A CONVERSATION IN ARGENTINA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 163, 30 March 1918, Page 8

A CONVERSATION IN ARGENTINA

M. DELOASSE BLAMED FOR THE ; AVAR. (London "Times" Correspondent.) Paris, January 15. In regard to die alleged intrigues of M. Caillaux in the Argentine Republio in 1915, the "Liberte" recalls the circumstances in which he left France for Argentina. At the outbreak of war M. Caillaux had been appointed a paymaster in the Army with the rank of colonel, and he was stationed at Doullens. When the Germans were advancing on Paris he retired to Bordeaux. There he obtained a mission to South America, and left for Rio de Janeiro with Mine. Caillaux on November 14. The "Gaceta Militnr" of Santiago de Chile published (under date April 3, 1915) the following account purporting to be M. Caillaux's exposition of his ideas concerning the war made before a. gathering of friends :— "Our war against Germany is a folly and a crime. I should he stoned in Paris if I said so in public. And yet it is the truth. Delcasse bears the whole responsibility for the war. He could not forgive the German Emperor for having forced him to resign. We Frenchmen are pulling the chestnuts nut of the firo for England. While I was Minister I f-ncleavoured to establish good relations with Germany, for 1 was convinced that it would be a blessing to civilisation, When the Germans drove us back to the Marne I besought the chiefs of the Government to conclude peace. lam certain that we should have obtained reasonable condition;, for Germany wanted to have her hands free to crush England. Now it is too late. The best that can happen is that peace will b« brought about hv general exhaustion." The "Liberte" points out that this account was reproduced in the Kiel "Letate Nachrichten" on June 1,1915, nnd in the German "Gazette des Ardennes" on June 4, 1915. <