REPARATION ISSUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18169, 15 August 1922, Page 7

REPARATION ISSUE.

gjjFPEiEMENT RECEDES.

DIFFERENCES TOO WIDE.

COMPROMISE ONLY LIKELY.

A NGEK IN FRENCH PRESS.

ATTACKS ON LLOYD GEORGE. £, JWesrauh— Praia Association— Copyright (Received 8.5 p.m.) il. and N.Z. LONDON. Aug. 13. The Daily Mail, commenting on the reparation issue at the London Conferonco, says that the differences at the moment seem 100 wide for settlement. There is a general feeling that the conference will break down, but Mr. Lloyd Georire, it is understood, intends to make supreme effort to reach a settlement. The Sunday newspapers, drawing inspiration from Government circles, agree that the Allied Conference is going to . iifc o its predecessors, in a temponsL' compromise, adding that the fault Jfo bo with France, because French Statesmen refuse to faoo realities. The Pari? press is swinging hke a pendulum and has wrain become pessimistic. The Eclair declares that M. Poincaro iaa been subjected in London to rude trials to which Fiance considers that an end should bo put. The Figaro sarcastically asks: "Does one say now that British experts propose B two-year moratorium: Why not a complete remission of the German debt?" The same newspaper alleges bad faith. The most amusing feature of the comment is frenzied criticism of Mr. Lloyd George's departure to play golf. The Journal does not understand why at a critical moment Mr. Lloyd George goes into the country leaving two Prime Ministers .and half a dozen others "in the jug,' or as we should say, "in the BOT*p." The Matin explains that Mr. Lloyd George, having signed a contract for £90,000 for a book on the war, serenely leaves for his usual week-end. The' Journal des Debats compares Mr. Lloyd' George with Jupiter or Zeus and wonders whether he is not as capricious as Homer's amorous Zeus. Other journals refer to the "insult to France," and describe Mr. Lloyd George U » cad. The London correspondent of the Matin BUggeste that in spite of the unanimity of liie British Cabinet, its policy may not be endorsed by English publio opinion. Tbo task upon France is a big one. If her negotiators' leave London on Monday without reaping the fruits of their patience, however painful such a necessity, it will be better than living in a state of uncertainty. The-'Petit Parisien says that the attitude of the British Government has produced a painful impresr-ion on friends of England. The Petit Jonmal remarks: "We were never so near rupture."

GERMAN NOTE TO FRANCE. PROTEST AGAINST COERCION. "VIOLATION OF TREATIES. •JL and N.Z. BERLIN. Aug. 13. The German Koto to France expresses tha opinion that, the proposed Trench meascrea regarding clearing house payments cannot be based on the Versailles Tnsty-or any supplementary agreement. Moreorer, it is not supported by international law. The Note declares that Prance's resort to coercive measures without awaiting the payment date violates the existing treaties and constitutes a grave injustice. The German Government solaria that the matter should be submitted to international arbitration if France persists in her attitude.

A second Note strongly protests against the expulsions from Alsace-Lorraine, and Aiclares that the amount of money allowed tie deportees was so small as to leave tbem beggars in the streets.