A SERIOUS MENACE

Southland Times, Issue 19100, 19 November 1923, Page 5

A SERIOUS MENACE

ERUPTION IN EUROPE FEARED IMMINENCE OF FRANCO-GERMAN RUPTURE NEED FOR BRITAIN’S STEADYING HAND. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright). (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON. November 16. The Daily Telegraph’s political observer, who is regarded as not only well informed but generally inspired, says: “An authoritative British statesman today gave me a carefully considered warning, in which he said the European situation had come to a much more critical pass than mo.se people in Britain imagined. The danger is not an Anglo-French break, which cannot alter the main issues in the present situation, but the most serious menace is the final Franco-German break, owing to Germany’s repudiation of the Peace Treaty. Just as Germany had defaulte over reparations, so she might shortly default on the question of disarmament. “A definite Franco-German break must inevitably produce further military operations in the Rhineland, for France could not wait and see the small fry of the German Nationalist organisations grow into adult sharks. Such operations by France would cause the collapse of the whole shaken structure of Germany, and would precipitate Central Europe into a turmoil from which the French hegemony would emerge much more marked than now. “Britain wanted to prevent the disruption of Germany, and the only way to do this—which was still open to Britain—was to control French action. The greatest obstacle to Britain obtaining this control was generally held to be the delusion that going with France meant helping her. By not accompanying France to the Ruhr, Britain had simply allowed France to fully develop her own schemes, and the only way to control France Was to remain at her side.” ANGLO-FRENCH CRISIS CONTINUES. AMBASSADORS’ CONFERENCE POSTPONED. MILITARY CONTROL STUMBLING BLOCK. LONDON, November 18. (Received November 19, 0.25 a.m.) The Sunday Express says the AngloFrench crisis continues. At Britain’s suggestion the Ambassadors’ Conference, fixed for Saturday, has been postponed till Monday, when it is hoped a compromise will be effected with France. Britain regards the return of the ex-Crown Prince with disfavour,' but does not consider the situation warrants an ultimatum. The real bone of contention is the resumption of the functions of the Military Control commission. Germany states she is unable to guarantee the safety of French and Belgian officers. Britain agrees that control must be resumed, but opposes further sanctions. M. POINCARE DEFENDS HIS POLICY. REJECTION OF EXPERT COMMISSION RIGHTS WILL NOT BE SACRIFICED. PARIS, November 16. (Received November 19, 1.20 a.m.) M. Poincare, in the Chamber of Deputies, replying to Mr Baldwin, denied it was France’s fault that the Entente might be compromised. He quoted figures in support of his contention that the financial results of the Ruhr occupation were satisfactory. He would have been delighted if the United States had joined the Allies’ labours, but France could only agree to an expert inquiry by the Reparations Commission. The moment was ill-chosen at which to estimate Germany’s capacity, which at present was at the low water mark. An estimate now would mean a revision and reduction of the debt and France could not consent to that, when she had advanced 100 milliard francs to Germany and owed the Allies for war supplies. France had no intention of repudiating the latter debt, but reparations for damage to property must precede any other settlement. France's duty he affirmed was to guarantee herself against the eventualities lying behind the expert inquiry scheme. He would continue was friendship for the Allies, but could not sacrifice France’s rights. ITALY AGREES WITH BRITAIN. OPPOSED TO FURTHER OCCUPATIONS ROME, November 16. (Received November 19, 1.20 a.m.) In a long statement in the Senate, Signor Mussolini, in reviewing the Government’s foreign policy, showed that the Italian view’s largely accorded with Britain’s, as regards the Allies’ relations with Germany. He declared the request for the banishment of the ex-Crown Prince a mistake which would merely complicate the situation. Italy would not agree to a further occupation of German territory. He pointed out the necessity for recognising the right of the German people to exist, and the thought of destroying them could not be entertained The Senate subsequently approved of the Government’s foreign policy. FRENCH DEBT TO AMERICA. MUST BE PAID IN FULL. WASHINGTON, November 17. (Received November 18, 11.5 p.m.) Officials commenting on M. Poincare’s statement that France cannot pay her American debt until she collects from Germany, declared the American Government will not waver from its policy. The French debt must be paid, and moreover, France’s threat to seize other German cities is not likely to induce the United States to modify this attitude. ALLIED OBJECTION TO EX-KAISER. AMERICA SYMPATHETIC BUT NEUTRAL. WASHINGTON, November 17. (Received November 18, 5.5 p.m.) Due to despatches asserting that France felt the United States would not be concerned in ihe event of the ex-Kaiser’s return to the Throne, President Coolidge summoned correspondents and stated it was his belief the American people would sympathise with any move taken by the Allied Governments to prevent the restoration of the Hohenzollerns. The President declared the Allies w’ere empowered by the Versailles Treaty to deal with the situation, but the American Government, in accordance with its long-estab-lished policy, was unable to take definite action in the matter. BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE NEUTRAL. REGARDING EX-CROWN OR EX- . KAISER. PARIS, November 16. The French semi-official statement says it is understood Britain has informed the Ambassadors’ Conference that she does not desire to participate in any steps taken in Germany in connection with the exCrown Prince or ex-Kaiser, Britain opposes any sanctions in connection with in-ter-Allied military control in Germany. FRANCE’S NEW ATTITUDE. BID FOR ANGLO-SAXON FRIENDSHIP. LONDON, November 18. (Received November 19, 11.40 p.m.) The Sunday Times publishes a message from a Paris correspondent foreshadowing a reversal of French policy. The message, which is cautiously worded by a reliable corre-

spondent accustomed to the use of diplomatic language, says it is anticipated that an important change in French foreign policy is imminent. The new attitude will be based on the theory that the French policy of the past, however logical, has been too narrow to attract the world’s sympathy, particularly that of the two great Anglo-Saxon democracies. The spectre of isolation has at last grasped the imagination of the longersighted French politicians. The first plank in the new programme will be a greater emphasis on democracy in order to bring the French policy closer to the more liberal trend of thought in Britain and the United States.