THE FOREIGN SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 11, 8 October 1923, Page 7

THE FOREIGN SITUATION

REVIEWED BY LORD CURZON THE RUHR VICTORY AND DISRUPTION IN GERMANY BRITAIN’S NEAR EAST POLICY DEFENDED Lord Curzon, in his review of the foreign situation, said Britain awaited the next proposals from France, and Avas ready to discuss them in a friendly spirit. The Government, he said, thought the time had come for discussion between the Allies. He declared that no sane person expected that Germany would be able to pay the sum fixed by the Reparations Commission. Lord Curzon vigorously defended the British policy in the Near East, and declared that Britain alone saved the situation in the crisis after the Turkish .victory over Greece, and prevented the invasion of Europe.

By Telegraph.—Press Association,

London, October 5. Lord Curzon occupied a three hours’ sitting of the Imperial Conference this morning in reviewing the foreign situation throughout the. world. The greater part of his statement was ne- , cessarily confidential, as it supplemented a written communication on the past two years by giving the delegates orally the inner history of that period and explaining the springs of the British policy since 1921. It was decided that certain parts or , the speech, relating to matters of urgent importance, should be published verbally. Later in the day it was pointed out that this would be a departure from the procedure at all previous conferences. .In the the Conference continued tile discussion of matters for the facilitating of Empire trade.—Reutm. (Rec. October 7. 11.5 n.m.) London, October 6. Lord Curzon in his speech said: “We welcome our allies’ victory in the Ruhr, if a victory it is.’’ But he pointed out that, as the British Government had anticipated, this produced the beginnings of internal disruption in Germany., This disruption was not merely an ominous symptom, but had a portentous economic significance, as it meant the ultimate disappearance of the debtor himsedf. Lord Curzon added that Britain awaited the expected next proposals fropi France. Britain was quite ready to receive and discuss in a friendly spirit the measures France now proposed to take. He stressed the British right io be consulted, and expressed the opinion that the German surrender should have been made three months ago; but ho euspected that no German Government at that time could have survived a surrender. It was at present uncertain whether Herr Stresemann, who had the courage and wisdom to take this step, would survive. Were we. however, any nearer a settlement? Would reparations begin to flow in? TIME COME FOR DISCUSSION. Lord Curzon intimated. that the Government thought the time for discussion between the Allies had come. He said he had not concealed the British view in conversations with tho French Ambassador, and it had the approval of Mr. Baldwin, who recently did so much by his visit to Paris to recreate a friendly atmosphere after the rather heated discharge of,rival guns. The -German Government was, so far as he could gather, sincere in its intentions and had taken the steps required. “Though it may be too much to expect that the abandonment of resistance will be followed instantly by enthusiastic co-operation, our position at Cologne gives us the right to be consulted in any local arrangement that may be proposed, and that position' wo have no intention of abandoning. /Our reparation claim, willing as wofliave been to pare it down in the interests of settlement, renders it impossible that any such settlement could be reached without our co-operation. Our stake in the economic recovery of Europe, which in some respects affects us more than Germany’s immediate neighbour, makes us long for a peaceful issue, and we have already shown willingness to contribute to that issue by unexampled concessions.” . GERMANY'S ABILITY TO PAY. Lord Curzon, earlier in his speech, said no sane nerson ever expected Germanv would be able to fully pay the 6(500 millions fixen by the Reparations Commission. He said it could not be denied that the sanguine expectations with which the Ruhr occupation was begun had been largely falsified by the results. The Government more than onco indicated its willingness to discuss security with the French Government, if security was in tifcir minds. _ He declared that after the last FrancoBelgian replies our capacity of ii*cful Intervention wa& manifestly exhausted. THE LAUSANNE TREATY, In the only other part of the speech published. Lord Curzon vigorously defended the British policv in the Near yjssE. and said the Lausanne Tieaty was not such as it might have been had the Powers maintained a united front on all points, but was the best obtainable in the circumstances. Ho sketched his efforts to end tho illTuored and ill-fated Turco-Greek hostilities. and said the task was not rendered easier bv tho Franklin-Bouillon agreement which encouraged Turkish pretensions. Britain alone saved the situation in the, crisis after the Turkish victory over Greece, and prevented the invasion of Europe. Ho claimed that the solution regarding the Straits was eminently favouraole to British Imperial interests, and thought that tho final restoration of peace in the Near East, the freedom of the Straits, and tho liberation of the entire block of Arab countries enhanced the prestige of Britain in Turkev. Altogether the anneasement in all Moslem countries sufficiently justified the British labours at Lausanne. A rerv heavy task awaited Turkev. He was of opinion that she would experience great disilhisionments and many disappointments and that some of tho fr.nits she claimed to have garnered, would turn out to be Dead Sea apples in her mouth. But in making the great experiment she started with a complete absence of resentment on our part and a sincere expression yf our good will. lord Curzon remarked that when the Turks realised that he would break up the v conference sooner than cede the point relative to the transfer safeguarding

the sacred soil of Gallipoli, which was stained with the blood of his. fellowsubiects from all parts.of the vide Empire. and where their bodies lay, they gave wav.—Reuter. BRITAIN’S ONLY WAY OUT; DRAW CLEAR OF EUROPE AND TURN ENERGIES TO DOMINIONS (Rec. October 7, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 6 The “Daily Express,” in an editorial comment, says Lord Curzon's reference to the Ruhr is only a re-statement of the British position made on August 11. The result “is merely to publish to the world the fact that Britain has up settled policy and that her Ministers speak with different-voices as occasions demand. First, we have the British Note of August 11. then the Baldwin communique after the Paris interview, then Lord Curzon’s reassertion of the August Note. We have little sympathy with the French viewpoint and none with the German. Lord Curzon leaves us exactly where wo were, in a dickens of a mess. There is onlv one way out, namely, to draw clear of Europe and turn our energies to the Dominions, colonies, India, and Egypt. Thus we should find work for the workless and safety for the State.” -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. • z THE FIRST WEEK’S WORK BATTLE REGARDING PUBLICITY (Rec. October 7, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 6. The first week’s work of the Imperial Conference has been devoted to laving the foundations for the main discussions. All the Imperial delegates have been examining Lord Curzon’s expose during the week-end. and it is anticipated that Monday will be devoted to speeches in reply, when it is an open secret there will be no little searching of heart. It is impossible, however, for the general public to follow the discussions, as the most important parts of them will not see the light of day. One of the features of the first week was a'notable battle behind the scenes in the interests of publicity, while the methods of secrecy found a doughty champion in Mr. Baldwin. It is believed that the fight will be continued to the very eve of Lord Curzon’s statement, but open methods carried the day. There is still some fear by Dominion delegates that the publicity conceded may not be in accord-with their hopes and desires. Probablv more will be heard of the question.—Reuter. MESSAGE FROM THE KING CONFERENCE THANKED FOR ADDRESSES London, October 5. Mr. Baldwin communicated a message from the King thanking the Empire Premiers in generous tmms for their addresses on the occasion of the opening of the Conference, and trusting that their deliberations would lead to a solution of many grave problems, the settlement of which is so necessary to the Commonwealth of' British nations. —Reuter. ARRIVAL OF MR. BRUCE London, October 5. Mr. Bruce has arrived at Dover. — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. EMPIRE SETTLEMENT DISAPPOINTING RESULTS DISCUSSION AT ECONOMIC CONFERENCE (Rec. .October 7. 11.50 p.m.) I London, October 6. At the Economic Conference Colonel Buckley in a speech regretted that the results of the working of the Empire Settlement Act were disappointing. Tho number of assisted emigrants to September 30 was infinitesimal compared with the needs of the movement; 23,479 had gone to Australia, 4502 to New Zealand, and 3851 to Canada. Our actual cash commitments under the Act were £305,000 to Australia, £32,000 to Canada, £45,000 to New Zealand, a total of £382,000, as against the authorisation of £1,500,000 to March 31 last. It was impossible to rely on improvement in 1924. The Conference must consider whether the causes of the meagre results were economic, poli-

tical. or physchological. The fault was not with tho various Governments concerned, who paid close attention to the problem. He mentioned, that Sir William Wyndham’s last letter doubted whether the migration to Australia in 1924 would exceed 50,000. Colonel Buckley said he understood that New Zealand was not likely conspicuously to increase her absorption of migrants in 1924, and the same appeared: to apply to Canada. In course of discussion, the Canadian Minister, Mr. Graham, said the results of tho Act in Canada were satisfactory. The number of British immigrants had increased 100 per cent., and the first four months of 1923 compared with 1922. 1 Mr. Massey and Sir James. Allen drew attention to the comparative lack of land, for settlement in New Zealand, and hoped the full quota would be reached under the nominated scheme, which was sound The movement must be quickened without forcing the pace beyond the limits of economic possibilities. Perhaps the primary obstacle to rapid expansion was economic. Bad trade at home and overseas tdversely affected ipigration. Further more, political extremists exploited the cases of failure, while there was the psychological viewpoint, and many feared to leave tbeir homes. They suggested that their confreres in committee should vigorously scrutinise the question of the improvement of selection and the recruitment of migrants, and their reposition and training overseas, and suggested tho extension of group settlements. They emphasised that the times were peculiarly ant for ciicourag--ing the migration of juveniles and women, giving opportunities to the products of the public schools.—Reuter. TERRITORIAL LIMITS QUESTION EXPECTED SUBMISSION TO CONFERENCE London, October 5. It is believed that the question of the limit of territorial waters, which has been under discusion between Br» tain and the United States, Ims been submitted to the Imperial Conference in order to enable the Dominion Premiers to express their views before a definite decision is reached. Wellinformed people do not entirely rule out the possibility of the British Government agreeing to the twelve-mile limit proposed by Mr. C E. Hughes, Secretary of State for America—Reuter. [Mr. Hughes proposed that the three-mile limit be extended to twelve miles, with a view to preventing liquor smuggling.! SINGAPORE BASE THE INTENTIONS OF CONFERENCE London, October 5. It is umlerstood that when the British Government submits the Singapore proposals the Imperial Conference does not intend to suggest that the Dominions should give financial assi-tnace, but that they should contribute services and materials ’for the construction. —Sydney “Sun” Cable.