CRISIS OVER

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14338, 14 April 1920, Page 5

CRISIS OVER

QUESTIONS IN HOUSE OF COMMONS. LORD DERBY'S POSITION. STRENGTH OF THE GERMAN FORGES (Press Assn.—lmperial News Services.) Received April 13, 5.25 p.m. LONDON, April 12.. In the House-of Gon,mens Mr Bonar Law was bombarded with questions respecting the Anglo-French situation. Viscount Curzon asked whether Lor.’. Derby attended the Conference of Ambassadors in Paris. Mr Boriar Law asked that the question be postponed for a couple of days, as particular point should not be discussed. Mr Claude Lowther,asked whether the German army, including the Reichswehr militia and police numbered 2,000,000. Mr Bonar Law said he did not think there was a shadow of foundation for such a suggestion. Mr Bj>nar Law, replying to Colonel J. C. Wedgwood, stated that the Government’s information was that the Reichswehr would be shortly withdrawn from the Essen district; but he was not aware whether it hXd actually been withdrawn.

Commander Kenworthy asked whether we were taking steps to insist on the withdrawal, of the Germans from the neutral zone.

Mr Bonar Law deprecated discussion of isolated parts of the subject liecause the matter affected not merely Britain but the Allies. It was possible that developments would make discussion advisable: but he hoped not. If it did the Government would be quite ready to give an opportunity. The House must realise that any statement in the House of Commons, especially by a member of the Government apparently justifying, our attitude might have the appearance of criticising the attitude of yie Allies, and also might convey to the German Government the idea that there was not complete agreement among the Allies regarding the importance of the Treaty. The subject was dropped. NOTES DISPLAY FRIENDLY TONE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received April 13, 8.10 p.m. LONDON, April 12. Paris newspapers stress the friendly tone displayed in the Notes exchanged between England and France, reassuring the balance of power in European affairs. The new nations in Europe were turning to France. BELGIAN TROOPS FOR FRANCE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. Received April 13, 8.10 p.m. BRUSSELS, April 12. Fifteen hundred Belgian troops, with a number of batteries of artillery, will proceed to Germany to-morrow. THE CRISIS ENDED. FRENCH TROOPS TO WITHDRAW. (The Times.) April 13, BMO p.m. LONDON, April 13. The crisis has been settled and France has agreed to ’withdraw her troops. ACCUSATIONS AGAINST FRANCE. FOR BREACHES OF THE TREATY. GERMAN CHANCELLOR'S CLAIMS. (Press Assn.—lmperial News Service.) Received April 13, 11.10 p.m. LONDON, April 13. Addressing the . National Assembly in Berlin to-day, the Chancellor, Herr Mueller, protesting against the occupation of Frankfort, accused France of breaking the Versailles Treaty and discrediting the League of Nations. He declared that the occupation was undertaken without the sanction of the other signatories, and was without Justification in the Treaty and in direct contravention of the protocol of December 8 last, which declared that post-war breaches of the Treaty were only punishable in accordance with the prescriptions of international law or the terms of the Treaty, which did not entitle individual signatories to invade Germany, while the League covenant contends that hostilities are not allowable against a country that is not a member of the League, without a pricr appeal to the League Gouncil. Herr Mueller discredited the idea that the action of the Entente in declining the French occupation had stirred up the Nationalistic instinct, giving a fresh impetus to militarism in Germany. The Government, he said, was negotiating with the Entente with a view to securing a prolongation until July 10 of an agreement permitting Hie retention of troops. MISUNDERSTANDINGS OVERCOME. GRATIFICATION IN FRANCE. (The Times.) Received April 13, 11.40 p.m. PARIS, April 13. M. Millerand informed Lord Derby, after the Ambassadors’ Conference that as Germany had requested the Supreme Council to grant a postponement of the evacuation of the neutral zone, France would not consider the occupation a breach of the Treaty for the time being, and would order the withdrawal of the French troops from Frankfort and other towns as soon as the excess of German troops had been withdrawn from Ruhr. It is understood that the whole qu<astion of policy regarding the neutral zone will be discussed at San Remo. The French press is gratified that the misunderstanding has been overcome, but the Temps gloomily asserts that the militarists are intriguing throughout Germany with the connivance of the Berlin Government.