M. POINCARE’S POLICY

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 July 1923, Page 5

M. POINCARE’S POLICY

REPLY TO MR. L. GEORGE. “A MISCHIEVOUS COMPARISON.” (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) PARIS, July 22. M. Poincare, at the unveiling of a war monument at Viliiers-Cotercts, replied to Mr. Lloyd George’s recent criticism in the House of Commons of the French prograinme. M. Poincare referred to the Germans’ systematic obstruction of the French efforts to repair the war’s ravages, and said: ‘‘This is the moment chosen by an eminent statesman, the former Prime Minister of an Allied country to seek to create a mischievous comparison between France and Germany, and to characterise as amusing the fact that, while France has been spending so much monej 7 in repairing the devastated regions, she was complaining of the extravagant expenditure by the Berlin Government. All this might be veTy amusing for Mr. Lloyd George, but it is saddening, and even‘intolerable for France.” M. Poincare said he wished all the Allies had gone to the Ruhr with France. They would have understood better the real danger of to-morrow He drew a graphic picture of the tremendous industrial organisation wliich the Germans had built up in the Ruhr. This organisation was substituting itself more and more for the State, which it was enveloping, dominating and annihilating.. It was the master of the Press and of the Government. It subjected the German Republic to a domination more powerful than that of the junkers. Against this danger, England, Belgium, Italy and France must unite. It would not be difficult to supply the Allied Governments with a basis for instructive comparisons and grounds for an equitable decision. It would be sufficient for them to visit the Aisne department and then pay a visit to the Ruhr. It-would not demand the aid of financial experts to enable them to make comparisons. M. Poincare did not refer to the British Note. BRESLAU FOOD RIOTS. BERLIN, July 22. Messages from Breslau state that for several hours the Silesian capital was in the hands of a mob which was looting the cafes and shops. The police were ordered to delay the use of arms as long as possible, but finally the streets were cleared by them with carbines and sabres. About 150 people were injured in various degrees. Over 1000 arrests were made though most were soon released. The Socialistic Federation of Trade Unions offered its help to the police to restore order, and its assistance was accepted. The cause of the riots was the rise in prices, which has been so rapid recently that the new scale of payment provides for a 270 per cent, increase on the wages prevailing in June. • EX-CROWN PRINCE. BERLIN, July 22. Petitions are being prepared for presentation to the Reichstag playing that permission be granted to the former Crown Prince to return to Geimany and stand as a candidate foi the Presidency of the Republic. ER ANCO-BELGIAN MEETING. PARIS, July 23. It is expected that President Poincare and M. Theunis will meet at the end of the week and that an effort will be made to answer the British Note before August 3.