"IT FRAME'S EXPENSE."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16819, 23 August 1922, Page 5

"IT FRAME'S EXPENSE."

SPEECH BY M. POINCARE. ISSUE OF EARL BALFOUR’S NOTE CONDEMNED. By T^lesrapti—Prosp A*«*r>ciatfon —Copyright Router'* Telerrams. PARTS, August 21. M Poincare attended the unveiling of the first milestone along La Vni© Sar-ree. extending fifty-seven kilometres from Baf-le-Duc to Verdun, over which French troops marched in 1916 to support the stricken town. In the course of his speech. M. Poin : care declared that Britain, dwelling on her unemployment and the loss of her foreign trade, misunderstood France’.? financial difficulties, M. Poincare complained that every inter-Allied compromise during the last tliree years had been at France’s expense. Great Britain had made repeated interventions to prevent every effort of France to exert pressure on Germany. Since the armistice the Allies, little by little, had shown less political solidarity. Some nation?, more imperialistic than France, accused her qf desiring domination. France did not i ant land, only the execution of the payment of war damages. Some of the Allies did not always understand these simple claims. Sometimes, feeling more insecure than did France against Bolshevism. they thought that they could kill the evil by means of sterile negotiations. At other times they saw only their own paralysed industries, and desired to find foreign markets at any “ This is both natural and inevitable,” said M. Poincare, “but what. I and France cannot understand ri why. during the last three years, in the Peace Treaty as in convention? following, the agreement most often reached vras at the expense of France. Tt is useless to recall a long list of deceptions inflicted on France by concession in favour of Germany through the successive whittling down of our claims and the opposition placed in our path. We advised enforcing the sanction?, and it appears to France as if some of the Allies want to prevent her * having a Trench policy. The British Government i- certainly animated by friendly intentions, hut it has failed to realise, the seriousness of our financial position. In an otherwise courteous Note Britain reminds us that we are in debt to England. Such a claim surprised us when made at the same moment as Germany announced her inability to pay. Supported by all her dead and devastations. is not the voice of France worthy of hearing? When dismissing repara tions, must she always bow before the will of the majority of the Allies who are less interested than France?” M. Poincare declared that Germany herself was responsible for tbe collapse of tbe mark, which the'German Government. bankers and manufacturers had deliberately organised. “ She defaulted.” said M. Poincare. “ and T picposed that the Allied Governments should collectively enforce the penalties. but the instructions given by gbme of the Allies have always been exceptionally lenient. They perhaps respected the letter of the treaty, but they constantly abused the spirit- of it. It would be monstrous if the reparations Germany owes were to be confounded with inter-Allied debts. The former must have priority. If Britain demands a repayment of our debt and, at the same time, delays the payment of reparations-, it will necessitate our asking Italy, Rumania and Serbia to pay us what we are asked to pay. Wo shall not allow ourselves to be placed in such a. position. We know well enough that the world does not stop at our frontiers. Our policy, though fervently national, is neither narrow nor blind. It would be most stupid if we did not try to conciliate with a. wide, generous European policy. W© only ask to remain the allies of our Allies, and to have our Allies’ friends as our friends, resuming with our former enemies peaceful and courtly relations; ,hut we want our damages repaired. And they shall be.” POLITICIANS AMD MILITARY BLAMED. PARIS, August 22. •‘Le Temps” applauds the speech and declares that the real obstacles preventing a solution of the European crisis are the politician* and the military. Referring to a statement in the British Press that Britain will not abandon her claims against France unless the latter reduces her army and navy, “ Le Temps” declares:—“These threaten nobody, although it is that part of the British policy which surprises M. Poincare. We are convinced that the bulk of the British people will disapprove of that policy if France explains her programme and intentions.” DEBTS TO FRANCE. M. POINCARE IN LONDON. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PARIS, August 21. * Le Matin” suggests that M- Poin care at the London Conference assured the Allies that France would not make any demand for debts due by the Allies to her whatever was the outcome of the Balfour note. The newspaper advocates that debtors should meet at Paris as a reply to the Balfour note and request Britain tv. giant them a moratorium.