MYSTERY DEEPENED

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 38, 13 August 1920, Page 7

MYSTERY DEEPENED

MR. LLOYD GEORGE DENIES KNOWLEDGE

"AN UNFORTUNATE MISTAKE."

("EMER'S TZI.EGRAH.-)

LONDON, 11th August. i>y. Lloyd George heightened tlie mystery as regards Pieuter's news from Paris that France had recognised General Wrangel's Government, " and that the rrench. Foreign Office had notified Mr. J-.10.vd George of the decision yesterday, when he told the House of Commons tms afternoon that his only information w.b neuter's telegram, and lie oould (scarcely credit it. He lm,d no confirmation from any'other sourcs than Penter's.

Inquiries in Paris elicited the leply that the nows as given :vt,s official. The action of the Frehch ally ie regarded in London as deliberately, designed to put a.-spoke.into the wheels of peace, which seemed assured in the Near' East, and apparently splits the Allied and i«o. ciated Powers into two camps, namely, France witb the United States opposed to.Britain and It,i!y. One of thp French roasens given for the action is Wrnngel's assufaaoiß, as regards lltiMJa'fi extcnia}

engagements, which is diplomatese for Russian bonds. Anyway, a prominent official to-night emphasised the fact that the British attitude remains as outlined by Mr. Lloyd George last: evening. He possessed no information in regard to the matter, while the Foreign Office was equally in the dark, ako the French Embassy.

The Premier said he could hardly believe the statement wae accurate, because he fully discussed the whole situation " with M. Millerand on Monday, when there was no proposal made to recognise' Wrangel. He assumed that the -.report was inaccurate, because he felt certain M. Millerand would have communicated his intention. /It was well known that France's attitude to\vards' Wransjel was at variance with 'Britain's. The former considered that they were free to sustain Wrangel. Britain did not propose to do so, except in the contingency explained last evening. The Premier concluded that an unfortunate mistake had occurred in a report from a very reliable agency, and that the French Government had not author- '■. ised- it. . ''

Parliament was to haive adjourned for the recess to-morrow, but owing to the European situation the session hae been prolonged. Mr. Lloyd George will make a statement in the House of Commons on Monday. It is expected" thiat the situation will be quickly cleared, up, and that tlie House will then be afole to adjourn for the recess.

Political circles regard the report of France's sudden change of attitude as incredible. The most reliable correspondents emphnsise that M. MOlerand was absent from Paris, and point out. that the statement ■■ published in" the Paris papers was apparently issued by 6ome-' body in the French Foreign Office. It is understood that it refers to the French Government's decision of three weeks ago, since when the circumstances have entirely changed. The actual French policy was outlined at the .Hythe Conference.

, NEW YORK, 11th August. The Polish Minister has issued a state, ment pointing out that the United State?, Note outlining the country's attitude towards Poland was construed to mean an extension of arms, supplies, and munitions to Poland, and declaring that Poland's war was not with the Russian people, but with the Bolsheviks. - >