STRONGER THAN EVER.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 104, 1 May 1920, Page 7

STRONGER THAN EVER.

ANGLO-FRENCH ENTENTE. EFFECT OF RECENT CONGRESS. GERM-ANTS BROKEN BACK. (By Cable. —rrcas Association.—Copyright.) LOXDOX, April 30. In the ITouse of Commons, llr. Lloyd Georgo explained the results of the San Remo Conference. He said that the mis- ; understandings were serious enough, and ■they were made more jsfrave by deliberate fomenting by very reckless persons, but the sky was again clear. All the principals were pleased with the ! outsome, and the Anglo-French allinnce was placed on a firmer basis than over. Tlie French undoubtedly believed that Britain did not intend to enforce the Versailles Treaty, especially in regard to reparation and disarmament. The conference had dispelled all such suspicions. Misunderstandings also arose from suspicions crented by utterances by very powerful persona in France and tbe writings of powerful journalists indicating intentions to use delays in the execution of the treaty for ulterior motives, and the annexation of the llhincland and Herman coal areas was openly advocated. Britain had to make absolutely clear that she would never asrient to any such policy. M. : Millernnd and his associates gave an I assurance thnt the vast majority of Frenchmen were opposed to such a policy equally with Britain. Herman Ministers had been invited to confer with British and French Ministers face to face at Spa. The questions to bo discussed would be first disarmament, ' then reparation, and then the army of - occupation. The real difficulty in getting the terms ' of the treaty carried out was that the Herman Government did not command authority, but the greatest difficulty was dealing with a broken-backed people whose actions were convulsive. It had . command of speech and that was about 'nil. It was essential to obtain tbe'surrender of German guns und aeroplanes and to secure reparations. It was re- , ■ cogniced thnt Germany could not pay at i present, but it was necessary that she i should abandon exasperating evasions of ■ her liabilities. The Allies were eoinpr to | j Spa to make definite proposals. Tbe ■ time limit of four months nfter the Rig- i , j ne.ture of the treaty conceded to Ger-j . many, in which she might submit con- • • Crete proposals for settlement of her i liabilities, bad already lapsed. Mr. Lloyd George emphasised the fact ; that tbe Ruhr dispute was now entirely • cleared up. The Germans had been informed that as soon as their troops in the Ruhr Valley were reduced to the number permitted by the Allies' letter of August 8, the French troops would ; be withdrawn. The statement that j French troops would not be withdrawn ' until Germany was disarmed and certain I other clauses of the treaty enforced was in nowise nccurate. The Germans . had to show that they were grappling | with the problem of carrying out tho) ' terms of the treaty. That was all the j Allies asked. 1 At present the Allies were in most I • j complete accord on all these questions, j " ] Mr. Lloyd George denounced attempts 'j to promote discord, due to personal _ mnlicmity nnd disappointed ambition, ns ; criminal.—(lmperial News, P.A.) I