LATER

Waikato Times, Volume 90, Issue 13978, 3 February 1919, Page 5

LATER

SCOPE OF THE TRUSTEESHIP. REVIEW IN TWO YEARS. TOWARDS AN AMERICAN PEACE. LLOYD GEORGE'S DISCONCERTING ACTION. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received Feb. 3, 8.55 a.m. PARIS, Jan. 31.

Mr Fraser states that the trusteeship is provisional in the sense that the League of Nations may review the position two years hence. In connection with the conquered territories, Australia's clajm for the fee simple of New Guinea is considered the strongest among all the colonial claims, thus the other claimants to conquered territories were glad to allow Australia to put up the first fight. The Americans demanded—firstly, a real League of Nations; secondly, the inviolability of the armistice; thirdly, settlement of each national claim on principles applicable to all the others. The Australians viewed America's attitude as taking undue advantage of her strength. While willing to regard Mr Wilson as working for a principle, yet they were convinced that he had in his mind the necessity of reassuring the American people against Japan. Mr Wilson conversed at length with Mr Hughes and sympathised with Australia's economic arguments, but never wavered on the main issue.

Le Gaulois, in an article headed "Towards an American peace," says it fails to understand Mr Lloyd George's disconcerting attitude towards the dominions in failing to secure that legitimate compensation which is merited by their sacrifices and devotion to the Allied cause. His attitude risks their loyalty towards the Motherland. ONLY PROVISIONAL SOLUTION REACHED. PARLIAMENTARY CONFIRMATION NECESSARY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received Februarv 3, 9.30 a.m. PARIS, January 31. The Echo do Paris says that the Conference's solution of the colonies is only provisional. Ministers have no rightto bind their countries to stipulations involving the diminution of their sovereign rights and the various Parliaments will have something to say l>cfore ratifying the peace treaty.

MR WILSON'S COMPLAINTS

AT ALARMIST REPORTS. BRITISH DELEGATES IMPUGNED. Received February 31, 9.30 a.m. PARIS, January 31. Mr AVilson complained at the alarmist, reports published, in the newspapers regarding the Gonference's deoison on the colonies. He declared that the reports, which were a hrench of confidence, obviously emanated from a British source. MR HUGHES' DETERMINED STAND. IMPORTANT CONCESSION GAINED. NO FINAL DECISION YET. (Australian and N.X. Cable Assn.) ■Received Feb. 3. 8.55 a.m. PARIS. Jan. 31. Mr Murdoch states that as the Supreme' Council reached the final phase of the colonial discussion it resolved into'an obstinate arsument. Finally Mr Wilson said to Mr Hughes: "Is that the maximum Australia is prepared to concede 9 " "Absolutely," replied Mr Hughes, "and it is conditional upon Australia receiving mandatory power and consent from Australia." This was more than a mere gesture of dissent. It means that the Commonwealth remains in the strongest possible position, as her consent is reserved until it is absolutely certain that she is to receive the mandate under these terms.

The importance of the concession is great, because the whole of Australia's defence and navigation laws will apply. The formula was Mr Hughes' suggestion and had first to be fought through the Imperial Cabinet, where Mr Hughes, Mr Massey and Genera] Botha all registered formal protests against the British, acceptance of the mandatory system and produced the formula as the minimum acceptable under protest. General Botha's, Mr Massey's and Mr Hughes' formula was enwrapped in a lengthy resolution of 10 clauses, of which the eighth was the vital provision; also accepting conditions previously mentioned in general terms by Mr Wilson, these being prohibition of slave trade, sale of liquor to natives, military training of natives, (except as police), also reservations regarding the amount of defensive works permissible. The delegates do not regard the provisional settlement as absolutely final, because an essential part of Mr Wilson's plan is that the League of Nations must be the body issuing the defining mandates; hut the Council accepted the formula, and an authoritative British statement leaves no doubt that Australia, New Zealand and South Africa will get mandates on a closed-door basis. Statesmen regard the mandatory system as an extension of British colonial methods, and claims that it wilt benefit the Empire, because foreign colonial administrations had previously handicapped British traders.

YELLOW PERIL IN THE PACIFIC. JAPAN LYING LOW. AMERICA VITALLY INTERESTED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received Feb. 3, 9.10 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 31. The Daily Express says the future of the Pacific raises the whole question of economic competition between the white and yellow races, in which America is equally interested with Australia and New Zealand. Meanwhile Japan is lying low, but is certain to demand every political and economic advantage under Mr Wilson's 14 points. It is no exaggeration to say that this question is severely testing the idea of a real League of Nations, and the discussions must have an important bearing on th'e coming European territorial rearrangements. . It is understood that the Italian delegates, after conversation with Mr Wilson, agreed that Fiume be an international port. MODIFICATIONS IN MANDATORY PLAN. NECESSARY IN DIMINIONS' INTERESTS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received Feb. 3, 9.10 a.m. PARIS, Jan. 31. It is understood that the statement that the Imperial War Cabinet accept the theory of internationalisation of the German colonies goes far beyond the fact. Mr Hughes and Mr Massey both attended at the Quai d'Orsai on Thursday, and suggested some modification on their original proposals. Mr maintains that the Powers agreed to' discuss peace on the basis of .his 14 points, therefore are bound to subordinate individual advantage to basic principles. The British delegates appreciate this, but are endeavouring to reconcile Mr Wilson's principle with the Dominion interests. If it is true, as is generally believed, that the mandatory idea has been accepted in principle, it will probably be regarded as a great diplomatic victory for Mr Wilson, but the practical scheme is expected to effect considerable modifications. It is understood that the Dominion Ministers are now engaged in preparing a plan which will remove the most objectionable features and safeguard the dominions' vital interests. It is considered in some, quarters that there is no possibility of Australia successfully persisting in her opposition to the general principle, but her proposals for removing possible future dangers will be sympathetically considered. It is believed that M. Clemenceau has promised to support her in these. One report states that where the mandatory power is a neighbouring colony the former will be allowed to apply her own'immigration laws to the colony.

A DOUBLE-BARRELLED PLAN. FOR CIVILISED AND UNCIVILISED COLONIES. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) ' Received Feb. 3, 9.30 a.m. NEW YORK, Jan. 31. The New York Herald editorially says that it must be remembered that New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago for the past four years have been administered by the Australian Government. During this period the peoples of these islands have settled down peacefully and contentedly to Australian rule. Intel-nationalisation of these islands would be difficult and might be unjust both to Australia and the places disputed. The Sun's Paris correspondent says that Mr Wilson suggested two classes of mandatory government for the German colonies under the League of Nations —namely, for the civilised colonies the nation to hold the mandate would be selected through an expression of the will of the inhabitants, while the League would chose the mandatory nation for uncivilised territories. The Tribune editorially says that there would be no objection to the transfer of the German colonies to the League of Nations if the trusteeship were only temporary. Permanent ownership by the League would entail embarrassments. The colonies should be used to cancel some of the existing claims against Germany for indemnities. MR WILSON'S FAILURE. TO RECOGNISE AUSTRALIA'S POSITION. ITALIAN DISSATISFACTION. READY TO FIGHT AGAIN. MEETING OF LEAGUE OF NATIONS PROBABLY AT GIBRALTAR. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received February 3, 9.40 a.m. PARIS, January 31. Australians hero feel that Mr Wilson lins failed to distinguish between measures essential to Australia's safety and nctty territorial ambitions Mr Wilson, during a long conversation with Mr Hughes, admitted the Australian economical and political claims to the German colonies, but would, wot change, his view. One Australian delegate, referring to thus conversation, said: "I am convinced if ours was the only case, Mr Wilson would li.ivo been in with us." Signer Cabriole d'Anunzio, the poet and aviator, declared that England ar.rl Franco, drunk with victory, wished to swallow everything. Italy will have a worthv Roman peace on the Adriatic and the Alps. She will face a now conspiracy if necessary with a grenade in each hand and a knife in her teeth The meeting of the representatives on tho League of Nations after its formalion will probably be at Gibraltar, bo cause it is tho most central position Three months will bo. allowed to elapse in the event of a dispute between nations before recourse io war. The business of tho League during the war will bo to localise tho conflict and assert tho freedom of the seas.'