THE BRITISH NOTE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 84, 14 August 1923, Page 5

THE BRITISH NOTE

FRENCH OFFICIAL CIRCLES. PESSIMISTIC VIEW. Press Association—Copyright. A«atralian arj N.Z Cable Associoti»<—. (Received 11.25 a.m.) Paris, August 13. A high official at the Quai D'Orsay states that diplomatic circles took a pessimistic vic»v ■>!' the British Note, which has not advanced the situation a single step. 'Hie British questioning the legality of the Ruhr occupation wil] have a very had effect in Franco. 11 was certain M. Poincare would refuse to discuss the question of the debt on the basis suggested, and would not agree under any circumstances to have an enquiry into Germany's capacity to pay. France did not want to repudiate her debt to Britain, but the point must be emphasised that she could not pay at present, nor until Germany paid her what is due under the Treaty.

AMERICAN PRESS SUPPORT. (Received 12.50 p.m.) New York, August 13. The New York Evening Post, commenting on the British Notes, declares : Above tho specific items in tho Curzon Note stand out tho surprise and protest of the British Government at the refusal of her lato Allies to' so much as consider those items. France and Belgium simply wave them aside. This is not an attitude that will win approval of the rest of tho world. Britain is unquestionably right in taking the opposite course. The Sun and Globe comment similarly/ stating: Clealy there is nothing left for resp usible British statesmanship, if the argument fails, but.to extricate tho nation by the best means available from inevitable ecjnomic ruin, which is sure to come about if tho French course is much longer tacitly accepted. The FrencE franc is quoted at five and a-half cents, being the lowest on record. Various French municipal bonds have also fallen several points as tho direct result ol the weekend's political developments.

FRENCH PRESS COMMENT. (Received 12.5 p.m.) Paris, August 13. Le Matin says: If Germany's capacity is only fourteen milliards of gold marks, England will take all; if twenty milliards, England will have fourteen milliards, and generally leave six milliards to be divided between the victims of the war. The Note shows to an unexpected degree the moral weakness which is coming over the British leaders, and which is only comparable with the physical weakness in£o which Germany has fallen. The Echo de Paris remarks: The Note is ,a supreme appeal to France to adopt the British view-point, but its uselessness is well known. Having lost all hope of getting any money from the .Reich, it is from us England is asking money. We are all wondering whether we are dreaming. This is just the kind ol thing Lord Curzon should have used for Germany. The Petit Parisien says: must wait for further conversations to be able to judge the true spirit of the British Government. Le Journal asks: How could the British leaders allow themselves to be drawn into testing the legality of the Ruhr occupation? We understand plainly that the object of the manoeuvre is question preparing for one of those legal arbitrations to force France in case of refusal to And something saleable. France will not fall into the trap. L'Ouvre says: England has written an unacceptable programme. It is for France . to oppose another programme to theirs.