THE SILESIAN CRISIS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15594, 10 August 1921, Page 3

THE SILESIAN CRISIS.

AN EASIER ATMOSPHERE

THE BRITISH PROPOSALS

rElec. Tel Copy rlent—rntteo Press Assu.t Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.! LONDON, Aug. 8.

The Daily Chronicle’s Paris correspondent. says that an informal dinner talk on Sunday enabled Mr Lloyd George and M. Briaiid to create an easier atmosphere. When the Council assembled on Monday M. Briand consented to postpone the question of reinforcements, dealing with the political issue first. The real crux Unis became whether Britain, on the one side, is prepared to admit the principle that the industrial triangle in tipper Eilesia he divided, and whether France, on Hie other hand, is prepared to modify her proposed frontier line, making it just for the- whole of Go”many.

The British unalterable view is that l lie alignment of the new Polish-German frontier must leave Germany reasonably contented. After the postponement of the reinforcements question legal experts were requested to present their viewpoints. French experts have formulated, a scheme which gives industrial areas to Poland, reversing the result of the plemiscite to the extent of giving sovenelcvenths of the population which voted for Germany to Poland. Sir Cecil Hurst explained the British proposals—(l) the communes must ho allotted according to Ihe country for which they voted; (2) isolations of communes must he avoided; (3) communes economically or geographically inseparable must not he divided. He pointed out that the population cooi erned totalled two millions in 1522 communes, 678 of which voted for Poland, and 844 for Germany ; thirteen-thirtieths for Poland and seventeen-thirtieths for Germany.

ALLIED MILITARY EXPERTS MEET MR. LLOYD GEORGE PRESENTS BRITAIN’S VIEW. A MENACING PROBLEM. Australian and N Z Cable Association.! (Received August 10, 12.5 p.m.) PARIS, Aug. 9. General Allen, American commandant on the Rhine, attended a council of the various Allied military experts. The military experts un/olded their views on the question of security troops in Silesia, after which Mr. Llovd George explained his views on the problem generally, declaring it the most menacing ever placed before the. council. Britain and Italy, he said, held similar views, whereas France differed. Whilst wishing to accommodate the. existing dilferences, he was convinced a settlement must not lie made at the expense of a majority of the population of the Powers concerned. Any attempt on the basis of the plebiscite vote to manoeuvre the German population out of Silesia would recoil upon its authors, and Britain would never support such a settlement.

Mr. Llovd George suggested that fresh, instructions be given to the experts to discuss the matter on the following lines: Firstly, otto vote one value, as he was not prepared to accept the argument that the peasant vote should outweigh the artisan vole; secondly, that the industrial area which was German hv two to one, should go to Germany; thirdly, that continuous areas should be analysed to show which communes were vitally connected with the industrial areas. TTe appreciated the weight attached by France to the consideration of her security. The council should give careful thought- to the French view. (Received August 10, 12.40 p.m.)

Mr. Lloyd George thought that France would only add to her danger, not *to her security, in following her proposed course in Silesia. In the last war France had a just cause and the world would always support her in the justice of her cause. The Allies came to France’s aid when she was unjustly oppressed, but the British Empire was not going to be dragged into new wars caused by oppression or the use of superior force in the hour of triumph. That would be an abuse of justice. France had nothing to fear if site used moderation and equity. General Lerond, expounding the French experts’ view, said the; situation was grave. They must not lose sight of the fact that Allied contingents were endangered owing to the oi camouflaged German organisations. The situation demanded a prompt solution. Sir Harold Stuart, British High Commissioner, denied that danger was imminent, but agreed that the presence of the German organisations would bo a danger if attacked by the Poles ; then Hie Allied contingents would be insufficient to deal with the situation.

General Marines (Italy) echoed Sir Harold Stuart’s views.