PEACE CONGRESS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10206, 17 February 1919, Page 5

PEACE CONGRESS

MORE HASTE WANTED EARLY SIGNING OF TREATY FORECASTED. By Telegraph—Press Aesociatlon— Copyright .Australian -and-,N.Z. Cable Association. (Received • February 16, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, February 13. The "New York Herald's" Paris correspondent states that it would not be surprising if the representatives of tho "Big Five," despite tho absence of Mr Lloyd George and President Wilson, complete the Peace Treaty before both men return to Pans. Tliere has been growing dissatisfaction at the slowness of tho Peace Congress . PLENARY SESSION ON FRIDAY. Australian and K.Z. Cable Association. (Received February 16, 5.0 p.m.; PARIS, February 13. A plenary session has been fixed for Friday. QUESTIONS BEFORE THE CONGRESS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PARIS, February 13.. The Council has referred the Belgian territorial claims to a Committee ior investigation, and the claims regarding the Scheldt to the Waterways Commission, and the Council is now discussing the Syrian question, and will probably hear tho Lebanon delegates to-day. Regarding the League of Nations, it is hoped to hold, a plenary session on Saturday, when the scheme will be laid on the table and given its first reading. It will be taken up tor fuller discussion when President Wilson returns. Britain, like America, is not disposed to accept the clause with regard to the establishment oi an International Army. It appears likely that tho Conference will create 'an International Air l Commission to draft a scheme for aerial communications. Sir Joseph Cook has been appointed as tho chief British delegate to tje Czecho-Slovak Committee to investigate territorial claims. QUESTION OF INDEMNITY. j Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received February 16, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, February 13. In the House of Commons, Mr Bonar Law said that the British delegates at Paris had been instructed to claim,an indemnity, including the cost of tho war, besides damage actually incurred. A Commission was considering the amount. and method ot enforcing payment. He said that the treaty embodying the League, ot Nations would not be ratified until Parliament expressed an opinion. Parliament would not alter the details. FRENCH TO DEMAND COALFIELDS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received February 16, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, February 13. ' ; It is stated that France will demand at the Peace Congress possession of the Saar coal basin in the Rhineland. She will not ask for any further an-r nexations of German territory. Although there are a million Germans in the Saar basin, the French Govern-, ment points out that the great majority are German colonists sent by the German Government to oust the' French. RUSSIAN QUESTION DEBATED.

Australian, and N.Z. Ca-ble Association. February 16, 11 p.m.) PARIS, February 15. The Supreme War Council debated the Russian question and heard delegates from the Lebanon Administrative Council.