GETTING TO WORK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17534, 28 January 1919, Page 5

GETTING TO WORK

SECTIONAL COMMISSIONS APPOINTED

DOMINIONS' CONTENTIONS SUPPORTED

Preea Association.—By Telegraph Copyright.

THE PEACE CONFERENCE

PROPOSED SUB-COMMITTEES.

PARIS, January 25. Press correspondents state that there is a growing feeling in favour of the appointment of sub-committees of experts to consider the various questions separately and to report later to the Peace Conference, thus facilitating prompt decisions.—A and N.Z. Cable. .

ARMIES OF OCCUPATION. CONSIDERING NECESSARY STRENGTH. LONDON, January 25. The Press Bureau states that General Sir Henry Wilson will attend the meetings of the committee appointed by the Allied and Associated Governments to consider the strength of the forces to be maintained on the western front during the armistice.

PARIS, January 24. The official communique states: The meeting- of the Supreme War Council was attended by the political representatives of the Great Powers. Sir D. Haig, General Pershing, Marshal Foch, and General Diaz were all present.. The council conferred with Marshal Foch and many other military experts in regard to the strength of the forces to be maintained by the Allied and Associated Powers on the .western front during the armistice, and appointed a special committee, including Marshal Foch, General Diaz, and Mr Winston Churchill (War Minister), to examine the question.

The council agreed to recommend for the approval of the Governmepts concerned the issue of an identical medal and ribbon to all the Allied forces and those of the Associated Powers participating in the war.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

M. VENIZELOS'S SUGGESTION.

; . LONDON, January 25. M. Venizelos (Greek delegate) suggests Constantinople as the capital for the League of Nations, it being a pivotal point of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and commanding the most important straits.—A. and-N.Z. Cable.

BRITISH VOLUNTEERS. LONDON, January 24. (Received Jan. 27, at 7.25 p.m.) The Daily Express understands that the new army proposals provide for the formation of an army of occupation on the territorial basis, consisting of divisions of English, Scottish, and Welsh volunteers from the present army.—A. and N Z Cable.

DELEGATES APPOINTED

PREPARING THE WAY.

FORMATION OF SECTIONAL COMMISSIONS. A BONE OF CONTENTION. THE QUESTION OF REPATRIATION.

• PARIS, January 25. (Received Jan. 27, at 11.5 p.m.) Mr A. J. Eraser reports that the plenary conference met this afternoon. Mr Hughes Sir Joseph Cook, and Mr Massey attended' and Sir Joseph Ward occupied a seat on the British panel. A series'of resolutions was moved: Firstly, affirming the desirableness of establishing a League of Nations to promote international cooperation to ensure the fulfilment of ac- ' cepted obligations and provide a safeguard against war; secondly, that the league be an integral .part of the general Peace treaty and open to every civilised nation which can be relied on to promote its objects; • fliirdly, that the league meet periodically, and have a permanent organisation and secretariat to carry on business between ■ conferences. Resolutions were also submitted creating a commission to report on the responsibility of the authors ot the war, breaches of law and customs ot war committed by the Central Powers and their allies on land and sea and in the air, also to decide upon the degree of ■responsibility for these offences attaching to particular members of enemy forces, including members of the General Staffs and other individuals however highly placed The commission also to decide the constitution and procedure of a tribunal appropriate to the trial of these offences andany cognate matters. A second commission to be appointed to inquire into the , international labour question and consider means to secure , common action regarding employment and recommend a permanent agency to continue' inquiry under the League of Nations. A third commission to report upon the international regime of ports, waterways, and railways. These commissions to consist of two representatives from each of the five Great Powers and five elected by other Powers A fourth commission, with three representatives apiece from each of the five Great Powers not more than two apiece from Belgium, Poland, Rumania, and Serbia will examine the amount of reparation which the enemy ought to pay or what the enemy is capable' of paying, and the method form, and time within which payment should be made. President Wilson opened the discussion, and m an effective speech said they had assembled to create the league's machinery, not as representatives of Governments but of peoples It was necessary that they should satisfy the opinion of mankind. The burdens of war had fallen heavily upon the whole populations of the countries involved. We are bidden to make peace, and make these people securetherefore we are under a solemn obligation to make permanent. f arrangements to . secure justice and peace. The enemy who has just been overcome utilised science to make destruction sudden and complete Watchfulness was necessary to see that science as well as armed men kept within the harness of civilisation. The United States, vrhva entering the war, never thought of intervening in European or world politics. Her thought, as all the world was now conscious of, was that justice and liberty turned on the issues. America would feel that her part had been Played m vain unless the Associated Powers guaranteed the world's peace. Nations must keep an unslumbering eye upon, the common interests and fortunes of pSteopt* 11 Were n ° W iD thehaQds

Watson's No. 10 is a little dearor than but ia worth the money.!

PEACE PRELIMINARIES

EXPECTED COMPLETION BY

MARCH,

PEACE CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS

THE PACIFSC BSLAftSDS PROBLEM

FACING PROBLEMS SEPARATELY.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

ARMY OF OCCUPATION.

Ari T? ei^e^ JaJl - 27 ' at 10 -35 p.m.) moUon &?"*% J seconded the devMtete? e x d , escnbed journey th TO u E h devastated France, which did not look hke the habitation of civilised man. He saw one city which no indemnity cou ld ever repay for the destruction it had suffered Surely some plan could be devised for settling disputes by other means than

Orlando and M. Bourgeoise spoke Mr Hughes hoped that full opportunity JojUjbe given for the discussiTof tfj

Then the delegates of small from Siam to Guatemala, the world round, took part in the discussion, not so much on the value of the league, but on the representation accorded them on various coirT missions The delegates of small na K could not reconcile the five representatives of Great Powers as against five representatives' for the remaining 19 smaller

Sir R L. Borden touched a sore spot by remarking that, while he had no fault to nnd with the resolutions as drafted, tnere was something to be said against SXbisr hringins down ****&»«*■

_ M. Bratiano said Rumania naturally desired to have proper representation 6n the Waterways Commission. Her interests Z%h l ltal # c T Ceraed with aQ y dealings with the Danube as a waterway. China lae y p^lemt reSted > *"**** «* ki HuySm -t n dec u ¥ ed th at Belgium felt keenly on the subject of representation on the Labour Commission, and somefoice was given to Belgium's position by an interview; given by M. Vanderveld, Belgian Minister of Justice, who said : Belgium nlot/ Ve] ? fl dp : S £ 6 has m > m Employed,. chiefly m the textile and glass trades. If we don't get prompt assistance the country will experience a wave of Bolshevism. But for America's help vp to the present Belgium's position would lave become unbearable.

. M. Clemenceau summed up the discussion. He referred' to Sir R. L. Bordens reproach, and invited the small nations freely to express their views before the several commissions, arguing that if these were made over-large less work would be accomplished, and the discussions would become interminable. The confernce must proceed speedily, bcanse millions of n-en were awaiting -demobilisation. TheytX'uld not accept dictation to the Great Powers He was prepared to sacrifice many.'-f his own opinions for the success of the <neat common, cause. • "' °

The resolution was agreed to unanimously,—A. and N.Z. Cable.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS COMMITTEE.

. PARIS, January 25 (Received Jan. 27, at 10.35 p m ) President Wilson and Colonel House will represent America, and Lord Robert Cecil and General Smuts Great Britain, on the League of Nations Committee. The small Powers will choose their representatives on Monday.— A. and N.Z. Cattle

PARIS, January 26. ■. (Received Jan. 28, at 0.25 a.m.) Mr A. J. Fraser states that French official circles believe the peace preliminaries will be ready for submission to the French Chamber in the latter part of March.—A. and N.Z. Cable

NEW ZEAiLAND SECRETARY. PARIS, January 25. (Received Jan. 28, at 1.45 a.m.) Among the assistant secretaries to the British Empire Delegation is Mr Thomson, for New Zealand.—Reuter. v