THE FRENCH NOTE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 94, 25 August 1923, Page 5

THE FRENCH NOTE

NO immediate answer.

OFFICIAL SURMISES. Proas Association— Copyright, Australian and NCable Association. QReceived 9.15 a.m) London, August 24. There is no p-ospect of an immediate answer to the French Note. Careful consideration is required of the many complex questions involved. ' The Cabinet is unlikely to meet for some days, especially-as it is desired to have Belgium’s reply, which will not reach London before Monday. A high authority commenting on the French Note, says what perplexes the British authorities is the reiterated statement that the British advances for the purpose of reaching a settlement represent no sacrifices on Britain’s part. France wants twentysis milliards first, leaving her debts to bo mot by a subsequent contribution. Whether the latter can be collected or not is another matter, yet wo are told Britain’s motive is money. In actual truth, this country had relinquished a sum almost equqi valent to the amount required by Franco to rebuild her devastated regions. Were Franco prepare to make a corresponding contribution towards rehabilitating Europe generally, genuine progress would bo made in solving the economic problems confronting both countries.

The Morning Post’s Paris correspondent sAys there are abundant press comments on M. Poincare’s Note, especially regarding the declaration that France will he unable to pay the principal and interest on her debt to Britain until the full reparations have been received from Germany; secondly, that both sides having stated their case and figures to the world, a way for agreement is now open; thirdly, no useful purpose can be served by further exchange of Notes.

Even the Radical press refrains from criticising M. Poincare. M. Harriott, leader of the Loft, who hopes to succeed M. Poincare, writing to tho Press, while emphasising Britain’s financial and economic difficulties, argues, that M. Pomdare’s Charlesville speech on 19th August indicated the only helpful way out, when he pleaded For search for a practical solution: instead of continuing the controversies.

BRITISH SOCiAIU&T Vl£W.

FRANCE’S ACTION! DEPLORED.

Press Association—Copyright. Ann traliaa and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 12.35 -p.m.) London. August 24.

A joint, mooting of the general council of the Trad© Union Congress and the executive of the Socialist Party parsed a resolution deeply deploying France’s intention to continue the military occupation of the Ruhr, urging its rejection, and an impartial inquiry 'tntoi Germany’s capacity to pay, the fixation of the total reparations, appealing to the French Labor and Socialist movement to work for a more conciliatory policy for the settlement of the Reparations problem by negotiation, on the ground that if the despair due to occupation leads to violence and the lofts of life, all Europe would suffer, dnd the world would suffer, and the world would again see the spectacle of brute force failing to realise what common sen so and gpod-will might achieve by negotiation. After hearing a report on the Ruhr by Mir Shaw, M.P., the meeting declared, the people of the Ruhr would support a reasonable settlement if treated as free men and women. The menace of military oppression should be removed. It is believed the passive resistance is not duo to Berlin’s behest, but to the spontaneous manifestation of iho people against the military dictatorship.

The report urged the British Government to persist in its to bring about negotiations for a final settlement of the Reparations question botwfeon Britain, France, Belgium, Italy and Germany.