BRITAIN'S STAND

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15314, 15 August 1923, Page 5

BRITAIN'S STAND

OFFICIAL VIEW.

NO TENDERNESS FOR GERMANY.

CO-OPERATION WITH AMERICA.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. Received August 15, 11.30 a.m LONDON. August 14, The Central News issues the follow- ; tag as an authoritative official British: ■; view:— i

There is no tenderness for Ger- \ I many; that empire is dead and forgot- ' ton. but the Government realise that . if France is out to maintain indefinitely ' [her stranglehold on Germany the com- ! | piete overthrow of the economic sys- ; tern of Europe, if not of the wholo world, is certain. There is more than, • a suspicion that the French policy at ', present aims at the isolation of Britain , : in Europe, but the Government is ! •seeking not the isolation of France but v , her co-operation. If that fails, ob- j viously Britain will try her hand at the ] isolation game. England may Ibcn try J to win over Italy, to detach Belgium «| from supporting Franco in the Ruhr, j and to bring into line with her Hoi- i ■land, Switzerland. Sweden, and Nor- j way, who arc suffering equally with Britain from the effects of the French i policy. Apart from .the immediate \ aims in Europe, the dominating note : of the British Government's policy is ultimate co-operation between Bri- >, tain and America for a world settlement. No immediate sensational re-j sponse from Hie United States need! be expected, but Hon. W. S. Baldwin ') believes that Europe cannot be saved. ■ unless the American people join the, ; British in saving it. Unfortunately , there is nothing to indicate that we are ' likely to receive anything but practically Ihe complete rejection of our suggestions from Paris. This is far ■from being the case elsewhere. Tof. Italy there is a concession to Signer Mussolini's oft-stated belief that debts, and reparations ,go hand-in-hand; to Servia and Roumania there is a guarantee that Britain will approve of no modification of the Spa Conference percentages: to America, there is the acceptance of Mr Hughes' proposal for • an impartial enquiry; to other coun- \ tries, there is the economic appeal of" j a restored Germany and a peaceful \ Europe. If it falls on deaf cars in Paris, it will be for Britain to act. The • general anticipation in diplomatic circles is that action will consist of sending a reply to Germany, possibly wth Italian -and other approval, and A tribunal will be called on to decido , Germany's capacity. • An international j tribunal might be asked to say ' whether the occupation of the Ruhr ) could continue legally. Lastly there is ■ the League of Nations, and it should be recalled that the Socialists whobrought about the fall of Herr Cunoi demand Germany's entry into thet League.

FAVOURABLE IMPRESSION.

BUSINESSMEN'S ENDORSEMENT. (CRASH IN FRANCE PREDICTED. .. Australian and N.Z. Gable Assn, Received Ausrust 10, 8.55 a.m. LONDON, August 14. The Financial Times says the Bri-' tisli Note has created a most favourable impression in banking and commercial circles. The French people are still ignorant of the fact. If world opinion succeeds in convincing them that the Ruhr adventure is doomed to failure, that the French Government will never be able to honour its promises, and that invtstora must face a heavy loss, then the;. French Ministry will crash. Thfll situation will then be revealed in al> new light, and if the chance of au| Allied understanding is. not thereby assured, the crash will be immeas„» urably greater. /*•

FEELING IN AMERICA.

HIGH OFFICIALS CONCERNED*. SETTLEMENT HOPED FOR. ;' Australian and N.Z. Cable Assa. WASHINGTON, August 13- . The United Stales Government la%, refused to comment officially on Uraiu British Note since the United is not a direct party to the corres—j pondenee, but high officials deolai«W that the United Stales is deeply coa-».| cerned about the situation and hopes!? far an eventual settlement. It is alsol?, learned that diplomats he.re regard ttKv: Note as the first defiance towa«H; France and the Francophile Dichards*,' thereby sanctioning Germany's policjf • of resistance in Ruhr. The belief is , unanimous here that Herr Strcscman,; , the new Chancellor, will substantially* follow Herr Cuno's policy. Hence is Inconceivable that Germany shoußt\ capitulate to Franco, since Britain, has ; \ alienated herself from the French;' j policy.

FRENCH IN RUHR.

LLMITATION OF ACTION. A GERMAN REPORT. Received August 15, 12.30 p.m. BERLIN, August 11. The Yossische Zcitung's Paris correspondent reports that the French. Government is considering officially announcing the limitation of Ruhu action, provided the German Cabinet offers a sufficient guarantee regarding reparations, France realising that the unconditional abandonment of passive resistance is impossible because it would prejudice beforehand the position of any Government.

A FRENCH SUGGESTION.

Received August 15, 12.30 p.m. PARIS, August Li. The Petit Parisicn says that if Britain really is Irving to tint! a solution acceptable to all the Allies perhaps she 'will find it in M. Poincaro's suggestion, namely, agreeing to the immediate payment of Germany's debt corresponding lo a reconstruction of Ihe devastated regions, deferring for later consideration Ihe remainder of the German debts and also the. inter-Allied debts. It may be necessary to return to this equitable suggestion when Britain sees that the path she is now following leads to a blind alley. The Figaro says the Nolo is contrary to Hie Versailles Treaty. Germany no longer wauls a Reparation Commission, undoubtedly because il has not succeeded in classing France and Belgium as a minority.

The Eclair says thai England concludes lhat Belgium lias already had 100 much, and that, France must pay out,, but must not receive.

The Petit Journal stales that England seems lo mix up two kinds of debts, which have nolhing in common, namely, ihe war drill, which wo do not intend to repudiate, ami the German debt, which represents so much Allied bloodshed,