PEACE CONFERENCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 15, 20 January 1919, Page 5

PEACE CONFERENCE

PRESS TO RE ADMITTED

THE INAUGURAL MEETING. (Australian and N.Z. Cabla Association PARIS, Jan. 17. Mr Fraser 'states that, the Conference, is mainly occup’ed tyilh discussing the press suggestions for 'publicity. The journalists’ conference demanded actual representation at the sittings, but the French journalists dissented, and withdrew. The British and Americans and Italians then submitted proposals, and the Peace Conference, after a prolonged sitting," agreed to admit the press with reservations with regard to sittings in camera. President Poincare will deliver his inaugural address on Saturday” afternoon, to which President Wilson will probably respond. ' # ; It. is expected that the Conference will forthwith deal with the question of the 'League of Nations and the formation of new States.

- An analysis of the Conference’s geographical groups shows that North and South America have sixteen members and nine Voles; Europe, 29 members and ten votes; Asia, ten members aijd four votes; Africa, three members aid three votes; and Oceania, three mehxbers and no votes. PracA.-vly Brian: his fourteen dele* tzaw-s .nd six .oK-, while France has on* Note, r.s turne o- her colonies secured representation, although this if? likely to be remedied. The United' States, with Central America, Cuba, and Liberia, has eight votes. The great hotels and bureaux of Paris are a Babel of worl<®politics, in which plans long pondered are being modified ready ioi the of the Conference, and the possibilities of compromise are discussed. Mr Lloyd George and Mr Bonar Law had several conferences with Mr Hughes. Sir Joseph Cook, and other Dominion Ministers in order that the latter may be able to sit at the Conference table in turn as full British representatives if Mr Lloyd George and Mr Bonar Law should be compelled to return to London in connection with the opening of Parliament, as is likely. Though the fact that the British Empire has thirteen spokesmen is arousing criticism, the importance of the matter can be easily exaggerated. The number of delegates has no connection with the voting* power, but voting will probably not play a large _ part in the Conference. Otherwise it is impossible ,to reconcile the fact that the British ■will have six votes to the United States’ one.

PROTESTS AGAINST SECRET SITTINGS. PARIS, Jan. 17. Following protests sent ,to Mr Lloyd George by the British Empire Press Union, and by Americans to President Wilson, the Conference, before announcing' its decision regarding publicity, sent representatives to a meeting of French, British, American and Italian journalists, and requesting them to formulate a scheme for securing-ful-ler publicity. ThoJßrUish journalists favoured one of tKeir members attending the Conference and furnishing a semi-official statement daily. The Americans appealed for a practically! open conference.

M. CLEMENGEAU

PERMANENT PRESIDENT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) PARIS, Jan. 17. It is practically certain that M. Clemenceau will bo the permanent President, The Jugo-Slavs’ committee at Parfe protested against the admission to the Peace Conference of Serbian delegates to the exclusion of Jugo-Slave from the Austro-Hungarian .provinces now incorporated in Serbia, The committee claims that transformed Serbia possesses no purely Serbian Government. As the British Ministers will be frequently backwards and forwards to England, their places on the delegation are likely to be filled by overseas representatives, ■ .

Each delegation i® a unit, and tho number <n its members does not influ. ence its voting or status.

M. CLEMENGEAU ELECTED PRESIDENT

THE INAUGURAL SPEECH. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) PARIS, Jan. 18. 'On the motion of President Wilson, seconded by Mr Lloyd George, M. Clomenctau was nominated chairman of the Congress. President Poincare, at the opening of the Conference, outlined the German aggression. He said a shameful bargain wa R offered to Britain, seeking her neutrality. M. Poincare eulogised Britain’s decision, and the magnificent part she had played in the wari asr-- ■ THE NEW ZEALAND DELEGATES. PARIS, Jan. 17. There is general regret. that New Zealand’s representation at the Peace Conference is limited to one, but it is pointed out that ■when Mr Massey attends as a IBritish delegate Sir Joseph Ward can attend as New Zealand’s delegate, irench will be the official language.

OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUES

UNOFFICIAL NEWS' BANNED IN FRANCE., (Australian and N.Z. Oabls Association.) : . . LONDON, Jan. 16. It is officially stated at Paris that the only authorised accounts of the Conference proceedings will be communiques, The delegates are pledged not to divulge the proceedings. There is some doubt as to the meaning of tnis. Several London newspapers inerpre,t it to mean that unofficial reports must not. be published. The Daily Express states that the /trench newspapers threatened with severe penalties for publishing unauthorised reports,* The prohibition was a trench proposal, 1 and only President Wilson resisted it. The (British correspndents strongly arid unitedly protestfhafto+T?* l V. Ll 2 yd Geor ? e - It is likely i?mn| the Conference will issue a daily sunpiementary report. with the Polish repifsentatives at Paris resulted ini an cSSrVl ffehi ’ wlth ihe '<*»«*>« S W I ] ie VarlOßS paries in Pobecomes Premier, thV-ltote P, S^ Skl ?eai ? i . n ® tb* head-of

It is reported that President Wilson with Italy'* claim to Fium£ which ho considers should be the outiSeveral English newspapers stronclv protest against the ban on new® after arrai^in S for social 1 re-.

RUSSIAN SITUATION

SPECIAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. (Etec. Jan. 20, 9.10 a.m.) PARIS, Jan. 16. It is understood that a committee of six representatives of the principal Allies is to'examine the situation 'in Russia. " J ‘ ‘ ' 'Representatives of % the Southern Russian States, and also Omsk, wiU give evidence before the couunittefe* ftiid. also various Russian personages now in Russia who have been grouped under the' Presidency of Prince Lvoff.

RUSSIAN EMBASSY AT BERLIN

Hli>»EN ? AMMUNTTIbK.

(Rec. Jan. 20, 10.10 a.ra.) | COPENHAGEN, Jan. 16. I The National Tidende reports that a! secret staircase and an enormous store ; of arms and ammunition were discovered in the Russian Embassy at Berlin.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

REFERRED. PCF REPRESENTATIVE ' COMMISSION. ”PARIS, Jan. 18. The Peace Conference' decided to refer the question of the League of Nations to an intcr-Allied commission for an early*"’ report. . , • GerriKi'nVi will not be represented until everything of importance has been settled. ~ . < -i ’ PRESIDENT WILSON OPTIMISTIC. NEW YORK; Jan. 17. . A cable from President Wilson state.* that the prospect of agreement on th® League of Nations is at present most favourable. . . '

IBRD ROBERT CECIL’S SCHEME

LIKELY- TO BE ADOPTED.

: NEW YORK, Jan. IS. The United Press Paris dent states that Lord. 'Robert Cecil’s plan for the League of Nations will probably be adopted by the Conference. The United Press Paris correspondent states that Greece will request that Constantinople ‘be ’ mad e the capital ;of Greece or the international capital of the League of Nations, 1 The correspondent learns that Italy has definitely abandoned her imperialistic programme, and accepted' British and American ideas of a .democratic peace, thus removing'a stumbling block to the Conference. Interest, attaches to American plan of the League of Nations, which it is expected President Wilson •will announce at- the opening session of the Conference. Lord Robert Cecil declared that the French plan was most dependable.

FOOD FOR GERMANY

PRESIDENT WILSON’S DEMAND. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) “LONDON, Jan. 16. The Morning Post’s Paris correspondent states that President Wilson at recent'"sessions" of the Conference urged the despatch of food to Germany as the only means of combating Bolshevism. He considers l the matter vital.

Other members did not see the matter in the same light, and the situation resembles an impasse. If there is no solution President Wilson may return home. THE TONGUE-TIED PRESIDENT. A SENATOR’S COMPLAINT. WASHINGTON, Jan. 17. In the .Senate, Mr Johnson declared that it Was * humiliating ,to the .President bf the United State® to.be sit-, ting with his lips closed amidst the meshes of Europea secret diplomacy. A strictly American policy was wanted; WHAT AUSTRALIA WANTS. LONDON, Jan. 16. Mir Hughes,, int|grv|iew.ed M Paris, said : “Australia i wants the German islands and indemnities, and opposes intervention iii Russia. Australia does not ivahT promiscuous immigration.' She favours a League of Nations, and demands the right to make whatever, economßr arrangements L ehe pleaseg. She also opposes any ‘freedom of seas’ that would_ limit Britain’s supremacy. She favours military sdppprt, for Poland.”

FAR lASTERK PROBLEMS

'Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) NEW YORK, Jam 16. Mr Carl Ackerman, the New York. Times Pekin corespondent, inteviewed Husshing Chang, wl*o said- that if the League of Nations’did not become a reality the World’s greatest aspiration peace, wo aid not be fulfi'.ied. The "far Eaat might become a r/gion dangerously affected unless the Great powers checked the inordinate' ambitions of the militaris’s throughbut J the world. Mr Ackerman adds- ihah it is impossible to travel in the Far East without realising that, while the great war has ended in Europe, another is rapidly approaching in the Pacific, where there are conflicts of interests and'opposing, policies regarding Siberia, ‘ Manchuria* a*nd China which can. be peacefully adjustedl only if the facts are .placed bofore the PeaCe Congress.

INTERNATIONAL GATHERING AT

LABOUR AND SOCIALIST CON- : . bWNOES. . (Australian and N 'Z. Cable Association) - PARIS, Jam 17; A Labour and Socialist. Conference will open at Berneon the 21st inst., whfere German delegates will attend, While simultaneously ‘tui ■ totelrimtibnal trades union congress will assemble 1 at Berne. IBpth conferences, will keep ‘in touch with each other; Mr Arthur Henderson lias arrived at Paris and will attend -both conferences. Ho expects to devise'a means to submit their findings to the Peace Conference. I,fc is understood that he is negotiating with the peace delegates to that end. Mr Henderson’ hopeS to bo of service to helping to solve-the Russian problem. - . - American labour has not yet decided to participate. . MONTENEGRIN DELEGATION. (Rec. Jan. -20, 10.10 a.m.) 1 NEW YORK.. Jan. 17. Montenegrin revoltcrs' will eefid a delegation to Parle, asking' for AnSeri- ’ can troops to bd' sent to preserve order .in Montenegro. v- ■ ' ■ ’ LIEBKNECHT ALIVE. (bee. Jam 20. A.to.) ; AMSTERB-AM-, Jan. 16. - It is reported that Eiebkneoht _ and Rosa, Luxembourg are now at Hexham, awaiting ■ to (enter wOlhad.,;' - 1.-i- .