ADVICE TO FRANCE
, -» «"MTJST ■ PREVENT- GERMANY FROM COLLAPSING." • A Beater message from Paris appearing in recent English papers announced the forthcoming publication in I/Opinion" of an important statement made by . Lord Robert Cecil to M. Ludovio-Nau-dean. ; Concerning the situation in ; the East, [with regard to which the attitude adopted by Lord Robert Cecil is well known, m. Naudeau contents himself with pointV [ing out the following sentence: "I would : certainly have agreed with the idea of, entrusting to France the mandate over Constantinople Inder the League , of Nations!" : Upon M. Nandeau 'saying that a certain fear was entertained in France, . - caused by the inception of a movement an favour of a- revision of the Treaty of- . .Versailles, Lord Robert Cecil replied: '?'lnany case, the recollection of the (memorable deeds accomplished together jwill always form the basis of our friend- ■ Bhip, but to-day we must look in a manly 6pirit upon the realities of war. The .war is over; it'is no longer a question • of winning battles, but of effecting the reconstruction of Europe. If Central"Europe collapses we ahall be threatened •with a catastrophe which might involve the whole of the civilised w.orld. Now, iall .the countries of Central Europe are on'the brink of an economic'precipice. 'Among them! Germany is the most important; that is why we must prevent uer from collapsing. .. "A revision of the Treaty is not realiy . -.(necessary. I referred rather to the specifying of certain essential points it is impossible any longer to leave vague, namely, the amount Germany can and must pay. ■ . ■• "We cannot pursue these contradictory . iaims, one of rendering Germany powerless and insolvent, the second, of' demanding an indemnity. In any case Germany has to effect her own reconstruction. I admit that a rebuilt Germany will constitute a danger. The only power to counteract it is the Leaguo of Nations. ■ ' "I am speaking as a friend of Prance. If Prance should keep the left bank of the Rhine as compnsation, she would be taking a fresh load upon .her shoul- , ders in encumbering herself with, a foreign population." _ Lord Robert concluded by expressing Jhis confidence in the League of Nations, Baying: "It exists, it is a reality, but (unfortunately it is weakened bv the present absence of the United' States'. It is for the nations of the world to say what tail] be the result of this experiment. If it_ fails to succeed European civilisation ,will perish, and we shall have killed it .With out own hands." -
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Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 193, 11 May 1920, Page 8
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413ADVICE TO FRANCE Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 193, 11 May 1920, Page 8
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