THE PEACE TREATY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1628, 3 May 1919, Page 9 (Supplement)

THE PEACE TREATY.

ALLIED DEMANDS.

(United) PARIS., April 29. Mr Keith Murdoch says that the Peace Treaty to be presented to the Germans will provide that all the Government's property in the former German territories shall pass to the new Governments exercising authority over them. The decisions of the local courts will be final. The new Governments, may repatriate resident Germans and formulate conditions under which , Germans may reside and hold property or trade or work in the former colonies.

Kiel Canal will be placed on a similar footing to the Panama Canal. Its approaches must Be maintained free and open to vessels of commerce or war of all nations at peace with Germany in terms of entire equality, Tlie Treaty will provide. for the appointment by each country of a sub-commission on which Germany will be represented to control the return of prisoners, Germany undertaking ihe cost of repatriation. She is also, to undertake to accept all repatriated prisoners, but the Allied couptries may send German internees or prisoners to a neutral country or permit them to remain in Allied territory. Germany is to undertake to facilitate inquiries for missing soldiers and to restore property taken from them and to furnish a list of dead prisoners and the location of their graves and maintain such graves. «. The general effect of the economic clauses in the Treaty will be to give the Allies the most favoured nation treatment for five years. Another provision will be that .the Allied and associated Governments shall preserve the right to retain or liquidate all property rights and interests of German nationals or companies controlled by them in their territories, compensation to be given according to the local laws. Contracts with the enemy shall be regarded as dissolved from the date of the war, except in respect to money owing on patents and copyrights. Rights in industrial, literary and artistic works on property are restored both in the Allied countries and in Germany, but the action taken in Allied countries during the war with respect to patents and copyrights is upheld and Will remain in force. TEXT COMPLETED. (United) PARIS, April 30. The Treaty will be completed today. The Germans at Versailles will not know the contents until Saturday, perhaps Monday. An. important reason for the delay is the anxiety to get the Italians conciliated and in attendance. The present intention is to give the Germans a fortnight for consideration and then a week for discussion by the interchange of Notes. During the interval the Council will have ample work fixing the Austrian, Turkish and Bulgarian terms. It is hoped to get the Austrians in Paris before Mr "Wilson leaves on May 31. The text of the Treaty will be presented to the 18 minor. Powers the day before its presentation to the Germans, but no amendments will be aceepted.