PEACE CONFERENCE

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16714, 23 January 1919, Page 7

PEACE CONFERENCE

THE RUSSIAN SITUATION. Australian and N.Z. Cable Ags a . Received 7.45 p.m., Jan. 22nd.' • LONDON, Jan. 19. Allied Ministers have received a statement from -Mr Noulens French' Ambassador to Rusa'a, concerning the situation. Mr Scavenius, the Danish Minister, was formerly inclined l to view the Bolshevist policy as not dangerous, but , events latterly have changed his view. It may be assumed, tihat his evidenced will carry considerable weight, as it will be the mast recent which the' Conference is able to obtain on the Russian situation. PROGRESS 1 TOWARDS AGREEMENT. I Received 8.5 p.m., Jan, 22nd. The Peace Conference has made gr.eat progress towards agreement on tlio Russian question. Concrete prop'sals are expected on Wednesday. , .MR HUGHRS'S VIEWS.. AUSTRALIA AND" JAPAN. FREEDOM OF THE SEAS. NEW YORK, Jan. 18. The '.'World's" Paris correspondent interviewed Mr Hughes, who said: The : Japanese aa-o a great people, but our ideals j and theirs differ fundamentally. We do not wish for Japanese expansion in our direction. We have a i very small popula'Sion compared with Japan. Neither our interests nor our aspirations are identical with theirs. Eaoh of us in our different spheres can safeguard tlie future while maintaining .relations of perfect] harmony with one another. ' In reference to the naval situation Mr Hughes said that full protection by the British fleet was necessary for Australia's safety. Ho d!id not fear that anjy difference would arise regarding the British and' American interpretation of "freed'oni" of the seas." PUBLICITY QUESTION.

Received 9.30' p.m., Jan. 22nd. LONDON, Jan. 21. , Representatives of the dominions aro unanimous against super-secrecy of the Conference. SECRECY IN PRACTICE. Received 30 p.m., Jan. 22nd. PARIS, Jan. 21. Mr Eraser states that although the Press asserted the principle of an open Conference, yet in practice the. Conference is largely secret). It has already constituted a close committee of the Great Powers■ which sits in open conference with full delegations at certain intervals. The Conference does not meet again before Thursday. Meanwhile the Great Powers continue to wrestle with Russian problems. ' LABOUR PROBLEMS, v A special committee will be appointed to investigate international labour conditions, with a view to securing a basis of uniformity for all countries in regard to employment and treatment of workmen. Surplus food is now available, and it is expected ithat enemy countries will receive supplies within a month.. ARABS TO SUBMIT CLAIMS. Emir Feis\il, son of tho King of the ITcdjna, is here awaiting his father's instructions regarding two delegates to represent the kingdom at the Peace Conference. Colonel Lawrence, Feisut's aide, is expected ta bo chosen as the first delegate in order to give greater weight to a proposal to bo submitted to the Conference asking for the formation of a federation of all Arab States between the Red Sea and the .Persian Gulf, free from Turkish domination and under the protection of ihe United States. RHINE AS SAFE FRONTIER. NEW YORK, Jan. IS. Mr Edwin James, telegraphing from Treves reports that, Marshal sFocli, interviewed by an American correspondent, said the Rhine must bo the barrier that will protect the Allies and civilisation from Germany. JAPAN'S SPECIAL INTEREST. TOKTO, Jan. 20. The Press is displaying little interest in the Conference. It is taken for granted that Germany's colonies will never be returned. Popular interest centres in the question of racial discrimination, whereby, Japanese are excluded from America and Australia.

The newspapers urge the delegates to insist on the removal of the race bar as one of the fundamental conditions ■of the League of Nations. LABOUR QUESTIONS TO BE INTRODUCED. • NEW "YORK, Jan. 20. The United Press 1 correspondent at Paris says it is understood that the American Peace delegation will ask for ' incorporation in the treaty of vitallabour principles, namely, an international child labour law, protection of women workers, uniform working conlitions, including fixed hours of labour. GERMANY 'AND RUSSIA". I ; It is understood that Germany and Russia; will be allowed to join only on . staibili sin g their governments.