ANGLO-FRENCH DISPUTE

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 July 1924, Page 5

ANGLO-FRENCH DISPUTE

“STORM IN TEA CUP.”

MR MACDONALD DETERMINED. (Reuter.) LONDON, July 8. Mr MacDonald’s decision tp. pay an immediate visit to Paris has produced a remarkable change in the public tone, and.hfi has dispelled an increasing wave of pessimism. The visit is regarded as a rebuke to the unscrupulous anti-Herriot campaign. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Paris correspondent says: Mr McDonald’s decision has created something of a sensation in political circles, and it is taken as proof of the importance which he attaches to removing, without delay, all Anglo-French misunderstandings prior to the Allied Conference in London this month. It has had .the immediate effect of postponing -an attack regarding foreign affairs on the French Cabinet, which M. Poincare had planned to lead in the Senate on Tuesday. _ “Le Temps” says: In France~as in England, the people like those who take personal trouble. The public will, therefore, cordially welcome Mr NacDonald. May he quickly reach an understanding witn iff Herrwt m the search for an equitable agreement for the security of the application of the Dawes report. In the House of Commons, Mr MacDonald said that he was not going to allow, if he could help it, any mischief maker on either side of the Channel destroy the prospects of an AngloFrench settlement. It ivas rou horrible to contemplate the charge that the British Government was trying to abolish the Reparations Commission. He hoped if an agreement could be reached on the experts’ report, that it could be supplemented by an interAllied agreement. Then, in >f wilful default by Germany^*after she accepted the experts’ report, the Allies should 4 stand shoulder to shoulder in pressing her responsibilities upon her; but who was going to decide in respect to the experts’ renort, whether Germany was wilfuliy'uefaulting or not. Any agreement would be additional to, and not a substitution for. anything proposed in the Versailles Treaty. He emphasised that Belgium, Italy and Japan were aIT satisfied at the form of the Tnvitation, and declared the complaint against it was made for purposes which required further explanation. The whole affair was a mere storm in a teacup. - MR MACDONALD ILL. •' LONDON, July 8. Mr MacDonald prior to departing for Paris, said that the visit must be taken as an indication of his desire to see a settlement of Anglo-French relations, and remove all misunderstanding. This was more particularly so in view that he was suffering from severe bronchitis. The duration of the visit will depend on circuinstances, but he hopes to return by Thursday.

GERMAN AERIAL CONCESSION.

(Sun Cable.)

LONDON, July 8. Germany has lifted the flying ban until September 30. Tlie “Daily Sketch” says the Germans are probably hoping that Britain, in return, will se p ure a modification of the Versailles Treaty.