VERSAILLES CONTROVERSY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18630, 11 February 1924, Page 7

VERSAILLES CONTROVERSY.

LLOYD GEORGE AND TREATY CRITICISM MADE TOO LATE. WHY CLEMENCEAU WON. By Telegraph Association Copyright. (Received 4.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON. Fob. 9. The Observer, commenting editorially on the Lloyd George controversy, Bays : " Probably the document called a ( secret compact is merely a memorandum embodying and confirming a conversational agreement. Mr. Lloyd George was informed immediately on returning to Paris what had happened. Nothing mattered but -what went into the Treaty of Versailles, and he became equally responsible with hia co-signatories. M. Clemenceau won because he was quite determined to resign in the midst of the conference, Mr. Lloyd George was not so determined. His prac'tioal difficulties were immensei but at least he ought to have resigned immediately after his signature to the treaty. How could he work for revision of what ho signed while remaining in office? That was what ruined him with France, and ultimately ruined his whole political position." The Times says: " Somebody hits bungled that is all. The affair has been a succession of most unfortunate coincidences, but the world will shrug its shoulders and pass on. "What Mr. Lloyd George thinks or thought •about the Rhineland now matters little. The whole problem has assumed a new character. It has to be reconsidered in the light of recent events. It is a problem upon which the Government must concentrate its chief attention. We cannot afford to waste time on dead controversies." THE INCIDENT CLOSED. SATISFACTION IN FRANCE. FRIENDSHIP STRENGTHENED A. and N.Z. LONDON. Feb. 8. Mr. Lloyd George has returned to the Foreign Offico the proofs of the French Yellow Book which caused the versyIt is stated on good authority that M. Poincaire has intimated that, so far as he is concerned, the incident may be regarded as closed. With extraordinary unanimity the Paris newspapers refer to the excellent impression created by the British Government's attitude in regard to the affair. Even the Echo de Paris joins in the chorus of satisfaction that Mr. Mac Donald justified Britain's good faith with France, which M. Poincare greatly appreciates. The friendliest sentiments are voiced as regards the Labour Cabinet. ACID GERMAN COMMENT. "ALLIES' DIRTY LINEN." A. and N.Z. BERLIN. Feb. 7. The Lloyd Gaorga revelations occupy extensive space in German newspapers. The Germania, the organ of the Centre Party, described the episode as washing the Allies' dirty linen at an open grave, and refers fo the wretched intrigues of the Allied behind the gorgeous scenes at Versailles. It adds that the bad conscience of the authors of the Peace Treaty is reflected in the discord their work has left behind. The Vorwaerts says: " Whatever ' may have been his standpoint five years ago, to-day Mr. Lloyd George makes himself the mouthpiece of the great majority of English people and Parliament, who do not want French troops to stay on German soil. In order to save his political existence he is compelled to defend himself against the charge of having been partly responsible for the intolerable s,tate of Europe produced by the question of the Rhineland being left open."

MR, WILSON'S PAPERS. ANSWER MAY BE FOUND. Sun. WASHINGTON. Feb. 8. Mrs. Wilson will decide in th© next few days whether she will allow her husband's private files to be searched for an answer to the allegations in the Lloyd George ooritroversy. Though Mr. Wilson left no memoirs, he had a voluminous filo of private letters dealing with the history of the war and post-war events.

Mr. Wilson's will disposes of an estate valued at £30,000.