Imperial Conference

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1921, Page 2

Imperial Conference

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. SILESIAN BOUNDARY PROBLEM. LONDON, Aug. 9. > The “Daily Chronicle’s” Paris cor- ' respondent says:—An informal dinner talk on Sunday enabled Hon. Lloyd George and M. Briand to create of. easier atmosphere when the Allied Supreme Council assembled on Monday. M. Briand consented to postpone the question of reinforcements. The Council then dealt with the political ‘issue. The first real crux thus became whether Britain, on the one side, is prepared to admit the principle that the industrial triangle in Silesia should he divided, and whether France, on the other hand), is prepared to modify her proposed frontier line, making it just for the whole of Germany. The British unalterable view is that any alignment of the new Polish-German frontier must leave Germany reasonably contented. After the postponement of the reinforcement question, the legal experts were requested to present their viewpoints. The French expert formulated a scheme which gives certain industrial areas to Poland. It was contended this meant reversing the result of the* plebiscite to the exigent of giving seven-elevenths of the population which for .Germany, to Poland. Mr Cecil Hurst then explained the British proposals. Firstly, they were that communes must be allotted accord, ing to the country for which they voted. Secondly, the isolation of communes must be avoided. Thirdly, communes, economically or geograpln ■ ally inseparable, must not he divided. He pointed out the population concerned totalled 2,000,000, being in 1522 communes. There were 678 communes who voted for Poland, and 844 for Germany, or thirteen-thirtieths for Poland, and seventeen-thirtieths for Germany. LLOYD GEORGE DENIES REPORT. PARIS, August 9. Reuter’s Agenicy is authoris'd to state that neither delegation nor Embassy made any statement regarding Lloyd George’s intentions in the natter of going to America. Moreover, Lloyd George has not received American journalists. The “Daily Telegraph” Paris correspondent says: Mr Lloyd George has not informed the journalists that, lie is not going to Washington. T am informed that Lloyd George intends to accept President Harding’s invitation to visit Washington as the official British representative. a

A GARBLED VERSION. 'Received This Day at 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 9. The report that Lloyd George is not going to Washington seems to have emanated from a conversation between Hon Lloyd George and M. Briand. The latter asked if Lloyd George intended to go and Lloyd George replied that .he had not yet been officially invited. not know whether the for Premiers, Foreign Secretaries or , appointed delegates. Hon Lloyd George added that he was not sure If he would be able to go. , The conversation was unofficial and private, hut apparently something leaked out and was subsequently garbled o' misconstrued,