South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-18
AUSTRALIA To
MAKE DEMANDS
ON CONFERENCE
Premier Hughes Asserts His
Country Has Won Right to
Present Its Own Pro-
gram For Peace.
By JOHN DEGANDT.

Ry United Press:
PARIS. Jan 1S-Australia, as a
free and Independent nation, has
its own peace demands for consid-
Grafton at the conferences. Premier
Hughes declared today in an inter-
view with the United Press
Australia considers that il won its
independence on the battlefield. and
politically it stands now where the
United States stood at the end OF
the Revolution. It is I'm this spirit
that il enters the peace confer
ences with its own program.
Recognition of the British domin-
ions by the peace congress marks
the dawn Of a new era, the premier
believes. 1t is taken to mean that
the world recognizes Australia.
Cana6a, South Africa, New Zealand
and India as autonomous nations,
tied only by sentiment TO the moth
erland
Our lighting records surpass that
of anv other nation" he asserted
'Now we want self-determination.
What Australia Demands.
Australia. Hughes made plain.
throws its cards face upward on the
peace table. His country, he said.
being most democratic and a firm
foe Of secret diplomacy, frankly and
openly makes public its aims and
desires in the great settlement.
Hughes Sanounced Australia
would demand:
Indemnities: the islands Of New
Guinea: a league of nations with
certain restrictions: military support
TO Poland if that country is threat
ened: a hearing on all questions
concerning Europe or the far east.
Australia. he declared, would op-
pose:
Freedom OF the seas. if that
means taking Britain's supremacy
from her
Any restrictions on the right OF
making whatever economic arrange
ments she pleases.
Further Intervention in Russia.
Has Won Liberty.
Australia" said Hughes, feels
that she stands politically today
pretty much where the United
States stood at the end of the Rev
olution. She has won liberty on the
fields of France and deserves recog-
milton as an autonomous nation.
Australia lost nearly $4,000 kill
ed and 5000 wounded in the war.
She spent a billion and a half dol
lars. She clothed her own troops in
uniforms of wool grown in her own
country Her fighting record sur
passes that OF any other nation.
Now Australia wants self-deter-
mination. This means she insists on
a policy or a white Australia We
do not want promiscuous immigra-
ton. We are a white nation in a sea
OF blacks. We must have the New
Guinea islands. They are full Of pos
sibilities for naval bases and q
boat nests if they pass into un-
friendly hands.
Demands Indemnity.
We believe we ought to have an
indemnity We helped beat Ger
many. who fully forced the war.
thereby saddling US. a country with
only 100000 inhabitants, with a
war debt which is a most frightful
handicap to a new people like our
selves. If America had been so bur-
dened in the first days Of her in
dependence. she would have been
unable 10 make headway. Germany
ought to pay indemnities TO the ut
most of her ability, Australia shar-
ing in proportion 10 the part she
took in the war.
We believe in the league Of ma
tions. but we must not impair the
nations right of free government
and though the league would be a
valuab Die instrument TO maintain
world peace. we must keep our pow
der dry
y don't know precisely what
freedom of the seas means, but
Australia is surrounded by a coast
line 1900 miles long-as long as
the distance from Australia 10 Eng
land--and We are unable 70 protect
this ourselves: therefore we must
depend on Britain 10 oppose any
p1au n king her naval crrDrav,a ~