FRENCH CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1921, Page 5

FRENCH CRISIS.

ENTENTE IMPERILLED. ’ ALLIES AGAIN DISAGREE. POSTPONING THE CONFERENCE. ... x By Telegraph.—Press u Received Jan. 16, 11 p.m. London, Jan. 15. The Observer states that the British Government takes an extremely grave view of the French crisis. The position had recently been better than for many months, and the Gov- ’ ernments at Berlin; Paris and London i were each dispbsed to settle the out- ; standing legacies of the Treaty of Ver- ’ sailles in a reasonable spirit. It is ; now feared the vote of the Chamber of I Deputies indicates a stiffening of the ! French demands on Germany. It is no i exaggeration to say that M. Poincare’s i sabotage has again imperilled the En- ’• tente. After quoting the views of Mr. Lloyd : George, especially the necessity of injvestigating and estimating what Ger- ' many is able to pay and then fixing the j amount,, the Observer says France decided to act on this principle, but now, ion the eve of its realisation, the Goviernment is defeated by extremists, who I are blind to imminent dangers. The paper adds that the British Gov- ; ernment has requested a postponement jof Wednesday’s conference (the Allied ■ Premiers’ Conference) until the exact i issue of the French crisis is known. Mr. ■ Lloyd George is fully det ermined to i point out that a return by France to unbending insistence on the literal treaty rights in the interests of French financiers would gravely menace Europe and the Entente.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Received Jan. 17, 12.45 a.m. London, Jan. 16. The Observer, in a later edition, states that M. Briand represents a policy of moderation and reasonableness.~ Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. MAKING NEW CABINET. FIRST ATTEMPT FAILS. Paris, Jan. 14. M. Peret has undertaken the formation of a Cabinet.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Received Jan. 5.5 p.m. PariSj Jan. 15. M. Peret failed to form a Cabinet, and the President has asked M. Briand to undertake the task.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.

FORMER PREMIER RETURNS. M. BRIAND LEADS CABINET. Received Jan 16, 11 p.m. Paris, Jan. 15. M. Peret’s failure to form a Government was due to M. Poincare and M. Briand each desiring the portfolio of Foreign Affairs. He, with regret, advised the President to invite M. Briand to form a Cabinet. M. Briand has arranged a Cabinet, including M. Barthou as Minister of War.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [M. Briand was Prime Minister of France from 1909 to 1911. He has been a prominent member of the Socialist Party, but he claims independence from his socialism. His rise was rapid, for he only entered the Chamber of Deputies in 1902.] DANGER OF A SPLIT. WHAT GERMANY WANTS. Received Jan. 17, 12.45 a.m. London, Jan. 16. The Sunday Times’s Paris correspondent states that M. Poincare represented the “pound-of-flesh.” interpretation of the Treaty, but the much more moderate men, M. Millerand and M. Leygues, found it necessary to curtail even their programme, in view of the opposition of the Allies. Unreasonable adherence to M. Poincare’s policy might expose France to that isolation for which Germany longs.—Aus. and ’N.Z. Cable Assn.