GREAT WORLD CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 179, 17 April 1923, Page 7

GREAT WORLD CRISIS

THE BRITISH EMPIRE’S PEACEFUL MISSION

POLICY SHOULD BE MADE CLEAR SMUTS ADVISES SPEEDY ACTION

General Smuts says it Is Impossible that tho British Commonwealth should be a mere Indifferent spectator of the rapidly developing crisis in Europe, and advises that it should speak before it is too late and before the passions Of the nations have carried them too far. BY TnLBGEAPn.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. —OoPYBIOHT. Cape Town, April 14. General Smuts, Premier of South Africa, at the City Hall, dealing with the European question, said that it was impossible that the British Commonwealth should be a mere indifferent spectator to the rapidly developing crisis in Europe, where forces were being set; going such as might well end in the ruin of European civilisation. The time was rapidly coming, if it had not already come, when the British Commonwealth might have to define its position in certain eventualities. "Tho Commonwealth.” he said, “still has the position and power to be the main European bulwark of the world’s poaoe. Tlie l League of l\ations in itself is devoid of power, and can only roly on ths full disinterested backing of those having the power and no selfish aims of their own tc serve.” Foremost amongst these, General Smuts continued, was the British Frnpire, tvhose greatest interest was undoubtedly the peace of the world. Its position should be defined and its policy made clear to all the world and freed from nil doubt and misunderstanding. Not in tho jingo spirit, not in the spirit of arrogance and intermeddling, but in sincere and impartial friendship to all, in the spirit of humble but determined loyalty to the great cause of peace, it should speak beforo it was too late, and before the, passions of the nations carried them too far. His view was that never in all its history had the British Empire had a greater opportunity of great human service. "I trust, he declared, “that it will realise the greatness and glory of its peacefu l mission and speak tho great word which, wtih the exception of America, it alone can still speak among the nations of the world.” —Reuter.

FRANCE’S REPARATION DEMANDS

GERMANY NOT ATTEMPTED TO PAY DISCOVERIES IN THE RUHR

Paris, April 15. M. Poincare, in a speech at the unveiling of a monument at Dunkirk tithe fallen soldiers, said that France was seeking to protect her frontiers against fresh aggression. France was the heaviest sufferer by tho war and could not reduce her reparations demands. It was now her duty to win peace. Germany had not attempted to pay reparations, and France haspent hundreds of millions of francs on Germany’s account. France had made three discoveries in the Ruhr — (1) Germany could have delivered the coal she owed, since she was now doing without the Ruhr coal. (2) She could have paid in foreign currency, since she was now using i» to buy goods abroad. (3) Tlie existence of the SchutzPolizi’ei was a disguised military organisation. Had a two years’ moratorium been granted Germany, she would, thereafter. have defied the Allies. France would firmly hold the guarantees she had seized and not surrender them ” exchange for mere promises. Sh" would only withdraw from the Ruhr gradually, as the payments w-ere made. She would patiently complete the task she had begun. Germany would look in vain for any sign of wavering on the part of France. Without violence and provocation France would continue to the end.—Reuter.

FRANCO-BELGIAN CONFERENCE

GERMAN PROMISES NOT TO BE ACCEPTED

Paris, April 15. Tha Franco-Belgian Conference has ended. MAI. Theunis and Jaspar are returning to Bi fissels. An , official communique states that the Conference reaffirmed the Brussels resolution not to accept German promises, and that tho evacuation should be progressive with German payments. The Conference decided that goods and products seized in tha Ruhr should bo taken by France and Belgium as reparations in kind to the extent of their requirements, and the surplus sold and the proceeds handed, after deduction of the expenses of exploitation, to the Reparations Commission. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

NEW REPARATION OFFER

ADVOCATED BY GERMAN SOCIALIST ORGAN

CHANGED FEELINGS IN BERLIN J* London, April 15. The “Daily Telegraph’s’’ Berlnln correspondent says: “Significantly the Socialist official organ is strongly advocating making a new reparation offer. This acceptance by the largest purtv in the Reichstag of the British suggestion is symptomatic of changeci feelings hero. Other parties hold similar views, though hitherto they

would not give them clear public utterance. It is widely hoped that Herr Rosenberg’s speech in the Reichstag to-morrow will indicate a definite step in the direction of settlement.’ Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

GERMANY PREPARED TO NEGOTIATE ON NON-POLITICAL BASIS

London, April 15 “Th© Times” Berlin correspondent says that tbo German Chancellor, Her" Chino, replying to trades union leaders, said that ho would bo prepare to negotiate with the French on a nonpolitical basis, and only on terms o f equality. Meanwhile, the workers m the Ruhr must understand that the" would have to hold out for a considerable time. —“The Times.”