PREMIER AND ENTENTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18087, 11 May 1922, Page 7

PREMIER AND ENTENTE.

TIMES UNREPENTANT.

MESSAGE FROM MR. STEED.

ALLEGATION REPEATED. By Telegraph— Frees Association—Copyright. (Received 7.30 p.m.) Time* LONDON. May 8. Mr. Wickham Steed, the special representative of the Times at Genoa, wires in reference to Mr. Lloyd George's denial of the statement- attributed to him regarding tho Entente: " I have no hesitation in affirming that the substance of Mr. Lloyd George's words to M. Barthou was a a I gave it: also, ho afterwards repeated, the statement- to others. Indeed, ho has repeatedly made analogous or identical statements, both privately and officially, during tho conference. There is no doubt whatever that he clearly gave M. Barthou to understand that inasmuch as Franco preferred Belgian friendship to British, ho (M. Barthou) must not be surprised if Britain regarded tho Entente as ended."

Mr. Steed adds that according to German sources, Mr. Lloyd Georgo urged Dr. Wirth and Herr Rathenau yesterday to influence and persuade the Russians to accept a concerted European document. The Germans used tho opportunity to split the Allies.

The Times asserts that further confirmation of Mr. Lloyd George's alleged statement to M. Barthou comes from Mr. Ward Price, tho correspondent of the Daily Mail at Genoa, who states that M. Barthou gave him a straightforward account of what passed with Mr. Lloyd George, in which M. Barthou affirms that Mr. Lloyd Georgo said, " Wo come to the parting of tho ways."