REPARATIONS

Southland Times, Issue 19591, 12 August 1922, Page 5

REPARATIONS

THE LONDON DEADLOCK EFFORTS TO BRIDGE THE GULF TEMPORARY MORATORIUM PROPOSED. (By Telegraph—Preso Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian, and New Zealand Cable Assn). LONDON, August 10. The Cabinet had a two hours’ sitting and unanimously supported Mr Lloyd George who is having an audience with His Majesty to-night. Members of the Cabinet- are remaining in London. Mr Lloyd George remains in close touch with M. Poincare and other heads of delegations. It is reported that they are considering a temporary moratorium for Germany over August 15. Meanwhile the experts will endeavour to prepare another report for submission to a further AHied Conference at the*end of the month. BRITAIN’S COUNTER PROPOSAL. REFERENCE TO THE COMMISSION. LONDON, August 10. (Received August 11, 8.30 pan.) The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says: “It is reported to-night that Britain’s sole counter proposal will be to refer the whole question of the moratorium and guarantees back to the Reparations Commission. If the conference fails to reach au agreement by Saturday there will be no other alternative, as the Commission must inform Germany on Monday whether any respite will be granted. Further attempts to reach a compromise will certainly be made before thia extreme course is taken. France will be gravely mistaken if she imagines that- owing to the political havoc which a rutpure of the Entente would eulaii, partidulsrly to our export trade with the Continent, Britain will go to any lengths to avoid a rupture.” “There are markets outside of Europe, lor instance the colonial markets, which will compensate us for dubious European market.-. France must also remember the political and moral consequences of her taking independent action not on the strength of, but in defiance, of the Versailles Treaty. A Brituh. Minister appropriately asked a French colleague. ‘Would you break up the Entente for a few tons of German paper marks ’ J ’ A SUCCESSION OF CONFERENCES. EFFORTS TO BRIDGE THE GULF. LONDON, August 10. (Received August 11, 9.55 p.m.) Strong eforts were made all day to arrive at an understanding with France. Mr IJoyd George this morning gave conversations to Signer Schanzer and M. Tbeunhs. Indeed, conferences were continued until the Cabinet met, the Belgians being energetic intermediaries. After the Cabinet Mr Lloyd George motored to Buckingham Palace and hud an audience with the King. The British delegation, by order of the Cabinet, prepared a document explaining the British standpoint, for circulation among the other delegations. This emphasises the point that Britain is not acting in defence of Germany but in the common interests or the Allies. The British policy is to secure the utmost passible reparations. It is hoped that the documents will bridge the gulf between France and the other Allies. LONDON PRESS ON THE SITUATION. FRENCH ATTITUDE DEPRECATED. LONDON, August 10. The Daily Chronicle says: “ If Franco’s object is to get golden eggs instead of killing the goose, it wiH be seen that M. Poincare’s notion how to get them has not stood the scrutiny of the four Allied experts. That fact honestly conveyed to the French public, ougt* to give them to think. We do not know whether M. Poincare will produce alternatives or listen to any from Britain. He introduced his proposals in the attitude of a dictator with the suggestion that the Allies were to obey or take the consequences. We do not know whether this was done purposely in order to produce a breach, but Britain views the possabilit-y so gravely that she will not spare any effort to avoid it. We hope M. Poincare will have the courage to meet these efforts half-way.” The Morning Post says: “If the Conference breaks up we re-fuse to despair . It is quite dear the Allies are adopting a procedure which is bound to end in disaster. Britain is too inclined to approach the problem from the narrow financial standpoint. The experts are probably right in doubting the efficiency of the French proposals, but the issue is not financial, it is political. British and French statesmen ought not to be wrangling about the dye industries and the Rhineland Customs, but laying the foundation of a great policy of understanding on which Europe can again begin to work.” The Daily News says: “All the logic in the world and all the ferocity France can muster will never turn the German people into a nation of slaves. M. Poincare is an intellectual laggard behind the times. Reopening the question of punishment of Germany is out-dated and irrelevant. French security depends not on military pacts with defunct and desperate Germany, but on a settled, ordered, peaceful Europe working without the stimulus of fear and oppression, but with confidence in just and stable conditions and with hope in the future. The first practical expression of Allied sincerity in the cause of peace should be an early and complete withdrawal of the armies of occupation. M. Poincare proposes deeper penetration. It is a straight test and a clear issue.” Ihe Daily Herald says: “If M. Poincare gets his way and if the British Cabinet agains resigns control of the affaire of Britain, Europe and the world into the hands of French Imperialists, the present social and economic ruin will become accentuated, and the future of mankind will be jeopardised. M. Poincare is bent on imitation of Louis XIV, and Napoleon, and on being the first to establish the domination of France from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Whatever Governments may say or do, tire peoples of Europe will not submit to the replacement of Gzardom and Kaiserism by the autocracy of a militarist republic.” The Westminster Gazette: “The time lias come when the British Government must refuse to cajj r on the pretence of accepting responsibility for a policy which it knows is futile. It needs to state its own views clearly and rally thereto such European support as may be forthcoming and refuse all responsflilities for the results if France insists on playing a feme hand. Franco is acting desperately and unwisely in making a disastrous experiment. We do not see how the calamity can be averted. Regretfully and firmly we have to lei France learn by cxperienco that she is wrong.” The Daily Express, enya: “We agree with France that Genrumy mnst pay but. we differ fundamentally on the methods whereby payment may be enforced. France is obsessed by the Geraiaa. peril. We call it the German bogey. France dreams in terms of militarism. We think in terms of trade. The real issue must be faced and the real test must, come.” FRANCE IMPLACABLE. M. lOHWARE URGED TO STAND EffiM. PARIS, August 10. A special Cabinet meeting unauimeudy approved of M. Poiucaee's policy and decided to insist on the demands They telegraphed to M. Poincare to stand firm.. After resolutely upholding the principle of no moratorium without productive guarantees the Cabinet decided to give M. Poincare complete.freedom of action as regards l specific- imwims.