COMMONS DEBATE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 March 1920, Page 3

COMMONS DEBATE

t:- c Telegraph— G v tyright.,

LONDON, March 25

In the House of Commons, Mr Asquith called attention to tlie foreign policy and severly condemned the Government's decision to retain the shirks in Constantinople. 'He recognised it was now practically impossible to recede from the terms of the published announcement. Mr Asquith favourel making the Sultan’s position in Constantinople, similar to that of the Pojc in the Vatican, allowing the Sultan to exercise no function but those of Klmlif. He urged that the total amount of reparation claims against the Central Powers should be fixed.

Mr Lloyd George replying, said it was a matter for European joy that the militarist plot in Germany had failed but it was most difficult to conjecture what would happen now, although the situation at present indicated a restoration of order. The Vaticanatiun of the Sultan had been considered inadequate. The contended it would i tiorliiously increase the Allies’ financial responsibility if they expected to govern Constantinople, The delay in signing the British Treaty was due to a desire not to proceed, pending a possii.no settlement of peace in America. He regretted the absneo of an offer bjAmerica to protect Armenia, adding: “We cannot police the whole world. It is unfair to burden the British Empire indefinitely with the cost of policing.”

Mr Lloyd George said he disagreed wiitli Mr Asquith’s Suggestion that British interests in Mesopotamia should be restricted to the* zone of Busra.. Almost all the tribes were anxious that the British Government should l m fin. The Government’s idea was to remain as mandatories over the territory, whWi would include Mosul, in order to assist the Arab Government. He pointed out that Germany had not taken advantage of an invitation to make u specific offer regarding reparations. Ho emphasised the necessity of remembering the justice of the French claims and felt the Allies would support fair Hind reasonable proposals. Tho Premier discountenanced tho suggestion that reparation work should be banded over to the 'League of Nations.