TWO ALLIED CAMPS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2027, 13 August 1920, Page 7

TWO ALLIED CAMPS.

THE FRENCH BOMBSHELL. RECOGNITION OF WRANGEL. AMAZEMENT IN ENGLAND. By Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright. (A. & N.Z.) LONDON, Aug. 11. Owing to the European situation, Parliament will not adjourn for the recess to-morrow as intended. LLOYD GEORGE AMAZED. CAN SCARCELY CREDIT IT. ("cuter) LONDON, Aug. 11. The Rt. Hon. I). Lloyd George heightened the mystery as regards Reuter's news from Paris that France had recognised General Wrangel's Government, and that the French Foreign Otlice notified Mr Lloyd George of the decision yesterday, when he told the House of Commons this afternoon that his only information was Reuter's telegram, and he could scarcely credit it. He said he had no confirmation from any other source, but Reuter's inquiries in Paris elicited the reply that the news as given was official.

The action of France is regarded in London as deliberately designed to put a spoke into the wheels of the peace which seemed assured in the Near East, and apparently splits the Allied and Associated Powers into two camps, namely, France with the United States opposed to Great Britain and Italy.

One of the French reasons given for her action is General Wrangel's assurance as regardp Russia's external engagements, which is "diplomatics" for Russian bonds. Anyway, a prominent official to-i.ight emphasised (he fact that the British attitude remains as outlined by Mr Lloyd George last evening. He possessed no information in regard to the matter, while the Foreign Office was equally in the dark, as was also the French Embassy. The Prime Minister, in his speech this afternoon, said he could hardly believe the statement was accurate, because he had fully discussed the whole situation with M. Milterand on Monday, when there was no proposal made to recognise General Wrangel. He assumed that the report was inaccurate, because be felt certain that M. Millerand would have communicated his intention. It was well known that France's attitude towards General Wrangel was at variance with that of Great Britain. The former considered she was free to sustain General Wrangel. Great Brilain did not propose to do so, except in the contingency explained by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister concluded that an unfortunate mistake had occurred in a report from a very reliable news agency, and that the French Government had not authorised it.

LONDON INCREDULOUS. SEEKING AN EXPLANATION. (A. A N.Z.i LONDON'. Autf. 12. Political circles regard the report of France’s sudden change of attitude as incredible. Most reliable correspondents emphasise that.M. Millerand was absent from Paris, and point out that the statement published in the Paris papers was apparently issued by somebody in the French Foreign Cilice. It is understood that it refers to the French Government’s decision of three weeks ago, since when the circumstances-have entirely changed. The actual French policy was outlined at the Lympne Conference. Mr Lloyd George will make a statement in the House of Commons on Monday. If is expected that the situation will be quickly cleared up, enabling the House of Commons to then adjourn for the recess.