POINCARE'S POLICY

Evening Star, Issue 18044, 11 August 1922, Page 4

POINCARE'S POLICY

divergent views at conference DEADLOCK THREATENED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright * LONDON, August 9. Mr Llovd Ucorge, M. Poincare, and M. Theunis had a three hours' conversation to-dav, discussing the possibilities. Unfortunately little progress was made. The- presentation late, to-night of the report of the Committee yf Experts, which yvas entirely hostile to M. Poincare's proposals, brought a conference crisis, necessitating the hasty calling of a meeting of Cabinet. This will ho held on Thursday afternoon. There will bo no full meeting of the conference to-morrow. It will meet on Friday instead, after Cabinet has decided its course of action. The experts' report dealt with M. Poincare’s proposals seriatim^with a view to deciding what the cash proposals would produce. This was the only point of view considered. Regarding the proposal that the Allies should establish control of the coal mines and forests, the Italian, Japanese, and British exports agreed that it would produce no cash, and would bo useful only as a sanction. The Belgians, however, supported France on this proposal. Regarding the -suggested establishment of a Customs lino between the occupied area and the rest of Germany, and also around the Ruhr district, all the Allies except France agreed that it would he better to- take over the present normal Customs arrangements at the present frontiers than to nit up Germany by n. fresh Customs line.

Regarding the proposal that lae Allies should take over a 60 per cent, snare of the factories on the left bank of the Rhine, all the Allies except Franco opposed the suggestion, on the ground that the only manner of taking over such a share would bo to compel the Gorman Government to buy out the present proprietors and' hand their shares to the Allies. The German Government cr.uld do that only by printing fresh paper money, the result of which would be to aggravate the currency situation. The experts felt that there could be no real moratorium in remitting the present forms of payment by Germany-,,if thereby they simply imposed other equally onerous forms of payment. The ‘ Daily Telegraph' points out that the position at the conference -.'-as so grave on Tuesday night -.hat M. Xheimis had successive interviews with Mr Lloyd George and M. Poincare an til 1.30 in the morning in an attempt at mediation. After all the delegates had had luncheon together it was announced that the experts .would deliberate again in the evening. M. Poincare seemed determined - to return to Paris with some definite scheme in his pocket relating to the Pi-in-, as the French Parliament had expected and demanded. M. Poincare pointed out that Franco could accept some pledges involving paper marks payments, as she «■ uld use them, for buying German goods.—A. and N.Z. Cable. LLOYD GEORGE’S POSITION. A DEFINITE STATEMENT. LONDON, August 9 Mr Lloyd George, 10-day made it absolutely plain that he was net prepared in the present condition of Europe to embark on any scheme which woiud involve the sending of allied officials to Germany with the risk of causing civil disturbances and probably necessitating the use of military force.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

FRANCE’S LONE HAND

LONDON, August 10.

The 1 Daily Express’s ’ Paris correspondent states that the gloomy dcspuichcs ot the French correspondents accompanying M. Poincare indicate that a rupture between Franco and her Allies is unavoidable. It is believed if this occurs M. Poincare is likely to secure a parliamentary vote of confidence, and thereafter he will instantly execute a scheme of his own devising. ‘Liberie’ suggests that if France acts alono she will get about £24,000.000 from Customs, though Germany will undoubtedly take advantage ot France’s isolation, and the French and Belgian francs and the Italian lire will all depreciate. —A. and N. Cable.

THE FRENCH PRESS. PARIS, August 9. _ Newspapers assert that all France is behind M. Poincare, and express dissatisfaction with the London developments. The ‘Figaro’ says; “France does not want to pay for Great Britain’s mistakes or Germany’s crimes. Air Lloyd George thinks ho ‘is protecting the pence of' Europe- against us, but in reality lie is protecting Germany, not peace. The ‘Eclair’ remarks: “Tho Allies show towards Germany a scrupulousness and consideration which they deny to tneir old ally France.” The ‘.Matin’ and other newspapers charge Air Lloyd George with misquoting the figures of the French war costs at tho initial session of the conference. They declare that ho omitted 140 milliards of francs by missing a page, tho Bankers’ Trust Company’s figures, thus omitting tho cost of tho German invasion. The papers sarcastically refer to tho awkward position of the British Government through being found out in such a colossal error. —A. and N.Z. Cable.

FINANCIAL BAROM ETER,

LONDON, August 9,

Tim Berlin exchange rale is -5,5'f5 marks to tho £, and the Paris rate 55.35 francs to tile £. The declines avo attributed to apprehension regarding the outcome of the conference. —A. and N.Z. Cable.

MAD SPECULATION IN BERLIN

BERLIN, August 9,

The Bourse was the scene of wild speculation in mining ,and industrial shares, which soared 730 points owing to a public gamble, partly tho result of the buying of industrial shares by American, British, and French capitalists, and partly due to the realisation that industrial shares had not advanced in proportion to the fall of the mark.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

THE BRITISH PRESS,-

POINCARE’S ATTITUDE CONDEMNED

MILITARY AUTOCRACY HIS AIM

LONDON, August 10, (Received August 11, at 9.35 a.m.)

Tho ‘ Daily Chronicle ’ says ; If France's object is to get golden eggs instead of killing tho goose, it will ho seen that M Poincare's notion of how to gel them has not stood the scrutiny of four Allied experts. That fact, honestly conveyed to tho French public, ought to “ give thorn to think.” Wo do not know whether M. Poincare will produce alternatives or listen to any from Britain. Ho introduced his proposals in the attitude of a. dictation, with the suggestion that the Allies wore to obey or take the consequences. Wo do not know whether this was done purposely in oj’der to produce a breach, but Britain views, the possibility so gravely that she will not spare any effort (o avoid it. Wc hope that M. Poincare will have the courage to meet these efforts halfway. Tho ‘Morning Post’ says: If the conference breaks up we shall refuse to despair. It is quite clear that the Allies are adopting a procedure which is bound to end in disaster. Britain is too much inclined to approach the problem from a narrow financial standpoint. Tho experts are probably right in doubting the efficiency of the French proposals; but the issue is not financial, it is political. AngloFrench statesmen, ought not to bo wrangling about dye'industries and Rhineland Cuetome, but laying the 'foundation of a great policy of understanding on which Europe can again begin work. Tho ‘Daily News’ says: All the logic of tlKKWorld and all the ferocity Franco can muster will never turn the German people into a nation of slaves. M. Poincare is an intellectual laggard, a ml is behind

tho times in reopening the question of the punishment of Germany, which is out of date and irrelevant. security dependrs not on military pacts with a defunct, and desperate Germany, but on a settled, ordered, and peaceful Europe working without tbo stimulus of fear of oppression, but with confidence in just and stable conditions, and with hope in tbo future. The first practical expression of Allied sincerity in tho cause. - of peace should bo the early and complete withdrawal of the armies of occupation. M■ Poincare proposes a deeper penetration. It is a straight test and a clear issue. Tho ‘Daily Herald’ says: If M. Poincare gels his way, and if the British Cabinet resigns, the control of affairs in Britain, Europe, and the world will go into tho hands of the French Imperialists. Tho present social and economic ruin will become accentuated, and the future of mankind will bo jeopardised. M. Poincare is bent on following Louis XIV. and Napoleon, and on being tho first to establish tho domination of France from tho Baltic to the Black Sea. Whatever Governments may say or do, the peoples of Europe will not submit to tbe replacement of Tsardom and Kaiserism by an autocracy termed by a militarist republic. Tho ‘ Westminster Gaxette ’ says : Tho time lias come when the British Government must refuse- to carry on the pretence of accepting the responsibility for a. policy which it knows is futile. It needs to state its own views clearly and rally to it such European support as may be forthcoming, and refuse all responsibility for tho results if Franco insists on playing a lone hand l . She is acting desperately and unwisely, and is making a disastrous experiment! Wo do not see how the calamity can be averted. Regretfully and firmly wo have to let France learn by experience that she is wrong. The ‘ Daily Express ’ says: Wo agree with Franco that Germany must pay, but wo differ fundamentally on the methods whereby payment maybe enforced. France is obsessed by the German peril. We call it the German bogey. France dreams in terms of militarism. Wo think in terras of trade. The real issue must be faced and the real, test must come.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

LLOYD GEORGE AS PEACEMAKER. LONDON, August 10. (Received August 11, at 11.30 a.m.) Mr Lloyd George remains in close touch with M. Poincare and the other beads of the delegations. It is reported that they are considering a temporary moratorium for Germany over August - 15. Meanwhile the experts will endeavor to prepare another report for submission to a further allied conference at the end of the'month. —A. and N.Z. Cable.