LONDON CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1921, Page 3

LONDON CONFERENCE

M. BRIAND’S VIEWS. BY TELEGBAFH—PBESS ASSN., COPYBIGHT. AUSTBALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. PARIS, Feb. 20. M. Briatid interviewed on the eve of his departure for London Conference, said France would welcome the news of America resuming her place at the Allied Conference. France does not desire to act independently of the Allies, but is prepared herself to carry out the clauses of the Versailles Treaty, relating to reparation. France must always remember that the spirit of aggression can still be awakened in Germany. This German attitude would be modified in the course of time, but France for the present must remain on guard. POINCAIRE’S WARNING. PARIS, Feb. 20. M. Poincaire writing in the “Temps” says tho battle which M. Briand has gone to London to deliver side by side with our Allies, against the Germans ill will, may perhaps decide the fate of France forever. M. Poincaire supports his argument by documentary proof that Germany is now actually throwing even the responsibility for the war Upon the Allies, especially France. He adds that Germany is -not representing herself before the Allies as a repentant criminal, but as an audacious accuser. Her attitude is more arrogant to-day than a year ago. THE BIG THREE. (Received This Hay at'B.3o a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 21. | The Big Three men began converse- j tions respecting Sevres Treaty. Efforts. to reconstruct the map of the Near J East are likely to occupy the rest of the ! week. Wide divergences exist between ' the Allies over the ratification of the Treaty. The return of King Constantine to Athens has materially altered the position. The French find Greece under Constantine, a very different Greece to that undef Venizelos, and are now inclined to favour the return of Thrace to Turkey; nor would France be downhearted if the Greek claims in Asia Minor were whittled down. The meeting between Turkish dele- t gates and Kemilists is delayed owing to j the non-arrival of the latter. j The Germans are expected in London

on Sunday. Britain is not averse to a ratification of the Sevres Treaty with some rectification, but is strongly averse to handing back Christian populations to Turkish rule. Hon Lloyd George presided at the preliminary meeting in Donning Street of British, French, Italian and Japanese delegations. A formal meeting of the conference was held afterwards at St James Palace to which the Greek representatives ' were invited. The British Government has undertaken to supply four battalions of troops in connection with the taking of Silosian plebiscite.

GERMAN ATTTfU DE. “THE TIMES” SERVICE ,Received This Day at 10 40 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 20. The actual German attitude is dif"cult to define. Although Von Simons declared that an abortive London Conference would not mean the immediate enforcement of the Allies’ terms. The “Times” Berlin correspondent wires that the War Minister, dossier, who is touring the country warned the Germans that a German “no” would not finish the reparations problem. If no. agreement were reached at the London Conference the Allies would, employ the strongest and most ruthless method with further occupations east and west. Not for nothing had two ‘ hundred thousand Poles been thrown ' on to the German frontier. AFTER MANY YEARS. MEMORIES OF BLUCHEK. ' VON SIMONS’ RECEPTION. (Received This Day at 1.5. p.m.) ; LONDON, Feb. 21. Tho Conference is being held in the picture gallery of the Palace, the same room where a century ago the state of - Europe was settled, after Napoleon’s banishment, and General Blucher was cheered by the crowd outside the Palace. The contrast next week will be a poignant one for Von Simons. Portraits of all the monarehs of England adorn the walls, also a picture depicting the King and Queen inaugurating the Australian Commonwealth. A communique was issued at the conclusion of # this afternoon’s conference, after hearing Calogeropoulos regarding the situation in Asia Minor and General Gouraud’s report on the military situation in Cilicia and Asia Minor. ,