SUPREME COUNCIL.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXI, 11 August 1921, Page 5

SUPREME COUNCIL.

jjPPEII SILESIA QUESTION. SPEECH »' NIR LDOYD GEORGE. (Per Pro. - iatiOTl -Loiy ri » PARIS, August 9. General .Alien, Amerucm Command- ’ the Rhine, attended the Council, ’"various Allied military experts un- . |j e d then- rictus on the question of L security of the troops in Silesia, jter which Mr Uoyd George explained : views on the problem generally, Glaring that it was the most monac- „ ever placed before the Council. Britain and ItaJV held “ milar views > vhereas France differed. Whilst wish'n„ to accommodate existing differences, „ ffa s convinced that the settlement Inst not be made at the expense of the majority of the population and Porere concerned. Any attempt on the

basis of the plebiscite vote to manoeuvre -Jie German population out of Silesia v o uld recoil upon ita authors, and Britain would never support such a -ettlementMr Lloyd George suggests that fresh jstructions should bo given to the exerts to dis JUSS the matter on the folowing line ■ =—(D One -'oto onc Talue ’ j 18 ho was not prepared to accept an jgreement that the peasant vote should „iitweigh the artisan vote; (2) that the hdustrial area, which is German by ■ro to one, should go to Germany; 13) that contentious areas should bo dialysed t • show which communes lc re vitally connected with industrial areas. He appreciated the weight atrSßied by France to tad consideration of her security, and the Council should ■ ij T e careful thought to the French new. Mr Lloyd George thought France would only add to her danger in folowing her proposed course in Silesia. I In the last war Franco had a just wise, and the world would always npport her in the justice of her anse. The Allies ’’came to France’s aid when she was unjustly oppressed, ..nt the British Empire- was not going c be dragged into new wars caused by upf.re-sion or the use of superior force. In the hour of triumph that would be m abuse of justice. Franco had noshing to fear if she used moderation and Unity. General Leround, expounding th« li experts’’ , lew. said the situation ras grave, and they must not I® Bo right -f the fact that Allied contingents wore ■ndangered owing to tho presonco of -aitoiifage German organisations. Tho .< ation demanded prompt solution. Sir Harold Stuart, the British High I’ommissioner, denied that the danger .vas imminent, but agreed that tho ursenee of German organisations would lie a danger if attacked by the Poles. Then the Allied contingents would be insufficient to deal with tho situation. Genera] Marines (Italy) endorsed Sir ■larold Stuart’s view. DIPLOMACY POISONED. LONDON, August 10. The “Daily Telegraph” saya that Upper Silesia lias been poisoning diplomacy too long. Already it has infected ruinous damage to the economy of Central Europe. It is true that the revival of industry- was never possible a Silesia while its fate was undecided, as it has been since the Treaty of Vereiilles, but Upper Silesia will produce nothing for‘Europe until her political i destiny is decided. A STRONG CASE. The “Daily Chronicle” saysg that hr Lloyd George made a most effectj ire presentation of the British case. If j ’he full text could reach the ears of ■he French public as it was delivered r would go far to dispel any illusion ’ at Mr Lloyd George and tho British I ration were not deeply solicitous for I ‘ ,!l ’ highest French interests. Tlie “Daily News”, says that to sei ' “re success, it is essential that the -'Died experts should report promptly, “nd the Council act promptly. If tho Allied unanimity is made clear, the down will be enforced without much 'lifficulty or danger of the catastrophe, i Much was nearly caused by the unhappy combination of procrastination md self-seeking, and which now seems 0 have neon narrowly averted.

NO ULTERIOR MOTIVE. LONDON, August 10. Al. Briand, replying to Mr Lloyd '“'orge, said that. Franco had no ulterior motives in her designs regarding the ■vision of Upper Silesia. She only deltod to carry out the Versailles Treaty rirly, but thought that in matters here there was a doubt the victors ■-“ght to have tho benefit. The Poles '' d preserved their language for oenWries; they bail had the courage to v “te in great a? inherit for liberation, "t thought ’,iii_':t to be emanci-

pated from Germany, with the provision that in cases of doubt moral considerations " should be taken into account.

Upper Silesia was a small matter compared with the maintenance of AngloFrench friendship. He was hopeful that a quick solution would be found. Signor Bonomi (Italy) said the question was purely an economic one, depending on whether the industrial area was united or not. The Council resumes on Wednesday.

Paris reports that everyone in the city is optimistic that a settlement will be reached during the week. A SENSITIVE SPOT.

Tho “Morning Post’s” Berlin correspondent states that Theodor Wolff discusses the Paris situation in the “Tageblatt.” He says: “The English know what is at stake. The programme is amply laden. Will it be forgotten that the future shaping of all problems will be affected by the decision regarding Upper Silesia ? That province is one of those sensitive spots whose upheavals are felt at a distance. It is a French myth that the industrial district of Upper Silesia will be a German workshop in future wars, but it is true that the fates have a great spinning works there.”

Paris newspapers generally comment on the improved situation as the outcome of Mr Lloyd George’s and M. Briand’s speeches.