THE PEACE CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17504, 21 December 1918, Page 7

THE PEACE CONFERENCE

AMERICAN DELEGATION,

A PRELIMINARY MEETING,

NEW YORK, December 18. The United Press Paris correspondent states that the first conference of the American Peace Delegation with the President begins to-day. Mr Hurley, after a conference with the President, expressed the hope that the entire American army would be brought home by December, 1919.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONALISTS' AIMS.

ADDRESS TO THE KING,

DELEGATES TO PEACE OONFER-

ENGE.

CAPETOWN, December 18,

(Received Dec. 20, at 7.5 p.m.) At a meeting of the Central Committee of the Nationalists' Party, held at Bloemfontein, it was decided to transmit to the King and President Wilson an expression of thanks that the war had ended, an expectation of a durable peace on the principles of right, justice, and gratitude for the recognition of the right of every civilised nation to be free to adopt the principle of the restoration of rights and liberties, which will be applied at the Peace Conference, and also the future international relations, and making an earnest appeal to the King for the application of these principles to the Cape, Natal, and Orange Free States and the Transvaal. The resolution adds: The meeting is convinced of the necessity of knowing a large, clear, and true position regarding the demand for independence, knowing that a large section of the population, including the great majority of the Dutchspeaking South Africans, whose desires have been otherwise misrepresented. It was also resolved to call a Congress with a view to the nomination of delegates to proceed to Europe to urge the application of the same principles to the South African provinces.—A. and N.Z. Cable. DUTY OF UNITED STATES. STATEMENT BY MR DANIELS. INCREASED NAVY NECESSARY. NEW YORK, December 18. (Received Dec. 20, at 8.35 p.m.) Speaking at Annapolis, Mr Daniels (Secretary for the Navy) said it would be two years before the United States would return to normal conditions. The navy must be increased in order to enable the United States to contribute as many units to the international police force as any other country. Ho looked to see the Peace Conference end naval rivalry. Mr Daniels said the United States had lost less by the war than any other nation. She was now the richest nation in the world, and therefore ought to be abl# to contribute heavily to the League of Nations police force.—A. and N.Z. Cable

CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS.

SENATOR KNOX'S VIEWS.

NOT FOR PEACE CONFERENCE.

WASHINGTON, December 18. (Received Dec. 20, at 8.35 p.m.) Mr P. C. Knox, a former Secretary of State, said the widest diversity of opinion existed on the question of the League of Nations and the definition of the term freedom of the seas." Therefore those questions ought to be postponed till after the Peace Conference. The Peace Conference would settle the issues' with their colonies; the League of Nations was a domestic matter for Allied and neutral consideration. Instead of such a leamie a definite entente between the nations naturally allied would be preferable The better plan was that the United States should agree that any menace to Europe's liberties was equivalent to a ■ menace of America's, and the United States would behave accordingly.—A. and N.Z. Cable.