STATEMENT IN BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 29, 3 August 1923, Page 7

STATEMENT IN BRITISH PARLIAMENT

NO MATERIAL FOR A NOTE

PROBLEM CANNdT BE EVADED

FULL PUBLICATION DESIRED.

(mnta pmsi association.—copyright.) I (AUSTRALIAN • HIW ZEALAND CAtLB ASIOCIATIOS.) (Received 3rd August, 10 a.m.) LONDON, 2nd August. ' Viscount Curzon, speaking in the House of Lords, said that the French and Belgian replies to the British proposals did not contain material for sending an Allied answer to the German Note; indeed^ neither reply mentioned the British draft Note which was submitted to them. . The replies appeared to hold no definite prospect of an early alteration in the situation, or the commencement of a discussion on reparations. The British Government firmly held the view that the problem could not be evaded, and while opinions were being exchanged on matters of detail, the European situation, carrying all prospects of reparation payments, might sink info irretrievable ruin. The Government had decided to . lay before Parliament with the least possible delay the papers recording its views and endeavours, and was inviting the Allies to agree to the publication of their papers. The • Government entertained the hope that publication of the documents might .convince the world of the imperative necessity for prompt and united action. Mr. Baldwin's statement in the House of Commons was in the same terms. The Government urged, said Lord , Curzon in the statement, that inter- ! Allied discussions should be opened with- { out delay, whether by conference or ' otherwise, for the purpose of elaborating a comprehensive, general, and final financial settlement. The replies of the Allied Government* had been received, except from Italy, which had not thus far sent a written answej, but had expressed general agreement with the British Government's views. The Government had devoted the most careful and anxious consideration to these replies. " While fully conscious of the friendly language in -which.they were couched, and th ß cordial spirit " which inspired them, said Lord Curron, " I regret that wedid not find in them material for an Allied answer to the German £ ote > wdeed, the draft reply submitted »y the Government is not mentioned in ; ihe French and Belgian replies, nor do the replies appear ,to hold out any benefit^ or prospects, either'of an early alteration in the situation in the Ruhr, nor !ii) the discussion of reparations^ Masjy' f weeks might easily be consumed in a (preliminary interchange of opinions, on the lines now foreshadowed by the [Allies. ' , EUROPE MAY SINK INTO RUIN. " The British Government cannot too often repeat that, while r^jarding the interests of the Allies as bound up with •our own, and while shrinking, as we have done throughout, from any action that might be thought indicative of Allied disunion, it yet holds, firmly the view that the problem cannot be evaded; that while the Allies are exchanging views, the European situation may sink ' into irretrievable ruin. "In these circumstances the Government has decided to lay before Parliament at the earliest opportunity the papers which record its own views and endeavours, and it will invite the Allies „to agree to the publication of their 'Notes or statements which are required •to explain the situation as a whole. "The Government is hopeful that such publication will assist in determining the real dimension of the problem with which the Allies are confronted, and,may convince the world of the imperative necessity for prompt and united ection to deal-with it." OUTLINE OF BRITISH PROPOSALS. After recalling the steps taken on;receipt of the German Note, and' the Government's intention to assume the reipnsibility of a draft reply for submission to the Allies, Lord Curzon said that in this draft the Government expressed the opinion that while nothing inconsistent with the Treaty of Versailles should be done, advantage would be derived From an examination by impartial experts, in co-operation with "the Reparations Gpjnmissjon,'into Germany's capacity for payment. 'As to the question >f German guarantees, the draft pointad out that their economic value must largely depend, on factors which the ,Germap mepiorahdiim had' not mentioned, such, as the stabilisation of the ina-k and th? balancing of the German Budggt, and that ho guarantees would be effective unless provision was made for some xorm of international control of ftie Uerman financial administration.' The ?/¥' termitjatea by advising' Germany it it desired a resumption of the inquiry to withdraw without 'delay the ordinances and decrees which had organised and fomented the policy of passive resistance, and unequivocally to disavow the acts of violence and sabotage which in some capes had accompanied if." The draft expressed the belief that such action M the part of Germany would involve .econsideration by the occupying Powen, of the conditions of their occupation, t»L ¥*A a\ r-6t, Urn to the nol™^ futures of industrial life in the Ruhr In aslnft *» "draft a? ?enfc to the A lies, the British Govern3SL §avt, fuller •explanations 'of its views on these-points "