SUPREME COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18454, 16 January 1922, Page 5

SUPREME COUNCIL

THE CONFERENCE ENDED. GERMANY GRANTED MORATORIUM. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. CANNES, January 13. The conference of the Supreme Council is dispersing. ■ \ The Reparations Committee has granted Germany a provisional moratorium until a new arrangement can be made. In the meantime she must pay 31,000,000 gold mark every 10 days and give guarantees of financial reform.—A. and N.Z. Cable. FRENCH CRISIS. THE NEW CABINET. PRESERVATION OF HARMONY. ] • Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright PARIS, January 13. M. Poincare, is forming a Cabinet. It is not expected that a settlement. of the Ministerial crisis will be long delayed. It is generally believed that M. Poincare himself will take the foreign portfolio, and that several of the outgoing Ministers will be''retained, including M. Sarraut, who is ait present in Washington. Questioned regarding the Anglo-French Pact, M. Poincare was non-committal, but he emphasised the importance which he attached to British friendship based on a policy of compelling Germany to fulfil every detail of her obligations. It is declared that M. Poincare favours the making of France’s t participation in the Genoa Conference conditional on full respect being given to all her rights. It is expected that Mr Lloyd George will be invited to confer with M. Poincare and M. Millerand on' Sunday when passing through Paris. • The newspapers are confident that M. Poincare will preserve harmony with the Allies and see that Germany fulfils, her obligations.—Renter. i PRESS COMMENT. BRITAIN’S FRIENDSHIP IMPORTANT. PARIS, January 13. The Petit Parisian says that the new Government’s first duty will be to dissipate the misunderstandings .between Franca and Britain. Both Governments may now perceive that their negotiations can be conducted more easily in the calmness of the chancelleries than in the open. he Temps editorially argues that despite the crisis the European situation demands the signing 'of the proposed pact, which will consolidate peace and facilitate the reparations. “We are qonvinced,” Le Temps adds, " that both the British and French public unanimously agree that fhe Ministerial crisis must not wreck our hopes.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. ANGLO-FRENCH PACT, AN ITALIAN VIEW. ' MR LLOYD GEORGE’S FRANK REPLY. CANNES, January 13. Great Britain has exchanged aides memoire regarding the pact. Italy in a friendly Note said she could not refrain from observing that it might have been preferable to strengthen the whole of the Entente instead of concluding a\ separate agreement for the safety of one frontier. ; 1

Mr Lloyd George, in replying, pointed opt the menace to Britain from the possibility of a German army on the French coast bombarding London, and the fact that the Germans had occupied Paris within livigg memory. Italy had great natural barriers, and there was no need for her to share in the common anxiety of Britain and France; but Britain offered to Italy, as well? as to France, an intimate co-operation in building up a great system of Europeans, accord for the maintenance of peace.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

TERM NOT LONG ENOUGH. PARIS, January 13. At’ M. Briand’s .last Cabinet meeting several Ministers declared that a Id-years’ pact was of no vallle, as German aggression was not feared within that period; but in 15 or 20 years the situation would bo different. —A. and N.Z. Cable. SECURITY 'GUARANTEED. PREAMBLE OF THE PACT. LONDON, January 14, (Received Jan. 15, at 5.5 p.m.) The text of the Anglo-French Pact confirms the summary of the five articles already published. The introduction says; “ Whereas the soil of France has been ■twice invaded by Germany within living memory and she. is still suffering deeply from the devastation wrought by the enemy, and the peoples of Fiance and the British Empire paid a heavy toll of their manhood and wealth in overcoming the invasion of the German armies, and whereas the welfare 'cf the European peoples and, the economic structure of the world have been profoundly disturbed by the protracted ordeal of -tear, and whereas ■ guarantees of the security of France against future invasion by- Germany are indispensable to the restoration of European stability, \the safety of Britain ajid the safety of the world, and whereas the safeguards contained in clauses 42, 43’, and 44 of the Versailles Treaty may not sufficiently provide for the defence of the essential common interests of the high contracting parties and the maintenance of peaco/fn Western 'Europe, his Majesty and’ the Presidenthave agreed on the five articles.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. . . ,

rClansea 42,* 43, pud 44 of the Treaty of Versailles\ are as follow: Germany is forbidden to maintain or construct any fortifications either on the left bank of the Rhine pr on the right bank to tbe west of a lino drawn 50 kilometres to the east of the Rhine. In the area defined above the maintenance and the assembly of armed forces, either permanently or temporarily, and military manoeuvres of any kind, as well as tho upkeep of all permanent works for mobilisation, aro in the same way forbidden. In case Germany violates in any manner whatever the provisions of Articles 42 and 43, she shall bo regarded as committing a hostile act' against the Powers signatory of the present Treaty, and as calculated to disturb the peace of tho world. The text of the five articles is' as follows : Article 1 stipulates for joint action by the Anglo-French naval, military,, and air forces in the event of an > unprovoked attack bv Germany. ~ , Article 2 stipulates for insistence on the observance of tho military clauses of the Versailles Treaty. Article 3 provides for concerted action in the event of a violation of the neutral zone by German troops Article 4 makes it clear that the dominions aro bound only if they elect to endorse tho pact. Article 5 states that the pact shall exist for a decade, but is renewable.]

M. POINCARE’S ATTITUDE. FRIENDSHIP TO BRITAIN. ' f V PARIS, January 14. appears little doubt that M. Poincare, while desiring an alliance with Britain, wants it of a character that will not deprive France of her rights and guarantees under existing treaties. His past utterances show that he stands firm on the reparation payments as laid down last May. /It remains to be seen whether under the exigencies of to-day he can remain similarly firm in his role as Prime Minister or whether he will bow to circumstances like M. Briand. It Js unlikely that, he will Support the Genoa Conference unless the question of reparations is rigidly excluded from the agenda. * M. Poincare, informed a Parliamentary delegation that his conversations with Mr Lloyd George-are likely to> last several Hours, and that, therefore, the formation of the Cabinet will probably be delayed till Sunday. The French papers approve of the timely publication of the pact. Some assert that its j&andonment would be ., a veritable misfortune to -both countries. Le Matin says that M. Poincare’s feelings towards England are unalterably and profoundly affectionate, but these sentiments; do not necessitate an acceptance of all the proposals recently made to France, some of which are calculated to destroy rather than to consolidate the entente. Writing in the current issue of the Revue des Deux 'Mondes, M. Poincare says that the Genoa Conference is a plunge into the unknown. He adds: “It is more important to Franco. to receive several millions of France’s reparations tomorrow than to he assured of France’s rights to be paid at some future date.”— A. and N.Z. Cable. GOLF AND DIPLOMACY. INCISIVE FRENCH COMMENT. A MR LLOYD GEORGE BLAMED. i PARIS, January 14. (Received Jari. 15, at 5.5 p.m.) M. Poincare has informed Lord Hardings (the British Ambassadors that he ■will meet Mr Lloyd George at tlfe British Embassy on Saturday. M. Gustav Herve, writing in La Victoire? says : “Mr Lloyd George, who knows nothing of French mentality and its sensitiveness, is the sole author of the Ministerial crisis.” . Le Temps publishes articles on golf and diplomacy. It points out that golf ie an excellent stimulus to British diplomatists, but, if French politicians want to learn r they should do so during the vacation. The article sums up much of the boulevard chatter of the last week to the effect that when the vital interests of Europe were at stake Mr Lloyd' George felt it ,a good opportunity to. teach M. Briand golf. At other times the pair spent their time at the Carlton, Cannes, watching dancers performing to a jazz band. '' ‘‘These rumours,” adds the newspaper, “are grossly exaggerated, but they have done untold harm to the reputation of the Supreme Council. On every side Frenchmen are saying: This conference is a farce.’ ’’—A. and N.Z./Cable. MR LLOYD GEORGE * DEPARTS. /IMPORTANCE OF GENOA CONFERENCE. PLEA- FOB AMERICAN INCLUSION. , LONDON, January 14. (Received Jan. 15, at 5.6 j).m.) ( ■ Mr Lloyd George has left Cannes and gone to Paris to confer with M. Millerand, and possibly with M. Poincare. Before his departure Mr Lloyd George, in a conference with the British press, said that the new French situation made no change in the Anglo-French Pact. It was not necessary to summon another meeting of the Supreme Council prior to the Economic Conference at Genoa unless the new .French Government had different views from its predecessor. ' Mn Lloyd George said bo attached great importanceTto the Genoa Conference. If it succeeded it would mean the pacification of Europe. The broad views in sight after 'Genoa would be towards a federation of nations fop the'purpbse of preserving peace. They all wanted the United States to come in if possible. ; Mr Lloyd George added : “I always send long telegraphic summaries of the conference proceedings to my colleagues, the dominion Premiers.” —A. and N.Z. Cable. GERMAN PRESS COMMENT. A WELCOME BREATHING SPACE. BERLIN, January 13. Press comments on the French crisis are calm and reserved. They welcome, however, the breathing space which the break-up at Cannes provides.—A. and N. Cable. - A FOE TO’ GERMANY. / BERLIN, January 14. (Received Jan. 15, at 5.5 p.m.) The press is troubled over the likelihood of M. Poincare’s return to power. The newspapers are convinced that he is the worst foe Germaiiy has. France will expect him to endeavour to apply scorpions where M. Briand belaboured them with rods. —A. and N.Z. Cable. ITALY RECALLS AMBASSADORS. 1 ROME, January 13. The Tribune announces the recall of the Ambassadors at London and Paris, presumably to consult respecting the European problems at Cannes. —A. and N.Z. Cable. • ‘ THE GENOA CONFERENCE. DATE OF MEETING FIXED. * LONDON, January 13. The Economic Conference will meet at Genoa on March B.—A. and N.Z. Cable. ROME, January 1. . The Labour Confederation, which is seeking representation at the Genoa Conference, passed a resolution-in favour of Socialist collaboration with the Government. —A. and N.Z. Cable.