DAWN OF NEW ERA. Received January 12, 12.45 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 11. Replying to a loyal message f rom the citizens of Loudon on the occasion of the exchange of ratifications, the King telegraphed to the Lord Mayor: “With all my heart I reciprocate their hopes and reverently pray, ‘Please God this may he the dawn of a. new era in which the people of the British Empire will forever live in peace with itself and all men.’ ” LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION. CO-OPERATION OF PEOPLE WANTED. Received January 12. 12.45 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 11. Lord Robert Cecil, in a. manifesto on behalf of the League of Nations Union, says: “Tho League exists. Is.it to be a real thing or an imposture? AIT depends on the attitude of tho peoples not least the British peoples. There is no time to he' lost. Schemes for tho Imitation of armaments must be worked out, tmTTeTms of mandates settled, mandatories appointed, and an international court of justice established. Moreover, tho disquieting Russian situation, the economic chaos in Europe, tho defective financial provisions of the Treaty and the early admission into the League of the enemy Powers arc- matters within the League’s sphere of action, and a. (kj!icy regarding those matters must ho formulated, life Union appeals for support in the shape of personal service or pecuniary contributions.

AMERICA'S DILEMMA. PARTIES IN THE DOLDRUMS, .WHICH IS THE PROPER COURSES' Received January 12, 9.-I5 a.m. WAvSHINGTON. Jau. 9. A disagreement between tire views of Mr Bryan and Pre-sideut "Wilson concerning tbo Treaty has resulted’ in nimii confusion. There is ,a. .feeling among tho more liberal elements in both parties that the Treaty should not he made an issue of t t-he Presidential election, but senators of neither party scorn to know what course to pursue. '