French Falconry.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 100, 1 September 1923, Page 5

French Falconry.

THE ENTENTE’S LAST FLIGHT No Place for the Dove of Peace / . Lloyd George’s Striking Metaphor

(Received 8.5 a.m.) ' London, August 29. 1 (Copyright.) i Mr Lloyd George writes:— | The pen and ink joust is to bo| Suspended for a. fortnight, whilst the British unemployment figures are leaping upwards. When the exhausted British Knights have been revigorated by French waters, they will once more charge full fiilt at the French champion; at least, they will have made up their minds hy then whether they will shiver another fountain pen against his blotting pad. So far,' tho French Nation is jubilant. M. Poincare scored heavily i on points. He is* a deft penman, and, does not delegate" the draughtsmanship to a committee of ministers, all holding irreconcilable views, how to proceed, "when to proceed, and ] whether to proceed. There is agreement among them except on one point; that is, no one quite knows what, action to propose. Tip to this last reply, they cherished a vain, delusion that the French could be shelled -out of tho Ruhr by reproaches, which were both querulous and; apologetic.

may nofc be dead, but (it has made its last flight. , PAY OR STAY POLICY. France is irrevocably committed to tho exploitation of the Ruhr by force. That is what pay or stay moans. To that policy, the majority in this country are opposed, but for a fortnight; nothing is to happen, except the spread, of unemployment in Britain,arid despair in Germany. Will there Ire a sur-rejoimler to M. Poincare’s rejoinder, or another conference ?

Both Poincare and tho present British regime came into power on the cry “Enough of these conferences. Let ,Ust return to the good old diplomatic' methods that prevailed prewar-,” and they might add—“which helped to make the war possible.”

It is a suspicions circumstance that those who once were resentful and scornful of conferences should now bo clamouring for onO both here and in France. At tho old confbroncos—so it is contended.—France was invariably forced to give way. Now she can and wfill command the situation. There is a new note of confidence ringing through tho French despatches and echoed in’ the French press.

Tho French Foreign Office is bet-, ter informed as to Cabinet divisions in this country than are the British public. It knows the Prime Minister or the Foreign Secretary dare not take measures to hamper French action in the Ruhr. That explains the impotence of British diplomacy, in a situation which is so critical to our existence as a great commercial people. < . ■ • :

France must get what she wants. Britain must take what she is given. The French share of the Reparations must first be assured. The debts duo to Britain can come out of what is V left. Thits is rather greedy, but it, is characteristic of tho British that they should expect to be paid what is owing to thorn. With their smug and hypocritical puritan temperament and outlook, they insist that contracts should be respected. For the sake of the Entente, France will make a concession even to British cupidity and Pharisaism. It will permit the British Empire to collect, not the whole of what is due, but a, much reduced claim out of Germany once tho French demand for Reparations is cashed. A NEW FRANCE. To me, this is a new France. Dur-

, JN SEARCH OF A POLICY. Ool:/not can.agree on wordy notes, but they are hopelessly divided as to action. They are therefore dispersed Jar and wide to search for fortuitous guidance, some iu tranquil country houses, some in the healing springs of France, and some in the mists of tho Scottish moorlands. Mayhap, ono of them wiill bring home a policy acceptable to his colleagues. | It is all very humiliating to an Empire that raised ten million men and spent ten thousand millions to win the war. The net result of the voluminous correspondence is that the AlV.es whom wo saved from destruction refuse to move an inch out of their road to secure our frinedly companionship. They are marching resolutely in one direction, while wa are shambling along in another. Wo have travelled long distances from each other since January, and are now altogether out of Slight of tho position wo held in common when we met the Germans at Cannes. The Entente was never more cordial than it was then, hut M. Poincare had no use for the Dove of Peace.. He wanted to lly his Falcon. He had trained and bred it in a French farmyard. When tho chance came ho flow it at the wounded German Eaglo. It is poor sport, and somewhat cruel, but evidently it gives great joy to Frenchmen of a tort. The best are ashamed of it, but their voices are drowned in the clamour of the unthinking. If the helpless bird is torn to pieces, there Is nothing in that for the French or Belgian larders.

ing my years of discussion with French statesmen, I never heard this voice. I had three or four talks with M. Poincare, and I never heard him. speak in. this supercilious tone. Impunity has developed them since to tho present pitch of strid

ency. Belgium is to suggest a meeting of Premiers. When it comes, Franco’s minimum terms are to Ik? Vfgid and unequivocal. Any departure, on the French slide from these terms seems impossible. The hope of a conference rests entirely on con - fidence in the British* surrender. There is a dismal joy-ride in prospect for the British Prime Minister and his Foreign Secretaay. It is inconceivable they can contemplate such a capitulation. 1 don’tsee how the present Government, after nil it has said and written, can so far submit to French dictation as to make it likely that further discussions would lead to an agreement. What is the alternative? Herr Stre'semann can alone answer the

Quite unintentionally, the Hawkbrought down the Entente also. It

question. Perhaps ho is feeling his nay to a decision.