REPARATIONS AND THE ENTENTE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18754, 6 January 1923, Page 8

REPARATIONS AND THE ENTENTE.

Once again Inter-Allied diplomacy has revealed its impotence to discover » satisfactory solution of the German reparations problem. The Paris Conference is still in, being, but any atmosphere of hopeful expectancy that may have surrounded it in the beginning seems to have been definitely dissipated. The spectacle presented by it is unfortunately one of serious disagreement. All the labours of the Commission, and* all the investigations of high financial experts seem to have brought i a practicable scheme of settlement not a step the nearer. All too subtle a mockery is etill resident in the phrase “ the fruits of victory.” The Prime Ministers expatiate upon the virtues and the necessity of Allied co-operation, but what they value so much in theory they are unable to secure in practice. Doubtless the French Government and the French people were hopeful that with the removal of Mr Lloyd George from office a reconciliation of French and British views respecting the reparations question would be reached without any great difficulty. "What has been happening at Paris this week has been sufficient to destroy any illusions on that score. M. Poincare has propounded the scheme of the French Government and Mr Bonar Law cannot accept it. Mr Bonar Law has explained the plan approved by his Government and M. Poincare will have nono of it. “Either there shall be a vote on the French plan as it stailds,” M. Poincare insisted, “ or we shall agree to disagree.” The Italian attempt to play the role of mediator could scarcely he helpful in such circumstances. It is difficult to resist • the conclusion that the price of an agreement at Paris would he a British subservience on this question to France. To at subservience would be thoroughly insincens and out of accord with convictions based by the British Government upon expert advice in which it has some reason to place confidence. As it is the British opinion that the French plan is fraught with menace to tho future of Europe, such subservience has been rendered the more impossible. The French press is again displaying its sensitiveness and referring to. England’s ' narrow egotism,” while the possibility of a rupture of the Entente is being discussed. But there is no reason why this deadlock should be regarded as calculated to produce seriously strained relations between France and Great Britain. M. Poincare is said to have reciprocated the sentiment expressed in Mr Bonar Law’s declaration, “Britain’s friendship for the French people remains unabated.” It is well that the leaders of the two nations are in agreement on such a point. The onus will not be upon Great Britain should the integrity of the Entente be threatened because the statesmen of France cling to the belief that theirs is the only possible plan for tho settlement of the reparations question.