MISUNDERSTOOD

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11296, 23 August 1922, Page 5

MISUNDERSTOOD

ATTITUBE OF FRANCE ONLY ASKS FOR EXECUTION OF TREATY. BRITAIN’S “SURPRISING CLAIM.’’ By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received August 22, 8.30 p.m.) •PARIS, August 21. M. Poincare attended the unveiling of the first milestone along the Voie Sacree of 57 kilometres from Bar le Due to Verdun, over which the French troops marched in 1916 to support the stricken town. In the course of his speech, M. Poincare declared that Britain only said that her unemployment lost her her foreign trade. S'he misunderstood France’s financial difficulties. M. Poincare complained that every inter-Allied compromise during the last three years ' had been at France’s expense. Britain made repeated interventions to prevent every effort of France to exert pressure on Germany. Since the Armistice the Allies, little by little, had shown less political solidarity. Some nations more Imperialistic than France accused her of desiring domination. France did not want land, only the execution of the treaty and the payment of war damages. Some of the Allies did not always understand these simple claims. Sometimes, feeling more insecure than did France against Bolshevism, they thought they could kill the evil by means of sterile negotiations. At other times they saw only their own paralysed industries, and desired to find foreign markets at any price. AGREEMENTS AT FRANCE’S EXPENSE. “This is both natural and inevitable, but what I and France cannot understand is why, during the last three years in the Peace Treaty, as well as in conventions following, the agreement most often reached was at the expense of France. It is useless to recall the long list of deceptions inflicted on France by concessions in favour of Germany through the successive whittling down of our claims and the opposition placed in our path. We advised the enforcing of the sanctions. It appears to France as if some of the Allies want to prevent her having a French policy. The British Government is certainly animated by friendly intentions, but has failed to realise the seriousness of our financial position. “In an otherwise courteous Note, Britain reminds us that we are in debt to England. Such a claim surprised ns when made at the same moment as Germany announced her inability te pay. Britain supported her wrth all her dead and devastations. Was not France’s voice wtlrthy of hearing when discussing reparations? Must she always bow before the will of the majority’of the Allies, who are less interested than France?’’ GERMANY’S GUILT. M. Poincare declared that Germany herself was responsible for the collapse of the mark, which the German Government, bankers, and manufacturers deliberately organised. “She defaulted, and I proposed that the Allied Governments should collectively enforce penalties, hut the instructions given by some Allies had always been exceptionally lenient. They, perhaps, respected the letter of the treaty, hut constantly abused the spirit of it.” PRIORITY OF REPARATIONS. “It would be monstrous if the repartions Germany owe were to be confounded with in'. cr-Allied debts. _ The former must have priority. If Britain demands the repayment of our debt and at the same time delays the payment of reparations it will necessitate our asking Italy, Ronmania, and Serbia to pay ns what we are asked to pay. We shall not allow ourselves to he placed in such a position. We know well enough the world does not stop at our frontiers. Our policy, though fervently national, is neither narrow nor blind. It would be moat stupid if we did not try to conciliate with a wide and generous European, policy. We only ask to remain Allies erf the Allies and to have our Allies’ friends as onr friends, resuming with our former enemies peaceful and courtly relations. But we want our damages repaired, and they shall be.”

SPEECH APPLAUDED REAL OBSTACLES TO SOLUTION. “Le Temps” applauds the speech, and declares that the real obstacles preventing a solution of the European crisis are politicians and the military. Referring to the statement in the British press that Britain will not abandon her claims against France unless the latter reduces her army and navy, “Le Tempe” declares ‘“these threaten nobody. It is that part of the British policy which surprises M. Poincare. We are convinced that the bulk of the British people will disapprove of that policy, if France explains her programme and intentions.” CANDID COMMENT PROBABLE EFFECT OF SPEECH. (Received August 23, 1.5 a.m.) LONDON, August 22. The “Doily Chronicle’s” Paris correspondent, commenting on M. Poincare's Bar le Due speech, says: “Since he returned he has not previously referred publicly to the difference at the London conference. His unexpected oratorical offensive against Britain and the Britadh Government was made in a carefully prepared speech which he read. There might have been an excuse for a speech so full of bitter words and insinuations if the London conference had ruptured the Entente. It will not fail to blight the French Nationalist press and serve tne interests ■of the Anglophobes who are preaching a rupture of the Entente and an alliance with Germany. M. Poincare declared that France in facing the reparations problem had encountered difficulties more surprising than Germany’s bad faith.” BALFOUR NOTE PARIS PAPER’S SUGGESTION. PARIS, August 21. The “Matin” suggests that M. Poincare, at the London Conference, assured the Allies that France would not manke any demand for debts due to her by her Allies whatever was the outcome bf the Balfour Note. The newspaper advocates that the debtors should meet in Paris as a reply to the Balfour Note and request Britain to grant them a moratorium. M. L’lsteyrio, Minister for Finance, addressing journalists, declared that the Balfour Note paralysed the Conference,

POLICY OF FRANCE UNITING GERMANY AND RUSStk. LONDON, August 21. Sir Georg© Paiali, Adv i-or to the Chancellor of the Exchequer until 1910, speaking at a League of Natron* demonstration, urged that outstanding international controversies should immediately be referred to the in which Russia and Germany abcold bo included as members. The wand should como to the assistance of Europe, and every nation capable of lending should lend. Ho declared that the policy of France is uniting Russia and "Germany.