RHINELAND AND RUHR

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 15, 18 January 1924, Page 7

RHINELAND AND RUHR

Mr. Ilonald M'Neill claimed that "the -Government had lost no opportunity to enlist the assistance of the United States or take any means open to it to arrive at a solution of the reparations question. - • . - As regards separation in the Rhineland, the' Governnient's attitude had been that it was unable' to 'sanction any separatism amounting to a declaration of independence on the part of States forming part of the Reich which would take them outside the Reich, bocause that woujd' alter the' whole situation in regard to the Treaty of Versailles. But.if they wunted Home Rule inside the Reich, Britain would not interfere, provided that there was sufficient demonstration that it was the will of the people themselves. Obviously, in the greater part of the Rhineland the separatism movement had not been spontaneous, and owing very largely to the influence of Britain, supported by Belginni, it had come to a natural end. But in the Palatinate it had'assumed graver proportions. First, it appeared that it might be genuine, but latterly the Government had concluded that it was not genuine, and believed that if it was left to itself it would very soori collapse. . ' The Government sent Colonel Clive to the Palatinate to ascertain the facts. This caused ' a - certain amount of additional Anglo-French friction, but'he hoped that the friction would soon, be smoothed over,- and that Colonel Clive's report would enable the Government to clearly dej>ermihe the cause of action. RECOVERY IN NEAR EAST Mr. Ronald M'Neill alao defended the Government's policy in regard to the Ruhr. He claimed that those criticising the ■Government on the ground that British prestige ha.d been lgst were wrong. Sir Charles Harington said that BrjtUh prestige in tha Near, East had never been higher. Lord Allenby said .tho §ame about Egypt. One. of the Dominion lead-

ers at the Imperial Conference had told him that wherever he went he counted as a Briton. Mr. M'Neill concluded that according to, all reports, Mr. Ramsay Macdonaid was himself going into the* Foreign Of' fice. Mr. M'Neill confidently predicted that before many months Mr. Macdoiv aid would tell the Commons that he was disillusioned. Replying to Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. Neville Chamberlain said that Germany had now agreed to give an undertaking for eventual reimbursement. A German representative was on his way to England to discuss methods. He detailed the steps taken to ensure that big stocks of aleel accumulated in the occupied territories, estimated at from two to three and a half million tons, should not be disposed of in a way likely to dislocate the world markets. A British Commission was prpceeding thither, and Britain had suggested the establishment of an inter-Allied Disposal Bpai'd. The French had arranged not to license exports exceeding the average rate of exports foe 1922. Ropiying to Sir John Simon (Liberal), j Mr. Chamberlain thought the present re- I paratjpns in kind were less than before the occupation of the Ruhr. He was of the opinion, in view of M. Poineare's assurances, there wa3 no industrial arrangement between the French and tha German firms hitherto made, and the British. Gpvommcnt should be given toe fullest chance of expressing it s views if an agreement was proposed. NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION .•The House of Commons then ,adiourned. . ■ [ The Labour no-confidence amendment will be moved to-morrow. A further soparate Labourite amendI ment is put down for.-the 14th; the l' Scottish-Labourites are demanding Scottish Home Rule. The amendment is regarded as in the nature of a manifcstQ, since nil the Scottish Labourites favour Home Rule, although the party as a whole has not-adopted the policy. .