REPARATIONS PROBLEM.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15183, 8 March 1923, Page 5

REPARATIONS PROBLEM.

DRIFTING RELATIONSHIP. LABOUR LEADER'S PROPOSAL. CABINET HAS NO SCHEME. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.); Received March 8, 9.30 a.m. LONDON, March 7. In the House of Commons Mr Ramsay MacDonald moved the Labour Party's motion, "That this '.louse, believing that ■ the peoples of Europe wish to maintain peace and pursue a policy which will secure it, agrees to invite, in the first instanoe, the French and Belgian Chambers, each to appoint a committee representing all parties, in order to exchange information and views with a similar committee of this House regarding the occupation of the Ruhr in relation to security for reparations." The Labour leader said that until there was a change in public opinion in all countries Governmental interference would be of little value. The relations between Britain and France were drifting. France was re-writing the Versailles Treaty in her interests without consulting her allies, and events were happening that were the first chapter in a series which would result in war if not properly handled. They should give a moral lead to Europe, but instead of mastering events they were being mastered by them.

Lord Robert Cecil considered the proposal rather insufficient for dealing with so grave a situation. How could such a committee proceed without negotiation and without interfering with negotiations between the Governments? An appeal to popular opinion over' the heads of the Government would embitter feeling and consolidate the French people behind their Government If the problem was to be solved they had to tackle the security as well as reparations, and the oniy body that dould do that was the League of Nations. They should aim at securing by means of a conference a temporary international working in Ruhr.

Mr H. A. L. Fisher did not believe the committee would produce any valuable practical result. A hand should be stretched to Germany when it became clear that she was meeting her obligations. The question should be submitted to the League of Nations and the aid of the United States should be invoked. It should be made plain to France that Britain regarded the problem as one for international settlement, i

Mr Bonar Law, 'in replying, said everyone disliked the 1 situation in Ruhr. There was no doubt the French had not gained anything by occupation; indeed, there had been very heavy losses, and what the end would be he did not venture to prophesy, but .the loss was not all on one sie. Germany's jugular vein had been cut; that must be ruinous to the country, which would be less able to pay reparations than ever. It was no use the Government attempting to do anything unless public opinion was behind them. The Government did not believe intervention at this moment would be of the least use: it would be regarded as' hostile to France. Having once entered on such an adventure, it would be difficult for France to find a way out. At tho moment the Government had nothing to propose. If the line advocated in many speeches were adopted they would have to be prepared to enforce their will upon France by war. He did not believe that any serious French politician contemplated a European bloc against Britain. The proposed committee was too much like, a council of war, and, moreover, was undemocratic. ) The motion was talked out.