South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-19
AUSTRALIA To
MAKE DEMANDS
ON CONFERENCE
Premier Hughes Asserts His
Country Has Won Right to
Present Its Own Pro-
gram For Peace.
BY JOHN DHGANDT.

By United Press:
PARIS. Jan. 18.-Australia, as
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 II won its
independence on the battlefield. and
politically IL stands now where tho
United States stood at the end Of
the Revolution. II is in 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 new era, the premier
believes. il is taken 10 mean that
the world recognizes Australia.
Canada. South Africa, New Zealand
and India as autonomous nations.
tied only by sentiment TO the moth
erland.
Our fighting records surpass that
OF any 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 annOr1ced Australia
would demand:
Indemnities: the islands OF New
Guinea; a league Of nations with
certain restrictions; military support
to Poland IL that country is threat
ened; a hearing on all questions
concerning Europe or the far east.
Australia. he declared. would OPP
pose:
Freedom or the seas, If that
means taking Britain's supremacy
from her.
Any restrictions on the right OF
making whatever economic arrange
ments she rieases.
Further intervention in Russia.
Has Won Liberty.
Australia" said Hughes. feels
that she stands politically today
States stood at the end Of the Rev
olrtion. 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 $50. 600 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
policy or a white Australia. We
do not want promiscuous immigra-
tion We are white nation in a sea
OF blacks. We must have the New
Guinea islands. They are full Of pos
sIbilities for naval bases and u
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 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 TO make Roadway. Germany
ought 10 pay indemnities 20 the ut
most of her ability. Australia shar-
ing in proportion 20 the part she
took in the war.
We believe in the league OF ma
tons but we must not impair the
nations right OF free government
and though the league would be n
valuable instrument 20 maintain
world peace, we must keep our pow
der dry
Il 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 TO Eng
laud-and we are unable 10 protect
this ourselves; therefore we must
depend on Britain TO oppose any
plan taking her naval supremacy"