BRITAIN'S NOTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18458, 23 July 1923, Page 7

BRITAIN'S NOTE.

':;'■ v: Deception in fkance. E {RECEPTION IN FEANCE. FAVOURABLE COIWENT. 'i. - • SCOPE FOR COMPROMISE. iv. CONTENTS . not divulged. '. GERMAN CAPACITY TO FAY. -.; HEW PLAN FOR INQUIRY. By Telegraph—Press Association Copyright. t,',;\-,- (Received 4.5 r».m.) 'A and N.Z. LONDON. July 21. ?,'•'„ The draft of the British Note prepared '*.'"» reply to the last German reparation ' • 'offer was presented to the French Foreign .' Office to-day,, together with a .covering •=;-:'. letter to the Allies and an explanatory' ■^■V>f s memorandum. ~ i M. Poincare, receiving journalists, re- !■ fused to comment on the Note, saying that if France disclosed • • it's contents -''■ Britain would break off negotiations; ''i ' likewise, if Britain disclosed the contents • " France would break off the negotiations. Nevertheless circumstantial'details are in '' circulation. These are mainly on the lines sketched by the diplomatic correspondent '';! of the Daily Telegraph, '•The correspondent says that the draft reply assents in principle to Germany's request for assessment of her capacity to pay by an impartial body of experts, but : ' it carefully omits to specify the composition of. that body. The reply also sug- ::'.., gests that the three types of guarantees 1 1 offered in the German memorandum ■will be • considered without prejudicing the question of their completeness or suffiv; ciency. The reply is not unfavourable to 1 .the German request for a conference with the Allies. It contains no direct con- ■'•/'■■ demnation of passive resictance, bull ex- • presses regret for tie calamities created in : ..the Ruhr situation. The reply is much i.'! shorter • than the memorandum to the i Allies. The correspondent adds that in • preparing the documents the views of |' .- British statesmen outside the Cabinet ' •:. were informally ascertained, particularly % those elder statesmen, whose opinions command confidence at Home and abroad. vi " Legality of the Occupation. The Daily Express understands that the ■"' ( , covering letter expresses the conviction ','"" that it is desirable to appoint an international commission to investigate Germany's capacity to pay reparations, and indicates that Britain is not in a position, '-•;; .to ask the German Government to aban- ; . don passive resistance in the Ruhr, because the British Government believes • that the French occupation is contrary to the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. The letter adds that if France is willing to > ttefyr the question of legality of the ; occupation to The Hague Tribunal and abide •. by its decision, the British Government : ::; would press Germany to abandon passive -, resistance immediately, and would .also ;V abide by the findings of the tribunal. The Paris newspaper, La Liberte, says //; that it would appear that the chief purpose of the British Government is to secure M. Poincare'o adherence by oonces- ,'' ' sons on matters of detail. : i • Hint of American Co-operation. " |? ; The Temps says that thn proposed comf . mittee o:F experts ,to estimate Germany's - capacity to pay reparations is contrary to, . the Versailles. Treaty,' but foreshadows an eventual compromise on the fines that the Reparation . Commission always has the' right to- consult the specialists of- any country ui»n any request by Germany • regarding means of payment The Matin understands that the British ■," Note is regarded as most favourable. The i Note deals, firstly, with the devastated . regions, the necessary rehabilitation of which: would postpone the big European I ;:.'■■'■.■! 'problems .until later. ,The same news- . paper hints that- the United State is disJ„ posed to accept delay for about 10 years i:. • before' asking France :to icj-aj her debt. "' j Britain could only do likewise, provided the United States gave her . relief for a similar period. , ■■'~ . .;■;.vl ,-.

The Paris correspondent of the Sunday Times says that what pleases France is that the British Note is couchea in such term* as to allow for important modifications, leaving the door open for further •xchanges between the two Governments. "ANXIOUSLY PREPARED." STATEMENT BY MINISTER. .' ■ Jipvimlkzi and. N.Z. ; Cab!* Association. ■,'a 9 j£ci.,4.6 p-m.) LONDON. July 22. !: Sir W; Joynson Hides. Financial Secretary of the Treasury, speaking at Crystal.; Palace, described > the British reply to Germany as an anxiously prepared document.; It '.was 'a melancholy thought that nearly four, years aifcer the war, Europe should still be in ; a condition of Bmbuldering . war. The British Government was determined to make Germany pay, but it.could not help realising that until some stability was established in Europe the .trade in the world could never be satisfactory. ; O /■ OPINION IN BRUSSELS. ■•'"•■ ' * FAVOURABLE IMPRESSION. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 4.55 p.m.) BRUSSELS. July 21. The British Note has arrived. Official cbcles maintain silence, bun favourable impressions continue. U.S.A. RECEIVES 'NOTE. , COMMENT WITHHELD. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. *.3 p.m.). WASHINGTON. July 21. The State Department has announced the receipt of the British Note regarding Ruhr, and reparations. Comment is declined. f ■ ;