PEACE PROBLEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17943, 24 May 1920, Page 5

PEACE PROBLEMS

NO NEED FOR LARGE ARMY. THE SPA CONFERENCE. SEPARATION QUESTION. Prces Aesociation—By TeJcgruph—Copyright. LONDON, May 20. In the House of Commons Mr G. Lambert expressed alarm at the recent statement by Sir Henry Wilson that we needed an army now as much as we did in 1914. Mr Winston Churchill, interrupting, said that tho statement did not imply that wo wore on the verge of a great catastrophe. We were in a period of great disturbance and increasing dogcuerafion in many parts of tho world, but anything similar to the German onrush in 1914 need not be expected again. ~Lord Robert Cecil complained that tlie unparalleled opportunity of making the League of Nations a realitv had been lost by not referring the Polish-Russian dispute to the league. * Mr Bonar Law said the Hythe Conference hud discussed tho agenda for the Spa Conference, the first paramount item whereof was disarmament, but was unwilling that the delay involved by the Spa, Conference should prevent action meanwhile, and arrangements' fox pressing forward disarmament were proceeding. Eeferring to reparation, he pointed out that the Treaty of Versailles allowed Germany to propose a total sum instead of the arrangements laid down in the treaty. The Allies hoped that such a proposal would bo made at Spa. It was tho general feeling at Hythe that, if possiolo, a fixed amount should be paid. He was not in a position to give- the figure provisionally suggested. The British Government always recognised the special hardship endured by France, but was unwilling to say that the initial payments shotild go to France, Britain's coming later. . That would be utterly unfair, not only to our own people but to the dominions which had borne such a heavy charge. The special claims of France were recognised by laying down a definite proportion— namely, for every Qd Britain received Prance would receive £11.—A. and N.Z. Cable and Renter.

THE GERMAN INDEMNITY. MODIFIED TERMS. STRONG DISSATISFACTION EXPRESSED. PARIS, May 20. (Received May 23, at 5.5 p.m.) The inter-parliamentary group representing the devastated areas unanimously passed a resolution, which will be forwarded to M. Millerand and Mr Lloyd George, pointing out that the ; agreement regarding the German indemnity is really a reduction of the German debt. M. Poiiicaire took part in the discussion, which resulted in the group demanding full execution of the Treaty of Versailles, which, they declared, only Parliament could alter.—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE REPARATION COMMISSION. 'PODTCARE'S RESIGNATION PLEASES GERMANY. LONDON, May 21. (Received May 23, at 5.5 p.m\) The Morning Post's Berlin correspondent states that the German newspapers comment on M. Poincare'a resignation from the Reparation Commission with satisfaction. They declare that the decisions at the Hythe Conference signify the collapse of M. Poincare's policy of making Germany pay the whole cost of the war.—A. and N.Z. Cable. AMERICA AND PEACE. "WASHINGTON, May 21. (Received May 23, at 5.5 p.m.) The House of Representatives has adopted the Senate's Peace resolution, and the measure has been sent to President Wilson. It is considered certain that he will veto the resolution, and it is not believed that Congress will be able to secure the two-thirds majority necessary for its adoption over the veto.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

GERMAN DUPLICITY. HUGE SUPPLIES OF WAR MATERIAL. ' PARIS, May 21. (Received May 23, at 11 p.m.) General Nollet, head of the Inter-Allied Commission at Berlin, in an interview, s-aid : "Germany still possesses an incredible quantity of war material. We have already destroyed thousands of guns, whiqh represent only one-fifth of the total,' exclusive of those which are' being discovered daily. We have established over 100 centres of destruction, whioh are working continuously."—A. and N.Z. Cable.