A KINDLY TONE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17985, 31 January 1924, Page 9

A KINDLY TONE.

LETTERS EXCHANGED.

BETWEEN BRITAIN AND

FRANCE.

MR MACDONALD'S OVERTURES

[hi a.2'^7, —raEss association copteigei. AND K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.

January 30th, 8.25 p.m.)

LONDON, January 29.

A political observer writing in tho "Daily Telegraph" reveals

' *■'■■■-• Mr Mac Donald, as soon i .t: he was installed at tho I Foreign Office, addressed to M. PoinI euro .-i remarkably 6traight-forward letter, in which he did not blink AngloFrench differences, but offered to meet M. Poincare half-way in an attempt to reach a final, complete and clear settlement, expressing readiness to discuss all outstanding questions. The "Daily Telegraph" adds that M. Poincare's reply was awaited with some anxiety, because it is not the first timo that a British Prime Minister has ttretched out his hand for a friendly grasp. Fortunately, M. Poincare replied in tho same kindly tone as j-r Mac Donald. Unliko the rank and file of the Labour Party, Mr Mac Donald has a good understanding of France's difficulties. He realised that the withdrawal of Britain and the United States from the pact guaranteeing the security of Franco had caused many of the present international troubles. He was opposed to any attempt to intimidate or isolate France, believing in persuasion instead of isolation. r Mr Mac Donald hopes to gain the French participation in a general movement towards disarmament. PUBLICITY LIKELY. (Australian asti> n.z. cabls associatiob - .) (Received January 30th, 10,655 p.m.) LONDON, January 30. Tho Paria correspondent of the "Daily Telegrapb" says that there is every likelihood that the correspondonce between Mr Mac Donald and M. Poincare will be published. "~ FRANCE ANNOYED. "SCANDALOUS STATEMENTS."

("EBB 755CE3.") (Received January 30th, 10.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 29. The Paris correspondent of "Tho Times" says that Mr Ramsay Mao-* Donald's interview in "Quotidien" has annoyed Franco, judging by newspaper comment, which is not very encouraging.

Some of Mr Mac Donald's statements arc even described as scandalous. The notion that France should take tho initiative in disarmament, and accept as her sole security the admission of Germany into the League of Nations, is treated with ecorn. It is believed that tho French Government proposed to Great Britain that the question of the maintenance of order in the Palatinate and tho security of French troops there should be ■submitted to a conference of Ambassa-» dors. The "Temps'' admits -that the Separatist movements have all been a fiasco, and states that the movement in the Palatinate will apparently be abandoned. BRITAIN'S LOST PRESTIGE. WILL DEEDS FOLLOW WORDS ? LONDON, January 29. Tho Berlin correspondent of "The Times" declares that the smallest indication of the future attitude of Great Britain towards France is eagerly eeized upon. It is not surprising, therefore, that Mr Ramsay * Mac Donald's j "Quotidieh" interview was given great prominence in the Berlin newspapers, especially the declaration that the Ruhr occupation profited nobody, but had sown the seeds of.calamity. It is considered that Mr Mac Donald's remarks do not lack plainness and decision, but uncertainty prevails as to Low far they are likely to represent bis active policy. The "Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung,'' the organ of the big industrialists, says:—"We note the declarations of tho British 'Prime Jtfinister, but the words of British statesmen do not count for much in Europe to-day. The mistrustful world asks with reason whether Mr Mac Donald will follow them up with just as few deeds as did his predecessors."