PEACE TREATIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3418, 19 September 1919, Page 17

PEACE TREATIES.

(By Cable.)

AUSTRIAN TREATY SIGNED. PARIS, September 10. Austria has signed the Peace Treaty The Austrian Treaty was signed without any speech-making. Altogether a dozen documents were signed in connection with the Austrian Peace Treaty, including treaties dealing with the protection of minorities, with Rumania, Jugo-Slavia, Czecho Slovakia, and financial treaties. Sir Thomas Mackenzie signed for New Zealand. M. Renner (Austria), M. Clemenceau, Mr Balfour, Lord Milner, Mr Barnes, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, and Senator Pearce signed the Treaty, but representatives of Rumania and Jugo Slavia refused, though they are expected to accept the treaty in three days. SERBIAN MINISTRY RESIGNS. BELGRADE, September 14. It is confirmed that the Serbian Cabinet has resigned because it failed to obtain the suppression or modification of the clauses in the Austrian Peace Treaty dealing with the protection of minorities in territories ceded to Serbia, which are declared to infringe Serbian sovereignty. The Government will retain power during the crisis. PARIS, September 15.. The Echo de Paris reports that the Serbians have decided to sign the Peace Trsaty. MASSACRE OF CHRISTIANS. ATHENS, September 10. _ According to advices from Constanti-. nople a profound impression has been created by the American Note warning Turkey that in the event of a renewal of massacres of Christians in Asia article 12 of President Wilson's programme dealing with the security and integrity of purely Turkish territories will be suppressed. RUMANIA AND THE TREATY. PARIS, September 11. The Rumanian newspapers are indignant with the Allies for refusing to admit the validity of Rumania's reservations to the Austrian Treaty. They approve of their delegates refusing to sign the Austrian Treaty, which deprives Rumania of sovereign rights for her peoples, placing her under an outrageous tutelage. .September 15. The Rumanian Minister learns from Bucharest that M. Bratiano has resigned the Premiership, owing to his belief that Rumania's interest is endangered through the Allies' request to relinquish undivided possession of Banat and share it with the Magyars and Serbs. It is stated that M. Bratiano's successor will be better enabled to sribmit a conciliatory formula to the Allies, safeguarding Rumania's interests, as. he will not be pledged, as is M. Bratiano, regarding the future of Bant. PEACE CONFERENCE'S QUANDARY. PARIS, September 16. The situation in Hungary is causing uneasiness in Peace Conference circles. In consequence of the Rumanians' reported intention to leave the country hurriedly, and to dissolve the military and police force, thus exposing Hungary to the grave risk of disorders, the Peace Conference has requested Rumania to leave a force sufficient to maintain order, pending the reorganisation of the forces. The conference will hold Rumania responsible if she declines and disorders occur, as the extremists are awaiting an opportunity to again throw the country into a state of ohaos. . A. MATTER OF TRADE RIVALRY. PARIS, September 11. An article in Le Journal states that the Peace Conference is exasperated at Rumania's action. The Americans are seeking a quarrel because Rumania has not allowed the Standard Oil Company to secure Rumania's petroleum supplies, and also because Rumania's wheat exports interfere with America's. Rumania is able to stand firm because she commands the Russian wheat, of which she cannot be deprived. - . THE FIUME DIFFICULTY. ROME, September 12. Italian raiders, including the poet d'Annunzio, with machine guns and armoured cars, entered Fiume at noon today. September 13. It appears that the would-be raiders comprised detachments of the Grenadiers and" bands of storm troops, who started from Ronchi. A semi-official statement says that no disorders followed their arrival at Fiume. The Government has taken energetic steps to check the movement, and discover who is responsible for the rash and harmful act. September 14. In the Chamber of Deputies, Sigrior Nitti (Premier) stated that the latest news regarding the situation created at Fiume by the coup de main was serious, because 2300 men entered the town without right. He determined to act in order to avoid grave conflicts, and deplored what hapEened because, for the first time, sedition ad entered the Italian army. Signor Nitti added: " D'annunzio's Grenadiers started during the night time, and proceeded in 40 motor cars to Fiume, where a battalion awaited them on the armistice line. The commander of the Eighth Army Corps sent commanders of detachments to which the raiders belonged, with the object of persuading the misguided men to return. D'annunzio announced his intention to instal himself at the head of an army in command at Fiume. D'Annunzio led the unauthorised entry

into Fiume of 8000 Italian volunteers, including many demobilised soldiers. General Pittaluga, Italian Commander of the City, barred the way witlr Italian troops and machine-guns. After D'Annunzio had challenged General Pittaluga "to shoot his patriotic countrymen, baring his own breast for the bullets, the two leaders of the opposing forces embraced, shouting " Viva Fiume." The Allied garrisons remained in the barracks. The Italian Government disavows D'Annunzio's action. September 15. Advices from Fiume state that numbers of the inhabitants of the town joined the raiders, also some Italian sailors, who swam ashore. The raiders pulled down the French and British flags. The French and British troops were confined to barracks. Twenty-six thousand raiders are now in Fiume. The French troops have left, carrying their flags, at D'Annunzio's request. Gabriele d'Annunzio has proclaimed the union of Fiume with Italy. The Supreme Council has investigated D'Annunzio's raid on Fiume. It is now stated that the raiders hauled down the British and French flags. Marshal Foch participated in the consultation, frpm which a satisfactory settlement is anticipated. It is pointed out, contrary to assertions of the Rome newspapers, that the British proposed (? supported) Italian interests in the Adriatic. CANADIAN RATIFICATION. OTTAWA, September 10. _ French-Canadian opposition to the ratification of the Peace Treaty is developing in the House of Commons. Quebec speakers point out that it is unnecessary for the dominions to ratify peace, as their constitutional position prohibited them from making peace or declaring war. Sir R. L. Borden pointed out that the dominions were at present in the transition stage, and their exact constitutional position has yet to be settled. When Parliament was debating the Peace Treaty Opposition members argued that approval by the Canadian Parliament could not make any difference in the treaty. M. Ernest Lapoint declared thatPresident Wilson had taken up the position that Canada was not entitled to a vote under the rules of the League of Nations. He asked, if Canada were entitled to vote, would she. if called upon by the league to send trooos to a foreign country, have to obey. If so, she would break her own constitution, which provided that Canadian troops should be used only in Canadian defence. Referring to Lord Jellicoe's visit, he suggested that, when the Admiral arrived, he be treated with the greatest consideration and told that, as far as advising Canada was concerned, it would be wiser for him to wait until the people of the country asked for his advice. On behalf of the Government the need and urgency of securing Britain's ratification in order to legally end the war was stressed. September 11. The Canadian House of Commons, by 102 votes to 70, ratified the Peace Treaty. It was a straight-out party vote. After defeating by 102 votes to 70 Mr Fielding's amendment proposing to agree to the treaty by asserting that the House refused to assent to any impairment of the existing autonomous authority of the dominion, and also declaring that in future Canada must settle, through her representative Parliament, what part she shall take in any war, the House of Commons passed, without a division, the motion to approve peace. SOUTH AFRICAN MANDATE. CAPETOWN, September 10. In the Assembly General Smuts stated that the terms of the mandate had not yet been actually approved by the Supreme Council, but it was necessary that the Government should have provisional interim powers pending any Act of Parliament. Mr Hertzog strongly protested against tho Assembly proceeding when unaware what the mandate actually was. He did not object to the Union taking over the guardianship of South-West Africa, providing everything was done to meet the requirements of the people there. In the Union Legislative Assembly Peace Treaty debate, General Smuts, replying to the Nationalists' criticisms, sand the secession movements could lead to nothing but misery and bitterness. He eloquently appealed "for peace by conciliation, and said ho would leave nothing undone to brinp- together the different sections of the white population; otherwise they could never have permanent peace. He declaimed against throwing away the advantages South Africa bad gained as part of the Empire to get back to the ant-heap off which she had been dragged. The motion for the ratification of the Peace Treaty was carried by 64 votes to 19. The minority was exclusively Nationalists. General Smuts then moved and explained at length the provisions of the Mandate Bill. September 12. The Senate concurred in the Assembly's resolution ratifying the Peace by 30 votes to 5. The minority were Nationalists. The Assembly carried the second reading of the Mandate Bill by 70 votes to 23. The minority were all Nationalists. September 16. In the Union Assembly the Mandate Bill was read a third time. GENERAL SMUTS ON SECESSION. CAPETOWN, September 13. The conclusion of the debate on the Mandate Bill was marked by a striking passage between General Smuts and Mr Hertzog. Referring to a previous declaration by a Nationalist member that the Nationalists would abandon their agitation on the ' restoration of the old republics, General

Smuts challenged Mr Hertzog to afc, whether it was the policy of his party to work for tho secession of the South African Union as a whole from the Empire^ Mr Hertzog replied evasively that it was a matter for the Nationalist Party Congress to decide. General Smuts, continuing, said the question was whether the Union had the right to secede. Mr Hertzog, interrupting, queried " 'Yes." "Oh, no," General. Smuts answered; "my reply is absolutely ' No.'" Referring to the question of the vote, he said that in ordinary law there was no such thing as the veto; but it was the duty of the King to veto any law under which the Union might secede from the Empire. Therefore, secession was impossible constitutionally, and was only possible by a revolution. AMERICA AND THE TREATY. FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE'S TINKERING. WASHINGTON, September 10. The Foreign Relations Committee's majority report to the Senate on the Peace Treaty declares that the Presidential suggestion that the country is unable to resume trade relations until Peace is satified is not borne out by facts. The United States is already trading with Germany. Regarding the effect of Peace on industrial unrest, the report points out that Britain has already ratified the Peace Treaty, but industrial unrest in that country has not ceased. The committee has appended 45 amendments and four reservations. The majority report of the committee points out that all the amendments and reservations are guided by a single purpose —that is, to safeguard American independence and right of sovereignty. The reservations include the right of withdrawal from the League of Nations; "refusal to recognise obligations under Article 10 of the JLeague Covenant, except if Congress soXdecides ; reserving to the United States the right to decide what shall constitute domestic questions; also an absolute reservation that the Monroe Doctrine shall be left to the United States' judgment alone. The amendments include a declaration that the British Dominions should not have a vote on the League of Nations; also a declaration in favour of the restoration of Shantung by Japan to China. The majority report, referring to the fear that other nations may not accept the amended League Covenant, says: " That is one thing which certainly cannot happen. Other nations must take the United States upon her own terms; for, without the United States, the league would be wrecked, and all the Allied gains accruing from a victorious peace would be imperilled." The Foreign Relations Committee majority report adds that India is not entitled to vote, as she is not a self-govern-ing dominion. If Britain, however, lias six votes in the League Assembly, the United States is entitled to an equal number. The report states that the League of Nations will really provoke wars. Monroeism had protected the United States for many vears, and the United States fought now to protect Monroeism. v A MINORITY REPORT. WASHINGTON, September 11. The minority report of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee says that rejection of the Peace* Treaty will involve tho sacrifice on the part of the United States of all the concessions obtained from Germany. The report deplores the delay. It is* pointed out that the proposed majority report's reservations would destroy the League of Nations without substituting anything for it. It also points out that it would be impossible to recall the German delegates to Paris if they refused to come, and the United States will be obliged to settle directly its own treaty with Germany. SENATE CONSIDERING TREATY. WASHINGTON, September 15. The Senate has begun consideration of the Peace Treaty. September 16. The Senate has postponed action on the Peace Treaty till Monday. The Democrats claim to have sufficient support to create a deadlock vote. NEW YORK, September 12. The New York Times correspondent at Courdalene (Idaho) said that President Wilson, who sgc-ke in a huge circus tent, pictured the world again aflame with war unless the Peace Treaty was accepted. It was inconceivable that men could favour the complete destruction of the treaty. There could be no reform or settled order in the world for generations unless the treaty was accepted. Mr Wilson continued that every man who loved justice should stand for the unqualified acceptance of the treaty. "If you wish to live in a chaotic world," he said, "encourage those who are opposing the treaty and the league covenant." The President said he would not raise any serious objections to the adoption of reservations or interpretations of the treaty covenant by the Senate in a resolution separate from the resolution of ratification, though his own opinion was that such action was unnecessary. Speaking at Spokane' (Idaho), President Wilson, replying to Senators who objected to the British dominions having separate votes in the League of Nations, said that no danger to the United States on that score existed, because the decision of the League Council must be unanimous, and thus the United States, by one vote, could veto any of the council's decisions. September 13. At Seattle President Wilson was given, a tumultuous ovation—the most enthusiastic since he started his tour. In his speeches the President urged the people to help him to end all war by

supporting the League of Nations. Party lines must be forgotten, and the pledges given the world by the United States must be fulfilled. They were pledges sealed with the blood of American soldiers. AMERICAN REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN. NEW YORK, September 10. The campaign against President Wilson is assuming large proportions. Senators Johnson, Borah, and others are speaking in various cities against the Peace Treaty. Senator Norri 3 declared that President Wilson had cavorted around with representatives of monarchies, and had wasted more money in travelling Chan was ever expended by any prince or potentate. WASHINGTON, September 16. Senator Sherman, speaking in the Senate debate, described President Wilson as the " self-crowned monarch of quitters, unrivalled in the Western Hemisphere," and proceeded: " Hi 3 silence and speed when escaping from his imperishable principles of yesterday are as abysmal and swift as primal chaos." The question for the United States to decide was, he said, whether this country would exhaust itself in making the world' safe for some nations or in making the United States safe for the American people. Mr Wilson's hegira from Washington obviously indicated his intention to seek a third term. No sacri fice evidently, was too groat to secure the League of Nations, not even tho sacrifice of his pledged word. All must pass under his epithets who would not respond to his flight into the dim world of Wilsonian dreams." LOYAL AMERICANS. NEW Y9RK, September 15. The New York Times Washington correspondent states that 250 leading Americans have addressed a plea to the Senate urging the ratification of the-Peace Treaty, unamended and without delay. Amongst those who signed the plea are Samuel Gompers (president of the Federation of Labour), ex-President Taft, and Jacob Schiff (New York banker and philanthropist). WASHINGTON, September 15. Attacking the majority report of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator M'Cumber characterised it as a selfish, immoral, and dishonourable policy seeking to isolate the United States and to cause her to desert her allies. The reservations were voiced defiantly and discourteously, expressing a Jingoistic tone which ought to be eliminated from the American spirit. The report failed to explain the league's aims and purposes. Regarding the British Dominions, Senator M'Cumber declared that they were almost independent, arid their votes would not affect the United States, as it was necessary to secure a unanimous vote before the council could act. The United States would therefore be untrammelled. Senator Jones, in the Senate, said that if the reservations were adopted the treaty would fail, and consequently the hope of preventing future wars would fail also. The League of Nations was the sole authority able to restore order out of the anarchical conditions now existing. ATTACHE'S SECRET MISSION. WASHINGTON, September 12. Mr William Bullitt, ex-attache of the United States Peace Commission, has disclosed that he was sent on a secret mission to Russia before the Prinkipo Conference was proposed. Lenin offered favourable terms of peace with the Allies, but M. Clemenceau refused to negotiate, and spoiled the opportunity at Prinkipo. Mr Bullitt's report was never published. Mr Bullitt testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he and Mr Lansing had a conference in Paris last May, in which Mr Lansing condemned parts of the Peace Treaty as "thoroughly bad," particularly those dealing with Shantung and the League of Nations. According to Mr Bullitt, Mr Lansing said: "I consider that the League of Nations is at present useless. The Powers have arranged the world to suit themselves, and the league is able to do nothing to alter the unjustness of the treaty except by unanimous consent. Members of the league representing the Great Powers will not give their consent to changes in the interests of weaker peoples. If the United States Senate and people understood the real meaning of the treaty it would unquestionably be defeated." Mr Bullitt asserted that Generals Bliss and White also objected to numerous provisions of the treaty. Mr Lansing declined to comment upon Br Bullitt's testimony. "A TISSUE OF LIES." LONDON, September 15. The Daily Telegraph Paris correspondent states that Mr Lloyd George asserts that Mr Bullit's account of the conversation with him is a tissue of lies. SETTLEMENT REGARDING SYRIA. PARIS, September 13. Mr Lloyd George and M. Clemenceau have reached a settlement regarding Syria favourable to France. September 16. It is understood that the provisional agreement between Mr Lloyd George and M. Clemenceau stipulates that French troops shall relieve the British forces in Upper Syria. The newspapers reiterate that Great Britain will support a French mandate over Syria. SOCIALISTS' OPPOSITION. PARIS, September 15. The Nationalist' and Socialist Congress carried a resolution excluding from membership those Socialist deputies who voted for the ratification of the Peace Treaty, but not excluding those who voted war credits. ROME, September 16. The Socialist minority in Parliament has

issued a statement urging Italy to annul the Treaty of Versailles, as Italy has received no advantage from it. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTIONARIES. PARIS, _ September 16. The decision regarding Prussia was unanimous. There was a full council, in. eluding Marshal Foch and the Italian delegate's. The great Powers intend to allow the Russian revolutionaries to work out their own salvation. THE " INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD." LONDON, September 15. The International Brotherhood Congress,, at which delegates from 20 countries ar* present, opened in the City Temple (Cbn» gregational Church). The Bishop of London by a special sermon in St. Paul's had given it a greai send-off. He eulogised the League of Nations a 3 the greatest Christian Ideal ever put forward, and he fervently hoped also that the Union of Churches would be realised. Dr Clifford (president of the Brotherhood), in his inaugural address, described the congress as achieving the union of East and West on the indestructible basis of fraternity. He added that the Brotherhood was marching and nothing could stop it. The League of Nations was the one great hope of the world. JAPAN'S RESPONSIBILITIES. NEW YORK, September 15. . The New York Times Tokio correspondent states that the Marquis Saionji urges Japan to understand her responsibility in aiding and promoting the League of Nations, which will ensure the world against the menace of war, if effectively administered. It is Japan's duty, he says, to keep and consolidate a lasting peace, based on the principles of Right and Justice. NAVIGATION OF THE SCHELDT. THE HAGUE, September 16. At the opening of the States General Queen Wilhelmina, referring to the relations with Belgium, said: The- Dutch Government has been called upon emphatically to defend the rights of the State and' its integrity. My thoughts, in intimate union with my people, turn towards Limburg, Zeeland, and Flanders, whose fidelity, devotion, solidarity, and strength found unmistakable expression in our national unity. The Queen's speech foreshadowed a tax on luxuries and measures against profiteering. CHINESE-GERMAN PEACE, WASHINGTON, September 16. According to official advices received from Peking the Chinese Government has issued a mandate declaring peace between China and Germany. INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE. PARIS, September 12. The Supreme Council has decided that no official invitation be addressed to enemy countries to participate in the International Labour Conference at Washington, but enemy delegates will be enabled to enter the United States as private individuals and participate in the discussions. The Washington Labour Congress Council has approved of the United States granting passports to individuals permitting them to attend the congress. The United States will be unable to invits German delegates owing to the treaty not being ratified by October. THE AUSTRALIAN INDEMNITY. STATEMENT BY MR HUGHES. MELBOURNE, September 11. In the House of Representatives, speak* ing on the Bill to ratify the Peace Treaty, Mr Hughes said: I' At the Peace Conference our claim was for £354,000,000, of which £300,000,000 was actual war debt and £54,000,000 was the capitalised value of pensions, repatriation, and loss on civilian property. At one stroke £300,000,000 of our claim was struck out. Probably we may get, between now and the end of April, 1921, anything from £5,000,000 to £8,000,000, but I am unable to say how much Australia may receive afterwards." Mr Hughes concluded by saying : "Thi3 peace is very unjust to Australia, who is burdened with a bill of £300.000,000 for the cost of a war which we did not provoke, but which. it was necessary we should enter or else perish." Assuming that the first £1,000,000,000 of the indemnity will be paid by Germany in 1920, Mr Hughes is of opinion that Australia will receive about £10,000,000 therefrom; while in the second payment the proportion of Australia gets may rise to anything between £15,000,000 and £20,000,000. In the House of Representatives Mr Hughes declared that, though Germany was crippled, the Germans remained as they always were, and it would take two or three generations before we would have a Germany that we could trust. Her army was scattered and her spirit was broken, but the idea of vengeance remained. But for this generation at least she was impotent. Fcr the time being the world was safe. He asked: Was the treaty worthy of the sacrifices made —worthy of the ideals for which Australian boys had died? He said heartily, "Yes." They died for liberty, for the safety of Australia. Australia is safe and free. They died for a white Australia; it is ours. MANDATE FOR PACIFIC ISLANDS. MR HUGHES'S VIEWS. MELBOURNE, September 11. In the House of Representatives Mtf Hughes said, regarding the Pacific mandate, that he thought possession of tha Pacific Islands was essential for Aus-«

tralia. Wo sought to obtain direct control over them, although President Wilson's Fourteen Points forbade it, and, Hfter a lot of ~fighting, the principle of

■ the mandate was accepted. The mandate was now embodied in the League Covenant. Its actual terms had not yet been ratified, but the mandate was bestowed upon us definitely. After referring" to the attitude of Japan at the Peace Conference and the fight he put up against her claims, Mr Hughes said: "We hope that Japan—and not only Japan, but all nations—will remain on terms of the most perfect friendship with us; but we claim the right to say with regard to Australia who shall come and who shall not come in. We had this : right before, and we claim this right now." Dealing with the exemption of the Monroe Doctrine from the provisions of the League Covenant, Mr Hughes pointed out that it lays down that no European Power can meddle in any matter in the two American continents, but it does not say that America must not meddle in the affairs of Europe. It rested on no foundation of international law; it rested J merely on the declaration of the PresiI dent of the United States, and therefore : it was proper that a like doctrine should be promulgated on behalf of Australia, as ! far as the Pacific is concerned.