ALLIES AND GERMANY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 179, 24 April 1920, Page 7

ALLIES AND GERMANY

INNER HISTORY OP SAN REMO CONFERENCE WILL TREATY BE ENFORCED? MILLERAND'S DIFFICULT ROLE Te\egrapli-Press Association-Copyright London, April 21. Nr. A. IT. Perris, tho "Daily Chronicle" spccial correspondent at San Remo, yimmari6ing the inner history of the conference, says:—"While 31. Milleraiid, Signor Nitti, and Mr. Lloyd George met, Mr. Lloyd George laughingly remarked: 'Well, here we arc in paradise, but which is tlio serpent?'" Mr. Perris says that Mr. Lloyd George is by far the strongest man, but lie is painfully torn .between-a deep conviction of the necessity for a reasonable attitude towards uormany, and a deep sense of France's wounds and difficulties. • Signor Nitti wears some resemblance to Mr. Lloyd George, which makes malignant persons onarge Signor Nitti with having an inclination towards the restoration of the old understanding between Italy and Germany. As a matter of fact, Signor Nitti has the wisdom to recognise the peril of any policy of adventuro at tho ?r' e ' 3 ™\ time. It is unfair to say that M. Millerand' is the serpent, but ho has inherited a rolo .of immense difficulty trom M. Clemenceau. The French Conservative and Militarist j i ls J I ! 0W tr ?" in o to drive M.' Millerand to the extreme. Other leading i ranchmen profess to be utterly without nope or France getting reparation on the security promised in the, Versailles .treaty. They regard the Berlin Government as a feeble effigy of tho Junker Government. It is possible at any moment that the Anglo-American Convention, on which France relied, may become valueless owing to America's attitude. They point out that England cannot be relied on for immediate and substantial: aid, and Italy is even less reliable. There is no Russia to aid France, and consequently France stands alone to face a future of peril. These critics urge that the sooner Germany's infractions of the Treaty are punished tlio better. If Germany's disarmament is not completed, and coal delivered, the Rhine frontier should be made definite or the Ruhr Valley should l>e occupicd. A struggle is going on behind tho scenes to impose these views upon tho three Premiers. This grievous spectacle 'illustrates the ineffectuality of democratic parties to deal iritli international mattenj. There is a danger of the civil Government of France being pushed into further separate action. • Tho moral of the Entente would thus bo broken, which would be a calamity. - 1 Mr. Balfour has been summoned to San Remo. An unfavourable symptom is that _ Mi Millerand and Signor Nitti are desirous-of returning to their own countries on Sunday, which will not givo timie to sift tho - situation.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DIFFERENCES OF ALLIED PREMIERS. •ANXIETY IN FRANCE; London, April 22. Though tho supposed differences of England, Italy, and France regarding ■the necessity for exacting full compliance with tho Peace Treaty from Germany are at present only based on ruiiViurß, they are taken with extreme seriousness by France, where the newspapers almost unanimously fear that Germany will be allowed to escape fulfilment of the Treaty obligations.' The most commoli version is. that Signor Jjitti desires a revision of tho Treaty in Germany's favour, that M, Millerand demands strict compliance,. and that Mr. -Lloyd George occupies a iniddle position, and it is un-certainhow-far to : will incline to one side or to "the other. Some of the French newspapers assert that the next few days will decide tho continuance or dissolution of the En-tente.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CONCESSIONS SOUGHT BY GERMANY INCREASE IN STRENGTH OP ARMY. \ Paris > A P ril 21. The German delegation has presented three Notes.' with a request that they shall be sent to San Remo.' Tlio first ass for a decision regarding the number ot German troops to be permitted in tha neutral-zone. It also asks for permission to increase the number of artillerymen. The second asks for permission to double the' strength of the Reichswehr, and the third asks for permission to maintain general staffs and create railway companies and aviation groups, and also for permission to re-establish heavy • artillery.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DANGER OF BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTI ON "INSUFFICIENT FORCES WOULD . PREJUDICE ALLIES." (Rec. April 23, 7.30 p.m.) " r San Remo, April 22. The German Note asking' permission to increase the Army to two hundred thousand argues that the Government forces are insufficient to suppress the trouble provoked by extremists and to re-establish order. The Note dwells on the danger of a Bolshevist revolution, and contends that an insufficient military force in Germany will prejudice the Allies, because the Government will be unable, to conform to tho economic stipulations of the Treaty. It also urges, a postponement of the reduction of the Army to two hundred thousand until the situation in Germany has consolidatThe' Not® declares that the cohesion of tho Army is greatly impaired by the uncertainty of tho future, and urges a settlement of the question without' delay, otherwise the consequences. to Germany and Europe aro incalculable. The Note proposes that the Army of two hundred thousand consist of twelve infantry and three cavalry divisions, three infantry brigades with three batteries of heavy 'artillery for, each infantry division, It also proposes a total of eight groups of aviators.—lmperial News Service. REVISION OF TREATY DEMANDED AS A RIGHT. London, April-22. . Contemporaneous with ■ Germany's triple Note is tho increasing frankness of the German newspaper comment. A portion of the Pressi openly hopes to benefit bv the Entente disagreement, andis beginning to . demand revision of the Treaty as a matter of right. The impression Is current in Germany that Mr. Lloyd George agrees with Signor Nitti in principle, but is not yet agreed as to means.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. EVIDENCE OF GMY'S BAD FAITH ONLY ONE REMEDY: DISARMA- ■ ! MENT. (Rec. April 23, 11.25 p.m.) San Remo, April 22. M. Millerand, interviewed, said: "Mr. Lloyd Georgo declares himself against any military revision of the Treaty. I several times stated that in _ the economic splicre it was very desirable to renew normal relations between Franco and Germany, but Germany must prove her good faith by deeds. Tho Allied Aviation Commission reports that everywhere the commission meets with evidence of bad faith. Material is beiug hidden and inspection avoided. Jly opinion is that there is only one remedy by which tho Allies can obtain peace, namely, disarmament."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assti. NO REAL ANGLOMCH DIVERGENCE REGARDING ENFORCEMENT OF TREATY. , (Eec. April 21, 0.55 a.m.) San Remo, April 22. M. Millerand, in an interview, said as regards tho enforcement of tho Treaty there was no real Anglo-French divergence. lie had no doubt that an agreement would bo readied on the other points. Franco insisted on the disarmament of Germany. The report of tho Air Commission gavo cvidohoo that Germany war determined'to attempt to

evade the Treaty. M. Millerand re- | yarded Germany's request to increaso i the army as another attompt to evade tier obligations—Router. THE REICHSWEHR'S ADVANCE 1 WAS IT JUSTIFIABLE? (Rec. April 23, 10.20 p.m.) London, April 22. Mr. Ferris, writing from San Remo. states that tlxo German Note will he a blessing- to all concerned if it obliges the Supreme Council to Btiuly the German problem in close detail. The British Government largely guided by the reports of tlio military scattered up 2, . down Germany. It considers tlxo Rcichswehr's ladvance justifiable as a pqlico measure, and only a technical in*, frmgement of the Treaty. It is rot* 'sura that French opinion is correct in ascribing it as a deliberate evasion. Tho military reports insistently refer to the semi-starvation of the German people, and quote as an example Cologne, where instead of 3000 calories, which food experts consider as necessary, the people only receive 1300. vThe British policy, I which Italy, Belgium, the United States and Japan are supporting, is to give tile harassed German Government a I chance. My inquiries suggest that the Fiench attitude on the German Note will r.ot be favourable, but M. Millerand is inclined, to make allowances in connection with the economic provisions of tlio Treaty.—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn.' SERIOUS FOOT) SHORTAGE IN RUHR. (Rec. April 23. 10.20 p.m.) London, April 22. Tho food shortage in the Ruhr Valley has become serious, particularly at'"Essen, where the food- consists mainly of bread and potatoes, but the bread ration has been reduced to 21b. weekly. Essen workmen sent a deputation to -tho Reparation authorities stating that they are willing to increaso the output if supplied with increased rations, which are insufficient to sustain a working man Tho authorities are considering tho representation—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.' CHECKING OFWARMATERIALOPPOSED CONSTRUCTION CONDUCTED SECRETLY. Paris, April 22. The Petit Parisian" states that* General head of the Allied Coinmission of Air Control, has .reported to the Ambassadors' Conference that the Germans are deliberately opposing attempts to check war material, and are rendering the mission's journeys most difficult. German officers everywhere are behaving in a hostile manner. Aviation material stolen from war material depots has been discovered in the neighbourhood of Berlin, and fresh construction is being conducted secretly.— Reuter. GERMAN DEVICES TO BAFFLE COMMISSION. (Rec. April 24, 0.55 a.m.) Paris, April 22. General Masterman caused a sensation at the Ambassadors' 'conference by describing the German, official devices to baffle his mission by concealing war material.—United Service. GERMAN PARTICIPATION IN CONFERENCE OPPOSED BY FRENCH PREMIER. m< ■ . Paris ' A P ril 22 ' The Matin's" San Remo correspondent asserts that Mr. Lloyd George and Signor Nitti suggested that tne German Government should be invited- to participate in a conference to discuss the restoration 'of political and economic' relations with the Allies. M. Milleraiid declared that the proposal was not acceptable, and, in an interview with the correspondent, 6aid that when Germany was able to prove her good faith in the carrying out of tho Treaty one could talk about economic co-operation. The "Matin" adds that M. Millerand's attitude was a hint to Mr. Lloyd Georgs that h« was taking the wrong step—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FRENCH IRQ'OPS~IN~ FRANKEORI.; ; EIGHT BATTALIONS WITHDRAWN. Paris, April 22. A Frankfort telegram states that during the last five days eight battalions of French troops have been withdrawn.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable.Assn. RESPONSIBILITY FOR WA? REPORT OF GERMAN COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY. - Berlin, April 22. The report of the Parliamentary Comnsitteo's.inquiry into the responsibility for the'war will be published to-morrow. It covers tho' decision of the ex-Kaiser • and his advisers, and the discussions of the Crown Council at Potsdam. The, "Vorwaerts" states that the report contains astonishing revelations.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.