PEACE CONFERENCE

Otago Witness, Issue 3380, 25 December 1918, Page 19

PEACE CONFERENCE

MANY PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED

LEAGUE OF NATIONS. y {THE FATE OF THE GERMAN NAVY. (By Cable). DATE OF MEETING. It is unlikely that the Peace Conference ■will meet before the middle of January, or „even later. r Some dissatisfaction has been expressed at the delay, and also at the bureaucratic methods of sending army officials and documents to Paris. The French newspapers ridicule the bureaucratic invasion, which is likely to produce inexpressible confusion. THE BRITISH REPRESENTATIVES. It is expected that Mr Lloyd George, Mr Bonar Law, Mr Balfour, and other Ministers will depart tor Paris on the 21st inst. The Peace Conference will probably open at Versailles on the Ist January. Mr James Tuchey, the New York World's Paris correspondent} says that it is defi-' nitely settled that the British delegation for the preliminary peace negotiations will consist of Messrs Lloyd George, Bpnar Law, Balfour, and probably Barnes. The delegation will be accompanied by Sir Robert Borden, Mr Hughes, and General Botha, and it is understood that these latter three will participate only in the preliminaries, and will not have a place at the Peace Conference. Lord Northcliffe has arrived in Paris. It is understood that he will use his influence to prevent any weakening in the demands for the full punishment of Germany. He will demand the abolition of the censorship between England and France. The New York World's Paris correspondent says that the colonial Premiers will be present on the preliminary Peace Conference, but it is understood thajt they wil not attend the. final negotiations. General Botha and his party have landed at Tilbury. / An, important conference between members of .the War Cabinet and representatives of India was held to-day. It is understood that various matters likely to arise at the Peace Conference were discussed. . - FRENCH PLENIPOTENTIARIES. M. Marcel Hutin forecasts that the French plenipotentiaries to the Peace Conference will be M. Clemenceau, M. Pichon, Marshal Foch, M. Leon Bourgeois, also M. Tardieu (Commissioner for FrancoAmerican Relations). The Echo de. Paris states that MM. Clemenceau, Pichon,' and Leon Bourgeois, . with possibly M. Tardieu, will be the /French peace plenipotentiaries. * The Japanese delegates to the Peace Conference have started for Paris, via San Francisco. PRESIDENT WILSON IN FRANCE. On President Wilson's arrival he was greeted by President Poincare" and Madame Poincare, and drove to the Maison Murat. He was -loudly cheered passing along the decorated streets. Speaking in reply to his toast at the Elysee Palace dinner, President Wilson said it was delightful to find himself in France, whose sympathy and friendship for the United States was quickened by the present contact. His task was to speak the thoughts of the people of the United States, and translate those thoughts into action. The American people thought more, of what followed the war than even of winning it. The eternal principles of Right and Justice must be realised. Never before had a war borne eo terrible a visage, or exhibited more grossly debasing and illicit ambitions. President Wilson added: " I shall look upon the ruin wrought by the armies of the Central Empires with the same repulsion and indignathe hearts of the Belgians and French." He fully appreciated the necessity action, not only to rebuke such deeds of terror and spoliation, but to prevent their recurrence by means of deterrent punishments. The United States soldiers had fought with the utmost pleasure side by side with the soldiers of France. President Poincare, in proposing President Wilson's health, referred* to the liber- . ality of the United States. Before she entered the war her sympathy with the Allies' cause was of value, and American help was given at a critical moment in the war's history. Addressing a deputation of Socialists, who explained that they regarded him as favourable to their cause, President Wilson said it was impossible to secure Right and Justice unless such wrongs as had been perpetrated in the late war were rendered impossible of recurrence. This had been a peoples' war against absolutism and militarism. The enemies of Liberty must henceforth be shut out, so that there might be no possibility of their again working their cruel will against mankind. KING GEORGE TO WELCOME PRESIDENT. His Majesty the King is not going to Sandringham' for Christmas, but intends remaining in London to welcome President Wilson on Boxing Day. It has* been arranged that. Mr Wilson will be the guest of the King at Buckingham Palace during his visit. SOME SPECULATIONS. The United Press Paris correspondent gays: It is understood that the American peace delegation favours a preliminary discussion, in which President Wilson and a single delegate each from France, England, and Italv shall formulate a series of proposals which would be submitted to debate by the full delegation of the Allies. It is reported that some of the Entente

delegates will propose that the full delegations from the United States, Britain, j France, and Italy, and one representative Trom Japan shall draw up a treaty, which would be submitted to the other Allied nations for signature. The New York World's Paris correspondent states: It is pointed out that at a recent meeting between Signor Orlando, M. Clemenceau, and Mr Lloyd George at London the Entente decided to demand three points at the Peace Conference —■ namely, the punishment of the ex-Kaiser and other German controllers and evildoers, an indemnity up to Germany's limit of capacity to pay, and that the German colonies be not returned. LEAGUE OF NATIONS. Mr Husted has introduced in the House of Representatives a resolution that the , United States ought not to enter any League of Nations; otherwise the whole of the American fleet would be required in order to settle European disputes. President Wilson, in a speech, said he believed a League of Nations would be indispensable for the preservation of peace. 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 The Peace Conference would settle the issues with- their colonies j the League, of Nations was a domestic matter for: Allied and neutral consideration. Instead of such a league, 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. President Wilson has denied the published report that he approved of a league to enforce peace, adding: "I am, as everyone knows, not only in favour of tho League of Nations, but believe that the formation of such a league is absolutely indispensable for the maintenance of peace, but any particular plan of the league to enforce peace was never endorsed by me." The Chicago News Paris correspondent hag interviewed M. Venizelos, who said: "We must have a League of Nations. The question of freedom of the seas could be settled if assurances were given by Britain that the,right of blockade would be maintained only "against opponents of the laws of the League of Nations. There may be an international fleet. I am in favour of the league having legislative, '' judicial, and executive powers. If a league be. formed, I assume that secret treaties will be abrogated. When the* Allied Council at Versailles agreed to President Wilson's 14 points all secret treaties were abrogated automatically." It is considered that M. Venizelos referred, to the Treaty of. London, promising Italy Adriatic lands if she would join the Allies. v ' :\ COUNT BERNSTORFFS OPINION. (»■•"" ■"*■. The United Press Berlin correspondent interviewed Count Bernstorff, who would not say a word regarding the German propaganda in the United States. He said the German people were overwhelmingly aware that the salvation of Germany and of the entire world lay in the League of Nations on the principles laid down by President Wilson. Men prominent in Ger-. man Governmental circles, including himself, Herren Haase and Ebert, and Prince ! - Max of Baden, had formed a German League of Nations Society to further the formation of the league. THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 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; He 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 able to contribute heavily to the League of Nations police force. 1 ANGLO-AMERICAN CONFIDENCE. At New York on the 15th Mr Babington Smith, in a speech, reviewed the activities of British missions to the United States. He said that the most powerful instrument and the surest guarantee for just reconstruction of the world which will be affected by the Treaty of Peace will be found in the maintenance of the confidence and trust now existing between the British Empire, the United States, France, and* the other Allies. President Wilson, in an exclusive interview with a representative of The Times, said the main question at the Peace Conference was safeguarding the future against wars. The frankest and fullest permanent Anglo-American co-operation was essential. Mr Wilson paid a tribute to the navy's services. SUGGESTED PEACE TERMS. Great interest has been aroused over the peace terms suggested by the National Committee of Patriotic Societies in the United States, having a membership of 2,500,000. The terms', which were promulgated through the efforts of Mr Edward Harding, a member of the New York Bar, were directly influenced by Messrs Hughes and Massey's views on Pacific affairs. The terms are : First: Restitution of all indemnities, levies, and properties -taken by the Central Powers. Second: Repatriation and indemnities by Central Powers for damage by land and sea. Third: Central Powers to pay the cost ' of the' war, Serbia, Belgium, and France to be paid first, and the Allies to control the Central Powers' finances until the money is paid*

Fourth: Restoration of Alsace-Lorraine to France and Italia Irredenta to Italy. Fifth: Release of lands under Turkish rule, and their reorganisation under Allied protection. Sixth: Allied control of the Dardanelles. Seventh: Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Rumania, and Greece to receive the territories that are rightfully theirs. Eighth: The independence of Poland, Czecho-Slovakia, and Jugo-Slavia. Ninth: A plebiscite to determine \yhether Schleswig-Holstein shall be, returned to Denmark and Luxemburg be joined to Belgium or France, or remain independent. Tenth : Restoration of order in Russia, and freedom from Teutonic, encroachment. Eleventh: No return of German colonies. Twelfth :• Allied control of the Kiel Canal and Heligoland. Thirteenth: Abrogation of the Bucharest and Brest-Litovsk Treaties. Fourteenth: Surrender of the Central Powers' navies to the Allies. Fifteenth: Punishment of the exKaiser and others resDonsible for the war and the violation of The Hague conventions. - Sixteenth :■ Formation of a League of Nations, international arbitration. Seventeenth": Central Powers not to be admitted, to' the league until they have paid all their obligations. "Eighteenth: Control of raw materials by the Allies or the League of Nations until the Central Powers are admitted to the league. The committee in connection with the publication of the terms gives prominence to Messrs Hughes and Massey's opinions on the Monroe Doctrine in the Pacific. THE GERMAN NAVY. Mr Clinton Gilbert, the New York Evening Sun's Paris correspondent, cables : President Wilson favours the destruction of the surrendered German navy, and will insist that the United States navy will equal the greatest in the world. This- is authorised. The United States desires the sinking of the German navy for two reasons : First, it will be a great moral act; second ,the division of the German fleetamong the Allies according to their naval losses will give Britain the lion's share, thus compelling the United States to build 16 more war vessels in order to carry out her contemplated programme for a navy equalling the greatest navy in the world. Mr Daniels (Secretary of the United States Navy) does not believe the report that the Allies agreed to sink German ships. Mr H. C. Lodge, in the Senate, introduced a resolution asking the State Department for , information whether the American Peace Commissioners are advocating the destruction of ' German warships; if so, on what authority? THE QUESTION OF INDEMNITY. The New York Tmes Washingtdh correspondent states' that Senator Poindexter, in a speech assailing Mr Daniels (Secretary of the Navy), who a few days ago said that the United States ought not to seek indemnities from Germany, declared that Mr Daniels did not represent the public opinion of the United States. In his opinion many people in the United States differed from him. The United States was a winner in the war, and was entitled to justice. Under international law the States should demand the cost of hostilities. It was the Government's duty to assert the interests of the people of the country. Those interests demanded' that the United States should be reimbursed for her tremendous expenditure in .the cost of the war. GERMAN-MADE CLAIMS. * The Times states that German financiers are \busily juggling with estimates of indemnities with a view to proving that the Allies must moderate- their claims. They admit that the damage done in Belgium and Northern France and the submarined tonnage must be restored, but counter claims are minutely and in some instances humorously detailed. These include payment for the destruction pf oversea trade, colonial interests, and merchant ships seized, the cost of feeding prisoners, compulsory business liquidations, damage to bombed towns, the value of food abandoned in France, and surrendered guns, aeroplanes, warships, and the AlsaceLorraine railways. SOUTH AFRICAN INDEPENDENCE. 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 Tight 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. SOUTH AFRICAN NATIVES. The Native Congress at Johannesburg, after a resolution of thankfulness for victory and loyalty to the King, decided to send a deputation to England to make representations to the Imperial authorities regarding the disabilities of natives in the South African Union,

IRELAND'S CLAIMS. Mass meetings at San Frajicisco demanded' that President Wilson use his position at the Peace Conference in favour of self-government for Ireland.

I THE ZIONIST MOVEMENT. ! The American Jewish Congress at Phila-< delphia decided to send delegates to Franc*e to co-operate vritih the Zionist , organisation for the purpose of assuring

the recognition of Palestine as a Jewish State by the Peace Conference. GERMAN COLONIES Etf THE PACIFIC. The Marquis Okuma, in a statement to the press, said that the future of Samoa should "be decided at the Peace Conference, with the intention of destroying German naval bases in the Pacific. The British should retain German Guinea and the Bismarck Islands; Japan should hold islands. like the Marshalls and Carolines, occupied by the Japanese navy. It would be dangerous to return them to Germany, and there was no reason to let other Powers occupy them. The Allies should refrain from acquiring concessions in Siberia. The relations of China with other Powers should be based on the principle of the open door and equal opportunity.