THE PEACE CONGRESS

Waikato Times, Volume 90, Issue 14026, 1 April 1919, Page 5

THE PEACE CONGRESS

LABOUR CONGRESS REPORT. IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES LAID DOWN. (Australian and N.Z. Gable Assn.) PARIS, March 29. The Labour Commission ih'ade a highly important and unanimous recommendation for the insertion of the following clause in the: Peace Treaty; -■ — The high contracting parties declare- their acceptance of the .. following principles, and t)iey engage to take all the necessary steps to secure their realisation in accordance with the International Labour Conference. The recommendation concerning their practical application is: — (1) In right and fact the labour of human beings should not be treated as merchandise, or an article of commerce. (2) Employers and workers should be allowed the right of association for all lawful purposes. (3) No child should be permitted to be employed in industry or commerce before the age of 14, in order that a child may secure reasonable opportunities for mental and physical education. Young persons of either sex between 14 and 18 may be employed only at work which is not harmful to physical development and conditional on the continuation of technical and general education being ensured.

(4) Every worker has the right to a wage adequate to maintain a reasonable standard of life, having regard to the civilisation of his time and country.

(5) Equal pay should be given women and men for work of equal value in quantity and quality. (6) Weekly rest, including Sunday, or its equivalent, for all workers. (7) The hours of work should be limited to a basis of eight hours a day, or 48 hours a week, subject 16 exceptions, where climatic conditions, imperfect development, industrial organisation, or special circumstances, render a worker’s efficiency substantially different. ,

(8) In all matters concerning their status as .workers and social standing, foreign workmen may be lawfully admitted to a country, and their families should be assured the same treatment as nationals.

(9) All States should institute a system of inspection, in which women should partake in order to ensure the enforcement of laws and regulations for the workers’ protection. The Commission has finished its draft for the Convention, under which the labour section of the League of Natibns is intended to .work. This Convention will not be dealt with until the preliminary peace terms are settled. The Commission recommends that an international Labour Conference be held in Washington in October, 1919, and that an organising committee of seven members be appointed. AMERICAN DELEGATES DISSATISFIED. LITTLE PROGRESS MADE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) PARIS, March 29. The American delegates are dissatisfied with the continual abandonment of positions on the question of reparation and other problems before the Premiers’ Conference., (They allege that little progress wds ' made during the entire week. DISPOSITION OF GERMAN SHIPS. AMERICANS FAVOUR SINKING. (Australian and N.Z. Gable Assn.) PARIS, March 29. Admiral Sir R. Wemyss (Britain), Admiral Benson (United States Navy), and Mr. J. Daniels (American Secretary to the Navy), conferred regarding the disposition of German warships, but no decision was reached. NEW YORK, March, 29. A New York Times Paris message reports that an American memorandum regarding the disposition of the German navy will be presented to the Peace Congress, and will prohbaly ne adopted. The Americans tacitly favour the sinking of the German ships. They declare that an increase of the naval strength in European waters is unnecessary, because' the German naval menace has been removed. They also oppose the distribution of the captured navy, pointing out if the, distribution is based on naval losses, Hie largest share would be given to Britain, which would necessitate greatly' increasing the United States naval outlay to enable the United ■States to maintain a navy equalling Britain's, because the League of Nathat it is essential that the United States should have a navy equal to Britain’s, because the League of nations must be strong enough, if necessary, to restrain its strongest member. The American view is that any reduction in the United States naval strength would weaken the United States’ influence in world affairs, and limit her ability to render service to the League of Nations. It is also asserted that the submarines of all ations must be destroyed. The memorandum adds that high British officers have justified Germany’s U boat warfare on the grounds of military necessity. PREPARATIONS FOR SIGNATURE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) PARIS, March 30. Preparations are now being made at, the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles with a view to the signature of the Peace Treaty at the end of April. ITALY AND FIUME. AN UNFOUNDED REPORT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) ■Received March 31, 5.a p.m. PARIS, March 28. Captain Feucol, head of the Italian Press Bureau, in a statement, said that the reports that the Italian delegates threatened to withdraw from the Peace Conference if Italy were, not given Fiume are absolutely untrue. .THE DANTZIG LANDING. GERMAN PROPOSALS REJECT I ,ED. ,u ' ■ " . RUPTT t RE MAY BE AVERTEd,. OWING TO MUTUAL FEAR QF BOLSHEVISM. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received March 31, 7.20 p.m. LONDON, March 31. A German wireless message states that the Entente have rejected Germany’s counter proposals regarding Dantzig, but despatches -indicate that Germany and the Entente realise the dangers of Bolshevism, and a rupture will possibly be avoided if German national interests are not prejudiced owing to the landing.

THE PROBABLE TERMS. TO BE IMPOSED ON GERMANY'. MILITARY, NAVAL AND AERIAL. Received March 31, 7.20 p.m. NEW YORK, March 28. The United Press’ Paris correspondent learns from an authoritative source that the following will be the military, naval and aerial terms of the peace treaty-with Germany:— The German army is not to exceed 100,000 All fortified works within 4.0 miles of the Rhine will Be destroyed. Germany to be 'permitted- to have only a definitely limited amount of ammunition.

The navy to be limited to six battleships of the Lothringen type (12,997 tons), six light cruisers, 12 destroyers, 12 torpedo boats. The personnel of the navy to he 15,000. No military air force to be allowed.

LABOUR COMMISSION’S REPORT.

THE CARDINAL POINTS

TO BE INCLUDED IN TREATY.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received March 31, 10.15 p.m. LONDON, March 30. The British delegation is considering the Labour Commission’s report. The Commission asks that the cardinal points be nserted in the Peace Treaty, on the grounds that as Germany is unlikely to be in the League of Nations she would he free to make her labour conditions such as would hamper the nations subscribing to the Commission’s decisions. POLES AT DANTZIG. GERMANS WILL RESIST LANDING. WHATEVER THE CONSEQUENCES. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received March 31, 10.15 p.m.) PARIS, March 30. The Eastern situation is still perplexing. The Germans rejected the demand for the landing of General Haller’s Polish troops at Dantzig and put forward an alternative that they might land ‘at Stettin, Memol, Libau, or Konigsberg. It is reported that the Council of Four accepted ‘Marshal Foch’s ' advice, to serve , a .sharp notice on .! the Germans.

The German Government later consulted all the political parties at Weimar, who indicated that they were resolved, whatever the consequences, to oppose the .landing at Dantzig.