THE ENTENTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 February 1923, Page 5

THE ENTENTE.

THE LATEST BLOW. MIXED FRENCH VIEWS. DANGER IN THE EAST. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Paris, Feb. 1. Le Matin says it wa* at Britain’s request that M. Poincare defined what would be France’* attitude in the event of the Near East conference failing. Fiance lias not the least idea of seeking a quarrel .vith England, but cannot be drawn into extensive trouble with Turkey, and eventually with Russia, on account of Mosul petrol, while Lord Curzon cannot induce his Cabinet to support the French .operation* policy. An important section of tjie press does not support France* attitude at Lausanne, though Le Temps attempts to argue that the Allies’ wartime undertaking not to make a separate peace does not apply, because the GraecoTurkish war in Asia Minor is a separate conflict from the Great War. If one o f the AlVe.s finds it well to maintain, despite Franco, one or two conditions which Turkey refuses to accept, it would be absurd to say that the delegation of September, 1914, would force the other Powers to leave the conference and give jp the peace they are ready to sign. The Journal des Debats calls the French Noto a supreme fault. A writer in the Paris Midi declares, regarding the Luasannc deadlock, that the French view is short-sighted when it is considered that the unfortunate Entente is already so sick that it will hardlv survive this latest blow. The Petit Parisien asks point blank if this means the end of the Entente a.id if it is wise to make an enemy of England when France is in such a critical position in the Ruhr. The French maintain that the British interpretations of M. Poincares communications with Kemal Pasha are wholly unjustified. M. Poincare merely urged Kemal Pasha to accept the draft treaty, pointing out that the Allies had mad? great concessions to the 'Dirks and that the patience of the Allies was exhausted. The Kemalists misunderstood the dispatch, believing it implied that they must either accept or reject the treaty, and that rejection meant war. The Government thereupon telegraphed to Kemal Pasha, explaining that the treaty was in no sense an ultimatum; on the contrary the Allies were wiling to consider objections and even coun-ter-proposals. If the Turks wanted a longer lime in which to decide, the French delegates would stay at Lausanne a few days longer. The Note was communicated to Britain on Saturday.

The press emphasise*? the fact that M. Poincare’s telegram expressed vie wo completely agreeing with those of l-~i-tain. and was communicated to Lord Crewe, who thanked M. Poincare. \ The Petit Parisien says that M. t*oineare is determined to maintain the united Allied front against the Turks and will support no separate treaty and no isolated negotiations with Turkey. “Pert inax.” in the Echo do Paris, asks if the Entente Governments fully realise that a rupture on Near East affft'rs would be a much more serious matter than a rupture on reparations. It would signify the end of all co-operation between Britain and France, and set France and Britain against each other in the Near East. France's interest is to associate herself with Britain. THE FRENCH CHAMBER. CONFIDENCE IN PREMIER. Received Feb. 2, 8.30 p.m. Paris, Feb. 2. Th? Chamber carried a vote of confidence in M. Poincare by 485 votes to 81.