SECURITY OF FRANCE

Otago Witness, Issue 3523, 20 September 1921, Page 24

SECURITY OF FRANCE

M. POINCARE’S DEMANDS. PARIS, September 12. Ex-President Poincare, whose many articles in tho newspapers show the deepest distrust of Germany and insist on the security of France, demands the strictest application of the penalties provided for in the Peace Treaty for any default by Germany. M. Poincare contributes to Le Temps a lengthy article revealing secret negotiations at the Peace Corrfference between M. Clemenceau, Mr Lloyd George, and exPresident Wilson regarding the military occupation of the Rhine Provinces. M. Poincare as President, with the aid of M. Clemenceau and Marshal Focli, used his utmost influence to secure the insertion in the Peace Treaty of a clause enabling the Allies to occupy the Rhine Provinces until Germany had* carried out all the treaty’s conditions, including full payment of reparations, which would take a minimum af 30 years. Mr Lloyd George and Dr ilson refused to extend the period for the occupation of the Rhine bevond 15 rears, preferring a still shorter period. M. clemenceau reluctantly agreed to 15 years liter Mr Lloyd George and Dr Wilson had ugned an agreement by which Great Britain and America undertook to send trance military aid if she were attacked without provocation by Germany. This igreement, which was dependent on ratification by the British and American Parlaments, became a dead letter by the American Senate’s refusal to ratify tho ;reaty. M. Poincares article in Le Temps suggests that France should now demand nerv Guarantees in regard to Germany’s fulfilnent of the treaty, as the terms under vhmh France agreed that the occupation >f the Rhine should be reduced to 15 fears had been broken.