THE SILESIAN QUESTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17844, 27 July 1921, Page 7

THE SILESIAN QUESTION.

I SUPREME COUNCIL TO MEET ■ DESPATCH OF MORE TROOPS. DISAPPROVAL BY BRITAIN. By Telegraph.—Press Association—Copyright. (Kecei-red 11.30 p.m.) • A. and N.Z. LONDON, July 25. The Paris correspondent of the Morn--1 ing Post states that the French Govern- ' ment has agreed to a meeting of the Suprema Council on August 4, for the pur- • pose of considering the Upper SUesian f question. It is understood that the date i has been approved by the British Govern- ! ment. 1 A report published in Paris stated that Britain had notified France of her willing • ness to agree, with all reserve, to the > despatch by France of a division of troops ' to reinforce the Allied forces in Silesia. ■ Britain's reply was believed to have been > influenced by Germany's Note declaring that the request for transport facilities for I reinforcements should be made by all the three Allied Powers. I Official circles In London deny the French statement. Britain insists that ; such a step is unnecessary in view of the early suggested meeting of the Supreme ; Council, when the point can be discussed. Silesia is becoming the storm centre of Europe as the time to apply the results of the plebiscite draws nearer, wrote the i London correspondent of the Sydney Sun, > last week. Britain and France hava not ; yef agreed to the procedure. The Ger mans in Silesia hope to curry favour with the British by favourable manifestations, whereas the French everywhere are re- ; ceived -with bitter hostility. In several i instances French troops have been attacked , while searching for arms, and the Germans have raised the cry, "Throw the foreigners out!" The owner of the principal restaurant at Krappitz, near Ratibor, refused to serve French officers until their machine guns were placed in the market place. The Germans retaliated by hoisting the German flag and singing *■ Deutschland Über Alles." Finally the police came into collision with the French, and only AngloItalian intervention prevented an extension of the conflict. On the other hand, the Poles receive the French with flowers and song, which, the Germans say, is stagemanaged by the French. Britain favours fixing the boundaries at the earliest possible moment. It was hoped to reassemble the Supreme Council at Boulogne this month, but France raised objections. France argues that while the matter ought to be settled without- delay, the Allies are not taking precautions to enforce decisions. It is a certainty that the Germans are ready to fly to arms if the decision is against them. Thousands of trained troops are lying low with an abundance of arms hidden. France pleads that this is likely to mean a new war and that the Allies are in duty bound to send reinforcements. Hence the drastio step is contemplated of sending a division on her own account.