War Cables.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17635, 27 May 1919, Page 5

War Cables.

PEACE TEM TO EMBARRASS THE COUNCIL. FLOOD OF GERMAN NOTES. (Delayed in Transmission.) NEW 'YORK, May 15. The New York World's Paris correspondent states that the German peace delegates are preparing several Notes for presentation to the Peace Conference, one of which will charge tho Allies with criminal responsibility for starting the war, and ask far the arraignment of the Allies as wrongdoers in this connection. The Note will also demand an investigation of the Government archives of all the belligerents in order to fix the responsibility for the war. , Another Note proposes that Germany shall retain sovereignty over the Saar Valley, with an engagement that Germany shall supply France with coal from the mines for a stated period. It further proposes that the quantity of coal to be supplied to France shall be diminished on a sliding scale in proportion to the progress of the restoration of the French mines.—A. and N.Z. Cable. UNPATRIOTIC FRENCHMEN. (Delayed in Transmission.) PARIS, May 15. The French. Railway men's Congress denounced the peace terms, demanded the withdrawal of troops from Russia, and urged the establishment of proletariat rule in all countries.—A. and N.Z. Cable. AUSTRIAN PEACE TERMS. (Delayed -in Transmission.) NEW YORK, May 15. The New York World's Paris correspondent states that the Austrian peace terms will be ready in five days. The Austrians will be given a week in which to consider the terms. LONDON, May 15. Herr Renner, of the Austrian Peace Delegation, in an interview at Basle when en route to Paris, said he would advance a programme embracing the union of Austria and Germany. The Daily Telegraph's Paris correspondent says:_ It is recognised here that the incorporation of Austria with the German Republic would entirely alter the balance of power within the German borders,-and largely neutralise the present preponderance of Prussians, but under the existing settlement with Germany snch incorporation is impossible. The treaty demands ■that Germany shall recognise Austrian independence until the League of Nations sanctions the change, which cannot be made unless the council of the league is unanimous; and it is inconceivable that Italy" would consent to it.—A.<» and N Z Cable. THE "BIG FOUR." CONSIDERING THE TERMS. LONDON, May 24. The Council of Four has modified tho formula whereby Germany pays in gold for the Saar mines if a plebiscite in 1934 goes against France. The council is investigating Austria's war debts.—A. and N.Z. Cable. GERMANY'S COUNTER-PROPOSALS. A FURTHER CLIMBING DOWN. (Delayed in Transmission.) PARIS, May 20. (Received May 26, at 8 p.m.) The Berlin correspondent of Le Temps states that the German counter-proposals include the following: — Germany is ready to assure France of Saar coal and even of certain rights in the Ruhr Basin. Germany will accept the occupation of the left bank of the Rhine for the period fixed by the Versailles Conference, but will ask that the area remain under Ger*man administration and that, the plebiscite clause be suppressed. Germany will recognise Polish sovereignty over territory within the line of demarcation fixed in the armistice terms, and demand a plebiscite in the other districts now proposed to be included in Poland.' Germany will propose a free port of Dantzig, with autonomous Polish administration of the Polish railway. Germany will demand a fixed figure for indemnities,, contending that it is impossible to draw up a Budget and impose taxes without knowing" exactly what the country has to pay.-^euter.