ALLIES’ CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1921, Page 3

ALLIES’ CONFERENCE

THE ALLIES UNITY. GREAT SUCCESS OF CONFERENCE'. BY TELEGRAPH—'PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. 0 (Received Tnis Day at 8 a.m.) PARIS, January 24. A process' verbal was signed at five in the evening and the Allies passed a resolution that they were convinced a close union was as necessary to tho preservation of peace as to win the war and they were determined to allow nothing to impair it, as such a union was the surest guarantee of the execution of treaties. Fidelity to international engagements were agreed to in connection therewith, were also stressed. M. Briand expressed on behalf of France his great appreciation of the success of the conference in which he was pleased and proml to participate He was pleased at the great progress [ made by tlie conference in helping to carry out the laborious task of solving problems before them. They had rendered a service besides to France, to mankind at large. They had succeeded by making mutual concessions. , He ! cordially thanked members for the as- * nLitnn/.O oltrAll until Alii lrlll/.1l 1 IIA

sistance given, without which the success would have been nothing like so complete. Hon. Lloyd George responding, said we indeed have good reason to congratulate ourselves on the remarkable I achievement, largely due to the admirable way M. Briand presided. Although he had assumed office only a fortnight ago, he had shown the greatest knowledge, skill and ability in guiding the deliberations. It has been my painful duty to criticise what he said on several occasions, but I did it for his good and because of my affection for him and with the good results wo now see. I thank him most sincerely and also M. Doumer, M. Loucheur and our other colleagues who all contributed to the success of conference so fruitful 1 of future good for Europe. The penalties for Germany's non-ful-filment of-the disarmament conditions will be the Allied occupation of Ruhr and extension of the period of occupation of the Rhine and refusal to allow Germany to join the League of Nations. A further conference will lie held at Trieste shortly to which the small nations of Central Europe will be invited, for the purpose of reaching an agreement on Austrian affairs. The penalties of non-fulfilment of disarmament conditions also include the seizure of Customs revenue. PRESS REJOICINGS. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) PARTS,. January 24. - The newspaper “Temps'* says Germany needs peace. We hope she will recognise-the necessity of fulfilling her obligations voluntarily, and also have the courage to grasp her rosponsibili-

ties. The “Debats” says the principal cause of rejoicing at the results of the conference is the maintenance of Allied unity which no living statesman dare disturb. The “Tntransigeant” hails to-day as a good day for France, adding it is a step forward on the real road to peace. The “Libcrte” says Hon. Lloyd George with profound political wisdom, brought about concrete decisions, while M. Briand gchieved a grand success. LLOYD GEORGE’S OUTSPOKENNESS. j “THE TIMES” SERVICE. 1 | (Received This Dav at 8 a.m.) LONDON, .Tan, 29. In connection with the Allied Conference, it is freely rumoured that Hon. Lloyd George told AT. Briand that unless •lie disavowed M. Doumer’s proposals the British delegates would pack up and go home. Hon Llovd George repeatedly declared, in the course of Thursday’s proceedings, that it was impossible to continue negotiations on a basis of M. Dounier’s speech, insisting that the Boulogne agreement must form the foundation for the settlement of repatriations, and lie declined to admit that the new French Cabinet was not bound by the preceding Cabinet’s engagements.