FRENCH RESPONSIBILITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18317, 6 February 1923, Page 7

FRENCH RESPONSIBILITY.

POINCARE'S NOTE BLAMED.

LONDON PRESS OPINIONS.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 6.4 p.m.) ' LONDON, Feb. I The diplomatic correspondent of the , Daily Chronicle returns to the old question of French responsibility for the im- ; passe at Lausanne. He writes: "With- ' out unfairness or prejudice blame for the :•.•:breakdown can be attributed mainly to, Sii- «. care's unfortunate and mis- | H cevou last-hour intervention. But j /.'.?' there French power for mischief possibly | •\ *"l be exhausted. The French have. nothing more to offer, and her power of; Japing the Turks 33 exhausted. Britain 1 : *** much to offer in peace or war. ' Ii Turks want peace, Britain ia the* sole *■* with money and political power .to■life . " ■ • '

assist : them to their feet. j If they want ■war,. Britain alone: has:: power of life" or death over Turkey. 'J All this ' is known to the Turks. ; Their object, it may he presumed,; is a separate peace with '• Britain." •■ The Daily Express comments i "It is ridiculous to imagine that wo shall use the British Navy or recall to the trenches men of the British race'in order to change the complexion of the Turkish judicature. This will only happen if the Turks are mad enough to attack British troops, and there is no reason to • believe that they are mad enough for that." ' The Times, in a leader dealing primarily with the confusion raised by the mystery of the French Notes to the Angora Government, examines th» advantages of Anglo-French unity, and concludes: "It is very natural that the British people should wish to know the real motive of the Power with whom we have been.accustomed in late years closely to cooperate. We are accustomed to regard treaties as binding and plighted word as a contract that cannot be lightly ignored at the convenience of either party. The French aro pursuing in the Ruhr a policy that inspires Britain with tho greatest alarm as. to the future of Europe and the world. Th» French Government, knowing that Britain entirely disapproves, invokes the sanctions under a treaty that was the product of joint efforts of all tho Powers who were allies in the war. The French have aroused in Germany a spirit of resistance, and a reckless disregard of all obligations, and have imposed a peace treaty which seems likely to throw the whole work of peace into complete confusion. • .- ;...-.,, ...... ■; ~•.;-.;' "Wo have no part in this, yet we must bear the, consequences. The tradition of close relationship with France, and especially vivid memories of comradeship in tho war, will still prevent many people in England from perceiving the full consequences to ourselves and the world of the headstrong action of France. If, however, the French Government, in blind infatuation for some obscure schemes of its own, goes so far as to wreck the hope of peace in the Near East, encouraged by the labours of the Lausanne Conference, then the people of this country will begin to feel that, for all practical purposes, the Entente is ended." General Sir Charles Townshcim, in an interview published in the Westminster Gazette, describes the agitation concerning the Gallipoli graves as an unworthy effort to excite the British public. He does not know what Lord Gurzbn , imagines the Turks will do regarding the I graves, but he points out that the British j cemetery at Haidar Pasha, opposite Coni stantinople, where lie many of our i Crimean dead, was well kept by the , Turks in the late great war. .