M. CAILLAUX AGAIN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16918, 18 December 1922, Page 8

M. CAILLAUX AGAIN.

VIEWS ON REPARATIONS.

By Telegraph—Press A Bf»«. c i at ion—Copyright ■ Australian and N.Z. ( able Association. f (Received December 18, 8.5 a m.) t v LONDON, December 16. M. Caillaux. writing in the “Observer" expresses the opinion that the . eparanpns debt must be qountersignod by all civilisation. TTtat the conquei ed should be condemned to pay is the law of war but 'that the conquerors, and even the neutrals, should disavow pecuniary responsibility to the nations who suffered for the common good is inadmissahlQ. Hie Powers assuming that responsibility would reserve the right to ireover moderate expenditure and reparations, control the payments in kind, and fix the delay.-, to which France has no reason to object, because she is sure of ultimately collecting. While the principle of the solidarity of the nations is not taken as a base, nq result will be reached except by an accentuation of the divergence between Great Britain and France. France is gradually Jeaning towards the view that the enterprise will bring her nothing and only complete the disintegration of Furope. The proposal to create a buffer State of Rhineland is infinitely dangerous to France, to whom it would give a false sense of security, in addition to feeding Germany’s spirit of revenge.

Referring to the possibility of reviving the I'ranco-Kussian alliance as a precaution against an exasperated Germany arming starving Russia. M Uaillaux is of opinion that it is undeni f. ble t hat this is one way of ensuring peace in Europe, and even of preparing lor a renewal of a:i understanding beiween France and Germany. British tears that such a policy might lead to an understanding between France and £he peoples ot the Fast, which would l-e prejudicial to Great Britain, are exaggerated. Nobody ought to object to France thinking first of her own interests. w hie i are especially in the Mediterranean, and differ from British irtereets.