THE PEACE TREATY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16821, 29 May 1919, Page 7

THE PEACE TREATY.

REPLIES TO GERMAN NOTES.

ON RELEASE OF PRISONERS

Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. Received S p.m. May 28th. -*Tir ni .PARIS, May 20. JU. Clemenceau, m reply to the German Note asking for the repatriation ot prisoners, says that tho Allies cannot release those guilty of crimes. He was not aware that any alleviation ot their position was possible,, since their treatment had always observed 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 Allies interned in Germany ' during the war. " LOSSES'.

PARIS. May 23. Replying to Count Rantzau's Note regarding economic questions, MClemenceau says the Note ignores tho origin and the results of the war. The Allies are only asking the Germans to hand over four million tons of shipping, whereas Germany had sunk twelve millions during t!lie war. M. Clemenceau admits that important wheat and dotato areas are taken from Germany, lint these areas would remain free to export to Germany. Replying to complaints about lives being lost owing to the blockade M. Clemenceau reminds the Germans that' there were greater losses of lives cansed by their ruthless aggressions. GERMANY BEST OFF.

The reply concludes:—Nothing can prevent Germany regaining a position of prosperity in Europe. Her territories suffered less during the war than those of other belligerents. Germany possesses resources intact, which, together with importations, should suffice to reconstitute her. Moreover a great reduction in armaments will mean huge economy. Germans sufferings arise not from the conditions of peace but from the acts of thos9 who provoked and -prolonged the war, ( the authors of which will not he able to escape its just consequences."

FURTHER INVASION. MAY YET BE NECESSARY. Received 10.15 p.m.. Mav 28th. _ PARIS, May 27. An insistent minority in Germany favours signature of the Peace Treaty. The German "Government's encouragement of the popular agitation against signature embarrass their freedom of action. Some correspondents point out that the Government will yield only after an actual further invasion. The general consensus of opinion is that the military machine is in ruins. LATEST DATE FOR SIGNING, AUSTRIAN QUESTIONS. PARIS. May 16.

Probably the Austrian Treaty will be presented on Wednesday, The latest date for the signing of the German.) Austrian and Hungarian Treaties is fixed for June 6th. A full solution of the Adriatic question is not required in the Treaty; It will suffiee if Austria renounces . her claim to the liberated territories.

TURKEY AND BULGARIA. A British proposal .is afoot; that Turkish and Bulgarian representatives should not he invited to St. Cloud (Versailles), hut should meet the Allies at Salonika. Allied troops ihlave occupied Smyrna on behalf of the Greeks, who are en route. There is great enthusiasm at Athens. //■-■;:'•,•.'■