THE SPA CONFERENCE

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XVIII, Issue 5960, 10 July 1920, Page 2

THE SPA CONFERENCE

TUHKISH POSITION DEFINED

■ GERMAN DISARMAMENT. MUST COMPLY WITH TREATY TERMS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable) (Received July 10, 8 a.m.) LONDON, July 7. ( An official communique states:—Tho t Spa Conference in the morning examin- \ cd tho Turkish observations on the I Peace Treaty, and agreed that it was "] impossible to modify any of the princi- I pal clause-is as requested by tho Turkish ] Government. Tho conference, how.cvei^ appointed a small expert committee j

hich was empowred to consult with tho i Hilary authorities, and to draft a ( >ply. This lwil-1 jdeal with certaijn •] linor points w'hereon the Turkish E icmorandum established a reasonable i ise, and will require the signature of ( 10 treaty within ten days of the pre- < Mitation of the reply. ( The conference met in the afternoon - -> receive the German reply regarding : be surrender of material and the reduc- ■ ion of effectives under the Treaty. Von imons repeated that extreme difncuilies were facing Germany in satisfying . he Allies, and that dangers were hreatening her. Ho nevertheless reognised the necessity for furnishing reciso data regarding the existing ma-c-rial and dates whereon, in the Gernan Government's opinion, arms ana iffectives might be reduced, to the >enty figures. He concluded by calling >n Von Seckt, chief of the German General Staff to speak. Von Steckfc landed i;ti a detailed note regarding the material. He proposed that a proportional reduction of material'and effecives should be carried out within fif;een months. Mr LUoyd George, replying, decried jhe anxiety which existed in Germany, ui,d pointed out that so ;'<ir a.s could be ascertained several millions of rifles still remained in the handis, not only of tho troops, but of the population, and in addition thousands of machin,e guns, trench mortals and guns, whiiist over 1,000,000 soldiers were still under arms under various forms and pretexts. It was beyond comprehension that such a dangerous and abnormal situation should be tolerated by any Government. The Allies could not permit a prolongation of that situation for another fi.'tcen mouth*, and it must be settled by a vigorous effort in. the shortest practicable lime. Military, naval and air experts would meet to-night to invpstijgate the Allied and Von SeckJ-'t figures, a ilea' which the Allies would tomorrow announce their final decision. THE MILITARY QUESTION. DEADLOCK REACHED. GERMAN DELEGATE'S RESIGNATION. (Received July 10. ll.M) a.m.) ' LONDON, July 8. An Exchange Telegraph Agency message from Spa states the German and Allied military ofliciais informed the Conference to-day that- they were unable to roach a decision, and thai; Mr Lloyd-George curtly ordered them to resume ttheir negotiations and report in the afternoon. It is rumoured that ilerr Gessler (Gorman, Defence Minister) resigned his position as a delegate but was persuaded to reconsider his decision on the promise- that Germany would be allowed six months. ALLIED TERMS ACCEPTED, DOCUMENT SIGNED.

(Received July 10, 9 a.m.) LONDON, July 0. The Germans have signed the accept 1 ancc conditions.