NEW PRESIDENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1920, Page 4

NEW PRESIDENT.

M. MILLER AND’S DECLARATION. (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) PARIS, Jan. 22. M. Millerand’s Ministerial declaration was read in the Chamber of Deputies. It emphasised that in order to obtain the legitimate benefits resulting from victory, it was necessary neither to make less effort nor display less selfdenial than has been required to obtain victory. The era of self-sacrifices and restrictions had by no means come to an end. The duty of citizens could be summed up in four words —“Produce more. Consume less.” Tlie Government’s principal concern was to find fresh sources of taxation without discouraging the spirit of enterprise, it being contended that it was morally just that war profits should be particularly heavily hit. The Government proposed a formula providing for co-operation between private initiative and the State.

The Government’s Labour policy was to guarantee to Labour a legitimate share of profits, as well as / organisation of conditions, and to seek to prevent or settle disputes by'means of arbitration. The Government Would leave nothing undone to strengthen the League ot Nations, but it would be unpardonable frivolity to trust to promises of the future for safeguarding immediate security and securing the reparation to which France was entitled. One of the first problems to be faced would be a new - organisation of France’s military and naval forces, in which economic t exigencies required a considerable reduction in the term of service.

The Treaty of Versailles, which -would be carried out with unsliakeable firmness, would involve a close and cordial maintenance of the Alliances which had saved the world. France was determined to maintain relations of confidence and friendship with the smaller Powers. She would not forget it was her duty to guarantee respect for the stipulations in which these Powers were concerned ,and which should contribute to the maintenance of Peace.