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Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 185, 4 August 1923, Page 7

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OPINIONS OF STATESMEN. SOLUTION HO NEARER. ALLIES COMMON END. 3y Csl>le.-Press Association — CopynsM.) ' <\ LONDON". Auguet J. The Prime Minister. Mr. Stanley Baldin, in the House of Commons, made a atement on the Ruhr situation similar p ) that made by Lord Curzon in the F ouse of Lords. 0 Mr. Ramsay MacDoiuUih Leader of |s< ip Labour party, expressed profound | iesetisfaction with the replies from Id ranee and Belpium. However, there p as one point of satisfaction that the o overnment at last wan determined to a svise and pursue a policy of its own. si c urged Mr. Baldwin to give a definite isurance t hat he would call the House | B >gether if circumstances arose. The •. ("I rst point in the new departure was to ■ B ad all secrecy. We had nothing to hide C, rto be ashamed of. It was clear that ir> ranee wag not in the Ruhr for repara- | w one, but her policy was prompted by j n arlike feelings. She was not satisfied jt: ith the result of the war. It was an ! t ttempt to continue the war after for- ■■ P ial peace was declared. He contended t ritain was economically far more deleted then France. The first thing to s o wa» to come to a settlement -with a ranee and the other Allies regarding | C ac inter-Allied debt. : 1: Mr. Aueten Chamberlain deprecated o be suggestion that we should rank our- ! ( •lyes definitely on the side of Germany, j 11 "hat would be a grave decision. The | enevolent passive attitude to the |ii Vench promieed by Mr. Bonar Law had 11 iren way to an active attitude, but '. p hie had made our relations no better, i n nd had brought the solution no nearer, j r ince January there had been a danger- , a ua change in the European situation. ■ c Tie French and British Governments ] v ad drifted steadily further apart. This j s oliey, while it failed to restrain France, t liled to secure relief from Germany: it i r ncouraged her. i Mr. H. H. Asquith asked for a more I xplicit etatement of the Government's ; f ropoeal. He said he suspended judg- j i lent thereon because he -was satisfied t hat if they were to get general unanl- t aity in the future from the people of i his country it could only be by the t Vovernment taking the Home and count ry completely into its confidence. Mr. Baldwin, replying, said the Gov- I rnment regarded the Ruhr policy a« ' iot well calculated to achieve the Allies' ' ommon end. France regarded it as a * rood method, and wan perfectly honest. : iTiere was a genuine difference of opinion. ' ioth agreed on securing adequate re- - larations as soon as possible. It would ' ie a long time before Germany's financial ystem could be restored. If it col- '. apeed Germany would sign anything and tefault again. Feeling this, the British ndeavour to secure a quick final setlement. If Germany was to prosper md pay adequate reparations she must tave an export trade. If the British ; >eople should feel that the wounds of , iurope were being kept open instead if being healed there might easily ensue , he last thing in the world they would ike to see, namely, estrangement be- ; ;ween the people and those taking the • jpposite view. He hoped and believed lothing of that kind would happen. Mr. D. Lloyd George declared that the 3ovemment adopted the proposal six months too late. Before the House met igain on* of two thing* might have hap pened—the collapue or the capitulation nf Germany. What was the Govern ments policy in the face of either r>f these alternatives! If Germany collapsed. France would be in possesMOTi of the Ruhr. The Government should tmvr taken the House and the country more into its confidence regarding future proposals. The Government knew perfectly well what the French policy was, and it was perfectly clear France intended to : adhere to it until the last farthing was paid. We allowed France to po to the , Ruhr alone, and practically said to her, "We hope yon will succeed." Vow we j were trying to go back on that policy, j We could not do that. 1 Replying to a Labour interjection that j he had cheated the position. Mr. Lloyd j George declared that he did n«t. During the whole time he w»» responsible France ! wan kept out of the Ruhr. — (A. and j X.Z. Cable.)