FRENCH CRISIS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1922, Page 3

FRENCH CRISIS.

CABLE NEWS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. FRENCH CABINET COMPLETED. LONDON, January 15. M Poincaire (ex-President of France) has now completed the formation of h, s Cabinet. .. —'•ie new Premier of France has had some disappointments, as he made an attempt to form a sort of Coalition Government, embracing, the leading radicals in addition to M. Tardieu, the ablest of the Clemenceauites. It is reported Tardieu gave a refusal that bordered on -insolence. Oommerque, Herriot, and Viviani, among the politicians of the Left, refused to ]oin the Cabinet, it is stated, despite much preßeure.

BRITISH OPINION. LONDON, January 16. The London “Daily Chronicle’s” Paris correspondent says: M. Poincaire asked Mr Lloyd George to convert the proposed Pact into a military alliance for the execution of the Versailles Treaty. Mr Lloyd George refused. He replied firmly that no British Go vernment could go beyond his Cannes proposal. Most of the British newspapers, express a hope that M. Poincaire when m office, will modify the policy of lus “extremist” writings wherein he demanded France’s full pound of flesh under the Versailles Treaty. The London “Daily Express” states: “To M. Briand a sober France facing facts and discarding illusions, England is prepared to make many concessions for the maintenance of permancn friendship. French Chauvinism cannot expect such a pliant mood. A pact > their terms is not attractive. Thej speak for agricultural France, ignoring other countries’ commercial needs. If France so desires, she may pursue her reparations, 'build' heir submarines, march into the Ruhr with bankruptcy behind and rnin in front, but 6lie will march alone. I

The Rt. Hon. J. R. Clynes, speaking at Manchester, claimed Mr Lloyd George at Cannes had the outlines of a policy which Labour had advocated for the past three years. World reconstruction was impossible without the inclusion of Russia and Germany. He hoped Britain would not make any isolated so-called treaty of defence. If an alliance were wanted, it ought to be with all countries or none. BERLIN, January 16.

Official circles are inclined to welcome M. Poincaire’s accession to power on the ground that it will bring to a head the battle between French Ch vinists and Germany. Stresmann, leader of the People’s Party states: “We are anxious to see whether Poincaire

rattles, the sabre, threatens to march into Germany, or is compelled to accept what all the world except the French Nationalists want, namely, world cohesion.”

POINCARE INTERVIEWED. (Received This Dav at 8 30 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 16. Tlie “Times’ ” Paris correspondent M. Poincare, who expressed himself more than ever a firm adherent of a close Anglo-French Entente. He would make every endeavour to examine the questions in suspense and reach a solution satisfactory to both countries. France insisted on the reparation for her ruins and national security, in which she hoped to secure Britain’s cordial cc-operation. France was ready to co-operate with friends and allies in all matters tending to consolidate peace, providing French rights under the existing treaties were respected.

Questioned regarding the likelihood of a Pact, M. Poincare stated the first essential was a settlement of the outstanding points of difference. He made it clear that France could not admit any curtailment of the occupation of the Rhine, as a result of the proposed Pact. Tlie new French Government were strongly opposed to the Genoa Conference as being dangerous to France.

FRENCH CABINET. (Received Thiß Day at 9.40 a.m.) PARIS, January 17. M. Tardieu, writing in the “Echo National” points out, ironically, that M. Poincaire who criticised M. Briand so much is nevertheless keeping seven , collaborators of the late ministry, and neks: —“lb it wise when a man wishes to take a new line to surround him- , self with sixty-one per cent of the . men, whose policy he wishes to rectify?” The newspapers generally, with the exception of the Extreme Left, welcome the Ministry, although regretting the absence of certain leaders of the Radical Socialists.