PEACE IN MAKING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10207, 18 February 1919, Page 5

PEACE IN MAKING

MR HUGHES CAUSES A FLUTTER MEMBERS LEAVE CONFERENCE. fiy Telegraph —Press Association —Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received February 17, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, February 15. The “Morning Post’s” Paris correspondent, describing Mr W. M. Hughes’s intervention at the plenary session, says that his question. “When would time be given for discussion?” caused intense excitement. Members rose to leave after iVI. Clemenceau had assured Mr “: U ®W S he could rely on the Bureau of tne Five Powers; but Mr Hughes interjected; “Wait till I get that interpreted.” President Wilson departed during the interpretation. M. Clemenceau looked at Mr Hughes with a not unfriendly eye. United Service Telegram. (Received February 18, 12.45 a.m.) PARIS. February 15. Mr Keith Murdoch, describing the scene iri the conference in which Mr Hughes Interjected, demanding to know when the League of Nations scheme would be discussed, says M, Clemenceau replied that the French Council would consider any memoranda lodged by small nations. Tho conference commenced to disperse when Mr Hughes demanded an interpretation _ nf M. Clemenceau’s remark, upon which President Wilson turned his back and walked away, obviously intending an insalt to Mr Hughes. NO CESSION OF TERRITORY. DECISION BY DUTCH GOVERNMENT. Router's Telegrams. THE HAGUE, February 16. The Foreign Minister, replying to an interpellation regarding the terntorial claims of Belgium, declared that the Dutch Government would emphatically refuse to cede any territory. GERMAN STATES’ DELEGATES. WILL NOT SUBMIT TAMELY TO DICTATION. Published in ‘‘The Times." LONDON, February 15. The German States’ delegates to tho Peace Conference include Herr David Herr Hantzau, and Herr Schucking. They are expected to take a lively part, and not to submit tamely to dictation. Their programme includes an international agreement for protecting workmen, and compulsory arbitration between peoples where direct negotiation fails. WORLD CHAOS PREFERRED TO A SACRIFICIAL DEATH. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON February 15. Herr Scheidemann (the new German Chancellor), in an interview, said the elections prove that Germany warmly supports the League of Nations. The result of an’oppressive peace would be the spread of Bolshevism in JEuropo. Germany would prefer a world-chaos to a painiul sacrificial death. There are limits beyond which Germany will not go. It may be necessary to quit the Conference table, not in order to take up arms again, because that is impossible, but to throw the responsibility upon the enemy. Herr Scheidemann said he painfully regretted Germany’s position. Nowhere was it properly estimated. Nobody, he declared, protests agrinst ,tho deliberate robbery of the Goman colonies after Germany had laid down her arms, trusting to President Wilson and the opinion of the world.

GERMAN ARMY PROPAGANDA NOW IN FULL BLAST. COPENHAGEN, February 18. Propaganda in favour of the restoration of a strong army aro now in full blast In Germany, regardless of the Allied views. Military writers have emerged from temporary eclipse and are busily replanning the structure of the army. They are applying some democratic veneer, but tiie old conceptions of strict discipline and sacrifice are retained. Herr Gadke says: “The attitude of the Allies does not guarantee a lasting peace, and does not exclude the idea of revanche. Germany must he able to mobilise her whole manhood.’’ He suggests a new system for the physical training of youths to instil greater personality and initiative. America has proved that, with the right material an effective army can be produced almost by stamping on the ground. GERMAN PRESIDENT ON PEACE TERMS. A DESTRUCTIVE PEACE WILL NOT BE SIGNED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, February Id. The "Daily Chronicle’s” Rotterdam correspondent states that Herr Ebert, President of Germany, in an interview, said: ‘‘ln the event of the Entente enforcing its destructive' decision, Germany will not sign peace.” Regarding the joining-up of Germanspeaking Austria, the Gorman Government had shown reserve, taking into consideration the Entente’s attitude; but now that the Entente treats AlsaceLorraine as the State property of Prance, that was no longer necessary.