PEACE TREATY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 29 May 1919, Page 3

PEACE TREATY.

GERMAN COUNTERPROPOSALS.

NOT LIKELY TO BE CONSIDERED.

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright,

(Received May 29, 9.45 a.m.)

PARIS, May 28.

The German counter-proposals demand peace according to the fourteen points, an indemnity for the British blockade, and point out that Germany is now a strictly democratic country.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. M. CLEMENGEAU’S REPLY. TO THE GERMAN NOTES. (Paris" May 23. Replying to Count von Hantzau’s note regarding economic questions, M. Clemenceau says the note ignores the origin and results of the war. The Allies are only asking Germany to hand over four million tons of shipping, whereas Germany had sunk twelve million tons during the war. M. Clemenceau admits that important wheat and potato areas have been taken from Germany, hut these areas would remain free to export to Germany.

Replying to the complaint about lives being lost owing to the blockade, M. Clemenceau reminds the Germane that there were greater losses of lives caused by their r-uthless aggressions. Hie reply concludes: “Nothing can prevent Germany regaining her position of prosperity in Europe. Her territories suffered less during the war than the other belligerents. Germany possesses resources intact, which, together with importations', should suffice to reconstitute her. Moreover, the great reduction in armaments will mean a huge economy. Germany’s sufferings arise not from the conditions of peace hut from the acts of those who provoked and prolonged the war, the authors of which will not be able to escape its just consequences.”

M. Clemenceau, in reply to the German note for the repatriation of prisoners, says that the Allies cannot release those guilty of crimes, nor is he aware that any alleviation of their position is possible, since their treatment has always been in accord with the laws of humanity. The Allies will restore their personal property when the prisoners are repatriated. He agrees to the appointment of a mixed commission when peace is signed, but must refuse complete reciprocity in the return of prisoners, in view of the treatment received by the Allies interned In Germany during the war.

THE COUNCIL OF FOUR. .PARIS, May 20. The Council of Four continued the discussion of the Dutch-Belgian claims. It is understood the Dutch admit the revision of the treaty would allow them the use of the mouths of the Scheldt and Meuse without concessions of sovereignty. It is semi-officially denied that an invitation has been sent to the Bulgarian plenipotentiaries. Progress information regarding the Chinese‘agreement shows that the new divisions and spheres of influence in the Far East are to he as follows: The British sphere 'of influence, Thibet, Szu. Chuan and west Siam; the French sphere, east Siam,, Yun Nan, Kiaochau, and Kuanzmunz; Japanese sphere, Shantung, Manchuria, and Mongolia. The agreement opens the Yangtse river to the British, French, and Japanese on equal terms.'

The prices of the Japanese recognition of General Ivloltohak in Siberia will he their withdrawal from the Russian spheres in Manchuria and Mongolia. The Chinese are desirous of signing the treaty with a reservation respecting the Japanese clauses.

The Council discussed the new situation which has developed ns a consequence of the Bolshevist refusal of the conditions suggested by the Allies for the revictualling scheme.

A Bolshevist wireless message to-day endeavours to suggest that they did not refuse the terms. This is an apparent attempt to re-open negotiations.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.