THE PEACE CONFERENCE

Otago Witness, Issue 3383, 15 January 1919, Page 19

THE PEACE CONFERENCE

THE DELEGATES ASSEMBLING.

BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND UNITED STATES IN AGREEMENT. 1,-EAGUE OF NATIONS PROPOSED. (By Cable.) . BRITISH AND FRENCH DELEGATES,. The official announcement has been made that Mr Lloyd George and Mr Bonar Law, accompanied by the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand, and the Maharajah of Bikaner, will leave-for Paris on the morning of January 11 for the preliminary conversations with the heads of the Allies and associated Spates. Mr Lloyd George and Mr Hughes (Australian Prime Minister) have arrived in Paris. It is- officially stated that no change is impending in the office of First Sea Lord. Admiral Wemyss and Rear-admiral Hope are proceeding to Paris as the principal naval representatives at the Peace Conference. The Daily. Express states that an rm'poTtant decision has been reached whereby the dominions will be granted individual representation as small nations at the Pe'ace Conference. ' " Canada's delegates to the. Conference include five Ministers, and South Africa's three (Ministers. The Peace delegates for France are MM. Clenienceau, Pichon, Klotz, Tardieu, and Cambon. The newspapers draw attention to the Marshal Foch. •AN INFORMAL MEETING. The Supreme War Council met in Paris on' Sunday* afternoon, and considered various matters. Marshal Foch raised the question of the renewal of the armistice. President Wilson, Mr Lloyd George,M. Clemenceau, Signor Orlando, M. Pichon, Baron Sonnino, Mr' Lansing, and Mr Balfour were present.. Marshal Foch and Messrs Bliss, Henry, and Wilson attended during part of the proceedings. ~ An informal conference was held afterwards, at which views were exchanged regarding the procedure and other questions connected with future peace conferences.

The latest plan for the Peace Conference includes 10 day meetings of individual 'delegations and then a' formal combined sitting of Italian, French, British, and American delegates to settle the questions of Russian and neutral representations. Finally there will be sittings including the delegations from the smaller Allied nationalities.

THE AMERICAN DELEGATES. President Wilson informed M. ClemenCeau, the French Premier, that he does not desire to be considered head of the State at the Peace Conference, but as Prime > Minister and leader of the United States Government. The other American delegates—Colonel House, Mr Lansing (Secretary of State), Mr -Henry White (a former United States Ambassador), and General Bliss, also the leaders of all the other interested nations are anxious to speed up the meeting, and push forward the decisions of the conference, in order that they may secure peace at the earliest possible moment. PRELIMINARY PROBLEMS. The newspapers in France and Britain are discussing various aspects of the Peace Conference. The secretariats of the various delegations are already hard at work arranging data for the delegates, who meet at the jQuai d'Or say. The problem of naval security is an outstanding one from the British standpoint. The general belief is that there is now h,armony of view between the British and Americans regarding British naval supremacy. Figaro expresses satisfaction, as it is impossible for France to maintain a large jiavy in addition to an army. She must therefore confide to the British fleet responsibility for the protection of French interests at sea. Figaro adds: "Though the pro-German elements in America are the noisiest in.demanding the greatest extension of the, American fleet, they are not hi a ..majority." Another matter of extreme importance Is the handling of Allied resources —goods, snips, and money —particularly the distribution of raw materials on a plan of preference for the Allies. A new Allied lEiConomic Council has been formed to allocate tonnage, food, and raw materials to friendly and to enemy countries alike. The Economic Council will be affiliated STith the Peace Conference, and may

finally become the foundation of an economic scheme for the League of Nations. : .Leading Allied bankers and merchants now oppose the popular demand that all raw materials should be refused to enemycountries. They consider that such a boycott is economically unsound, as it would prevent the Central Powers from paying the cost of the war. A third problem is the intervention by Allied troops in Russia, Austria, and Germany to prevent the spread of Bolshevism. It is understood that Mr Wilson is energetically opposing further intervention in Russia, yet representative Russians plead to the Allies, to send sufficient troops to prevent further horrors. The situation in Austria is exceedingly dangerous. The people are on the verge of starvation, and the Provisional Government is unable to cope with the difficulties of the position. Already various nationalities are gathering together in order to fly at each other's throats. Bands of desperadoes, profiting bv the general insecurity, perpetrate atrocities. British and American 'troops are required to act as police to keep order. If aid is denied, an army corps may finally be required, to do the work companies could do now.

A CORRESPONDENT'S FORECAST. Mr George H. JPerris, writing from Paris, says:.. Things are going well with the Peace Conference. An extraordinarily warm reception was given to President Wilson by the French public, and the quiet and kindly but definite resolution of the British Government has , overcome the danger that Europe may revert to oldfashioned militarism. European statesmen have come up against an American brain working on the direct' disease of world politics, and the results will be revolutionary but happy. Any change would have been impossible without the energetic sympathy of the British Government. The chiefs of the British Foreign Office came to Paris with definite plans of a far-reaching character, which they have been elaborating for the past year. Mr Lloyd George is not afraid to challenge the old-fashioned militarist methods.

It is practically certain that the Allies and America have determined to establish a world-trusteeship for the smaller nationalities. H. The Allies will also establish a worldexecutive to solve future international differences without war. Under this scheme parts, of Turkey or the German colonies may be transferred to certain Powers as mandatory, nuder the supervision of an international board. The Peace Conference will base itself upon the declared intention to found a League of Nations to carry on the work begun by ■ the conference. . The British idea is that the league should be a busi-ness-like body, elastic in constitution, and. using such precedents for its conduct as the Imperial Cabinet and the Versailles Committee. The league must have the means of enforcing its decisions, and courts of law to deal with disputes. Such is a broad outline of the chief schemes thus far suggested. BRITAIN, UNITED STATES, AND FRANCE IN ACCORD. The New York World's Paris correspondent states that, from direct intimation given to American correspondents, it apears that Britain and the United States will stand shoulder to shoulder at the Peace Conference, and through their power will cause the adoption of a. League of Nations, thus greatly simplifying the details of the final terms of peace. The New York Evening Sun's Paris corI respondent reports that M. Clemenceau i and President Wilson held a conference, i and arrived at an understanding regarding apparently conflicting views on the balance of power and League of Nations. RUSSIAN REPRESENTATION. A Central Committee, composed of leading Russians, has been formed to watch Russian interests at the Peace Conference. Prince Lvoft' is president, and he is sup- ! ported by the Ambassadors of London, i Paris, Rome, and Madrid. M. Sazonoff is j expected shortly to join the committee as I representing the Government. At a sitting of the South Caucasus and j Kolchaks Government at-Qmsk, the well- | known revolutionary but anti-Bolshevist Tchaikowski, head of the Archangel Government, was also invited to join the committee. Well-informed quarters regard the committee as a coalition which will seek to arrive at a common programme for submission to the Allies for the latter's decision. The U.S. State Department announces that it has received a memorandum from the British Government, dated January 3, suggesting that the United States and the Allies should, ask' all factions in Russia ! to suspend hostilities. If Russia will sus-

pend hostilities the presence of Russian delegates at the Peace Conference will be considered by 'the Great Powers. LEAGUE OF NATIONS. The United Press correspondent at Paris interviewed M. Burgecise, a leading French authority on the League of Nations, who'said :—Three things must be done by the league: First, it must provide that arbitration shall be obligatory; secondly, it must limit armaments; thirdly, it must create penalties for refractory nations. These penalties shall be , diplomatic, judicial, economic, and military. President Wilson wishes Germany to be admitted to the league on an equal basis with other nations. I believe Germany should be admitted only after she proves her sincerity by obeying all the conditions of the Treaty of Peace. The Morning Post's Paris correspondent states : An impression has gained ground that the economic side will play a small part in the proposed League of Nations. I expect that the contrary will be the case. The possibility of imposing the economic conditions laid down by the Associated Powers on the allied enemy countries alike-is the main justification for the leaguers existence. In the opinion of many judges the league should be the best means of securing adequate compensation from Germany without compelling the Allies to. bolster up German industries. If the Allies pool all the raAv materials and fix the prices whereat goods are to be sold the Associated Powers and their friends can simultaneously fix higher prices for Germany, the difference being Germany's indemnity. Such a group of Associated Powers would ultimately develop into a League of Nations. President Wilson and the American Peace Delegation are giving increased attention to the British plans for a League of Nations, which may be finally adopted. Lord Robert Cecil,- who has been the British authority on the league, is now constantly conferring with the American Delegation. It is felt that Lord Robert Cecil's views closely coincide with President Wilson's.

In the U.S. Senate, Mr M'Cumber (Republican) approved of the immediate formation of a League of Nations, inclusive of Germany. Such a league would strengthen the Monroe Doctrine. All nations respected the territory of North and South America.

Before the United Senate Propaganda Committee, Edmund Vonmach, ex-profes-sor of Harvard University, denounced the British Government's propagandist attempts to. destroy the League of Nations. The New York Times Peking correspondent reports: Hsu Hai Tchang has cabled to President Wilson saying: " The Government supports the formation of a League of Nations." The Japanese newspapers are closely watching the League of Nations project. Some declare that if it reaches a practical stage public opinion will demand the abolition of the colour bar against Oriental immigration. ■ * MR HUGHES ON THE STUMP. Sir Newton Moore, M.P., (ex-Agent-general for Western Australia), presided at the city 'men's luncheon to Mr Hughes at the Holborn Restaurant on the eve of his departure for the Peace ConferenceMr Hughes, in responding, said that the Peace Conference was the most significant event which had occurred in the history of mankind. "Peace on earth, goodwill towards men " was still the ideal which the conference must attempt to reach. Wo owed the fact that right had triumphed to the valor of our race. > He firmly believed in-the League of Nations. Although Germany" had abandoned her former Government, some people seemed to think she should escape paying the penalty for her crimes, and that we should welcome her into the League of Nations. We must demand such terms of peace as were compatible with our sacrifices. The terms must be just to ourselves as well as to the enemy. He preferred a Germany which bared, its breast to an enemy rather than the one that to-day grovels and whines. Not the Kaiser, but all Germany, was guilty. If the Kaiser led them, the people were quite willing to be led. Their leaders went out to conquer the world, and had they won the peopig of Germany would have applauded them. If Germany stood where Ave stand to-day she would have exacted from us to the uttermost farthing and torn our Empire asunder. Germany to-day had only put on her new garb. She possessed the same heart. She had merely turned King's evidence. The fatal spirit of tolerance of this Empire was again apparent. How could the League of Nations hope to meet with the approval of the nations of the earth unless it imposed penalties on this great criminal? We should inaugurate a new era, making it a terrible crime for any nation to besin Avar, avo must have the Pacific Islands. We must not come out of the conference shorn of those principles of freedom for Avhich the Australians had shed their blood."

GENERAL SMUTS' SUGGESTIONS. General Smuts has issued an important .pamphlet upon the position and constitution of the League of Nations. He is of opinion that the Peace Conference should regard itself as the first meeting of the league. The prime principle in the settlement should be that, apart from Alsace-Lorraine- and the German colonies, there should be no annexation of territories by any victorious Stages. Probably Finland, 'Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Jugo-Slavia are capable of becoming independent States immediately, but Transcaucasia, Mesopotamia, Lebanon, and Syria will probably require the guiding hand of some external authority. Other countries, such as Palestine and Armenia, should be controlled by the League of Nations, which may properly be regarded as the reversionary of the German, Austrian, Russian, and Turkish Empires, which failed because they were founded on the exploitation of Aveaker nationalities.

General Smuts says that the League of Nations must control, not directly, • but by nominating a particular State to act on its behalf. The nomination of a State should be subject to the condition that the people*4n question should have the right to choose the Power which they would prefer should have this mandatory duty, though this cannot be applied to cases where it is impossible to consult the country. In the foregoing league the two extremes to be avoided are a Superstate and a mere debating society. The league must be as practical and effective as a system of world government. The council should be small, composed of five permanent members nominated by the British Empire, France, Italy, the United States, and Japan. When Germany has a stable democratic Government she may nominate another permanent member. To these should be added four additional members chosen from a panel representing the lesser Powers, such as Spain, Hungary, and Serbia, whose nominees would serve in rotation. There would thus be 10 members in the council, which would resemble the Versailles Council. No resolution of the council should be valid unless passed by more than a two-thirds majority. Genei-al Smuts is of opinion that conscription is the tap-root of militarism, and, unless it is cut, our labours wiljjbe in vain. Members of the League of Nations must bind themselves not to go to war with each other until the council has arbitrated on the dispute. This prohibition must be guaranteed by force,, in addition to an economic and financial boycott. A critic in Le Matin wants the future peace of the world guarded by an international police, commanded by Marshal Foch. This police force should consist of soldiers of all nationalities, except Germans. A BALKAN LEAGUE. The Greek Foreign Minister, M. Politis, head of the Greek Peace Delegation, says that Greece has reached a complete understanding with Serbia, Rumania, CzechoSlavia, and Jugo-Slavia concerning the formation of a Balkan Confederation, which will be a Balkan League of Nations within the World League. The Balkan Confederation will not interfere with, the working, of the World League, but . will guard the interests of the Balkans and prevent future Balkan wars. Bulgaria can enters this confederation whenever she gives a. guarantee of fidelity to its purposes. Greece is in the fullest accord .with President Wilson's proposals for a League of Nation's.' REPRESENTATION OF SMALL NATIONS. The French papers maintain that the Allies have now agreed to admit Japan, as a full partner to the Peace Conference, and she will have five delegates sitting at all the meetings. Belgium and Serbia have been given a special place among the small nations, with three delegates each. Then come Greece, Rumania, Portugal, and Siamwith two each. Siam has been represented at the front by aviators. iThe other nations will have a single' delegate each. Le Temps states that Greece and Serbia will each have two delegates at the Peace Conference —M. Venezelos and JVf. Polifts for Greece, and M. Waehite (the Serbian Premier) and M*. Vrumbitch (president of the Jugo-Slav Committee in Paris) for -the Jugo-Slavs MESOPOTAMIA. The supervision of affairs in Mesopotamia after the conclusion of peace will be assigned to Britain by the treaty concluded early in the war between France and-England concerning the future of Asia Minor. The existence of the treaty has just been revealed. It provides that France shall control Syria, Lebanon, Armenia, and Asia Minor, while Palestine and the Arabian Peninsula generally will be under the supervision of Britain. The treaty assures that the utmost possible autonomy will be afforded, to the peoples of these countries. What action the Peace Conference may take regarding this and other secret treaties is being much discussed in Paris. Assyrian Christians, natives of Mesopotamia, living in the United States, have petitioned the State Department, requesting the Peace Conference to place Mesopotamia under the joint protection of the United States, France, and Britain. A BUFFER STATE. The United Press correspondent at Washington states that high diplomatic circles say that the Peace Conference may make Tyrol an independent buffer State between Germany and Italy. IRKSOME TREATIES. A Chinese newspaper leader demands that the Chino-Japanese Treaty of 1915, embodying 21 demands against China, be abrogated before the Peace Conference. A Washington correspondent says the British Government has informed the Persian Government that Great Britain will denounce the Anglo-Russian 1917 Agreement regarding Persia whenever a recognised Russian Government takes similar action.