THE FRENCH POLICY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16940, 15 January 1923, Page 7

THE FRENCH POLICY.

“NOTHING INTRINSICALLY WRONG WITH IT.” BRITAIN’S OBJECTIONS. By Telegraph—Tress Aasoointion—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable- Association. (Received January 15, 10.30 -a.m.) LONDON, January 14. Mr Ronald M’Neill (Canterbury), Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, said that it was a serious disappointment that so early in the life of the new Government it was compelled to dissent from France’s proposals regarding the best way of making Germany fulfil her obligations. It was tlic. old story of the goose and the golden eggs in a new form, Mr M’Neill said. Britain believed that the French policy would starve the bird, ’f not oat its throat. She wanted to give it just enough food to enable it to lay, not because she loved the bird but because she wanted the eggs. Some persons seemed to think that Mr Bonar Law desired to let the Germans off easily,’ or that he had a squeamish objection to taking military action in order to make tiiem pay, Mr M’Neill added. Others seemed to think that Mr Bcnar Law was even deluded enough to trust German promises. There was no truth whatever in these suggestions. Mr Bonar Law was no more disposed than M. Poincare to trust German, promises. The whole disagreement between France and Britain was simply regarding the best method of attaining a common end, Mr M’Neill continued. All the German talk about the violence and brutality of the French methods were moonshine. The Germans were the last people who ought to talk of brutality. If it were possible for the French to recover a tenth part of what Germany owed by the same methods that Germany employed in 1871, there would not be a. particle of injustice in doing There was nothing intrinsically wrong with the FTench. policy, Mr M’Nei J said, hut Britain objected. believing that it would defeat its own purpose. Nobody mus-t suppose that it would afford Britain any gratification if her view proved to he right.