SETTLING PEACE TERMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17110, 15 March 1919, Page 9

SETTLING PEACE TERMS.

CONCLUSION IN SIGHT.

CALLING IN THE GERMANS.

READINESS NEXT MONTH. ; Australian and N.Z. Cable Association(Heed. 7.40 p.m.) PARIS, Mm. 13. It is understood that the preliminary peace terms will be handed to ] the German delegates early in April. | The documents will be formally sub- 1 mitted without any comment being permitted on their part. They will be requested to deliver the terms to the assembly at Weimar and return with a reply' within 10 days. It is understood that the Conference will make it clear than von Bernstorff must not be one of the delegates, as he is a persona non grata. The Council of Ten will not meet again until Mr. Wilson is present. REDUCING ARMED FORCES. IMPORTANT STEP TAKEN. A. and N.Z. PARIS. Mar. 13. A correspondent writes that from an exceptional authority he has learned that the decision to reduce the German Army is the beginning of the destruction of armed, camps in Europe. It was significant that the opposition to the proposal came from the military leaders, except in the case of the British. The other leaders preferred the menace of an array of 3,000,000 in Germany to being deprived of large armies in their own countries. Yet, without such a decision as that of yesterday the League of Nations would be merely a scrap of paper, and would end in the clash of great armies sooner or later. The decision would do more to preserve the peace of Europe than anything else.

It is believed that Germany will accept the decision, but not without some protest that the proposed army is not sufficient to police her internally. The council agreed to the decision unanimously, and it is hardly thought other countries will require much persuasion to reduce their armies under the influence of public opinion. The decision may be regarded as opposed to all compulsory military training.

Definite plans have already been I made to provide credits to enable Germany to be revictualled for six weeks. This will pave the way for Germany to create further credits. Undoubtedly eastern Europe is starving, and great suffering exists among women and children. Nothing could be worse from our point of view than having anarchy in Germany. The Germans will not listen to Bolshevik arguments if they are fed. Some sort of ordered government in Germany is necessary to secure peace as well as to provide a bulwark against Russian anarchy. Food is better resistance than any armed force could provide. The Germans arc already contrasting the better condition in the occupied territory with that obtaining in Berlin and elsewhere.

AERIAL RESTRICTIONS. NO MILITARY MACHINES. A. and N.Z. LONDON. Mar. 13. The aerial terms of the armistice provide that the German aeroplanes and dirigibles must no longer be used for military purposes. German aeroplanes may be used for commercial purposes. ARMISTICE DISCUSSIONS. RESUMPTION AT BRUSSELS. (Received 8.10 p.m.) Renter. PARIS, Mar. 13. Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss has been entrusted with full powers, and has gone to Brussels to meet the German armistice mission.