THE OLIVE BRANCH

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 June 1927, Page 7

THE OLIVE BRANCH

■W*" 1 HERR STRESEMANN’S REPLY TO M. POINCARE’S SPEECH i — (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (By Cable —Press Assn.—Copyright./ BERLIN, June 23. “I ask France whether the spirit of war is to stay for ever, or whether the spirit of peace will prevail? All the nations desiring peace have the right to ask this question, as all bear responsibility,” said Herr Stresemann (German Foreign Minister) in. the Reichstag when replying to M. Poincare’s recent speech at Luneville on June 19. He continued: “M. Poincare’s policy must be either that of Ruhr or Locarno. It cannot be both. Germany is ready to grasp a hand stretched’ out in a spirit of conciliation, but not the hand that a conqueror offers. No responsible German would be sufficiently criminal to instigate war against the Powers of either the East or the West. The present German Government has repudiated the idea

of revenge. It only now wants the restoration of German sovereignty. The settlement of Franco-German, relations will not become nearer by digging up ancient history. M. Poincare’s references to France’s desire for good relations will find a strong echo in Germany.” Herr Stresemann pointed out that M. Poincare’s reproach because Germany possessed a warship named “Alsace” was incomprehensible, as that vessel was built in 1903, and she had been specifically left to Germany by the Versailles Treaty. Germany had disarmed to a state of nakedness. Out of the hundred questions relating to the military clauses of the Versailles Treaty, only two were now unsettled. This, with the Locarno reduction of the troops in the Rhineland, was not a proof of French goodwill to Germany, but was a fulfilment of the Locarno Treaty. If France’s promise were not kept, there was danger that other promises would not be fulfilled. It was a question of the honesty of the co-signatories. Germany could not wait till German public opinion had lost patience on that matter. He added that no effort had been made at Geneva to persuade Germany to act against Russia. Germany could not co-operate with other Powers in their disputes with the Soviet. Herr Stresemann expressed his confidence that Germany would in September be given a seat on the Mandates Commission, in accordance with the decision of the League Council.

GERMAN CABINET’S VIEWS. LONDON, June 23. The Berlin correspondent of the “Times” says:—Herr Stresemann’s speech, to a greater degree than usual, was the prepared utterance of the German Cabinet, rather than the. personal views of the Foreign Minister) Herr Stresemann previously had lengthily conferred with the Coalition Parties, resulting in Dr. Haas, the Centrist Party’s Leader, reading a joint declaration, expressing disappointment at the standstill in the Locarno policy, and adding that if M. Poincare’s speech dominated French policy, the hopes of 'Franco-German co-operation must be abandoned, and the work of Locarno would collapse. MANDATES COMMISSION. LONDON, June 24. It is learned at Geneva that Germany’s application for membership of the League Mandates Commission will not arise till September. Theoretically Germany has an equal right with any other member of the League to a seat on the Commission, but in actual practice the Assembly, on the Council’s recommendation, has nominated a small Commission, giving preference to countries operating mandates. Sir. J. Cook reported to the Commission to-day regarding New Guinea. He was closely examined by the Commissioners regarding finance, and was able to satisfy them completely. The Commission paid a tribute to Australia’s public health efforts in New Guinea and to the manner in which the reports were presented. Sir J. Cook reported the appointment of the Hon. Peter MacGregor as a Royal Commissioner to report on the goldfields of New Guinea.