THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1923, Page 4

THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

AUMTUAI.IAN AND N.Z. C.UiJ.i: ASSOCIATION. DL-iiiA i K ON IU MM. ' ijONDO-S !.-ci> 10. in i in- Audi ess-in-iteply debate in the Mouse oi v.’-.-mmons. Mr f isher moved .111 amendment that lias la en agreed lip, ii by both wings of the Liberals, relating to the Jfiiroi eau situation, lie said that- tli,- Council of the League of Nations should he invited forthwith to appoint an expert commission t,. ivpuri on Germany's capacity to p.i\ tin.- reparations, and as to The best an til'd of i-il'ecting payments. Mr fisher said that he believed that the overwhelming opinion ul the country siis aguinsi the Government being associated with the French in the occupation of tile Muar. Ii was lamentable that their great comradeship in arms should la- broken up on the little -.nek of a deiiUcolk-.-li eg expedition. What ii sordid ending to a. splendid tale! Mr fisher said that he did not however, agree that France’s object was militaristic. What concerned British public opinion was the possibility that the Germans would h>e asked to pity ii sum which was quite out of their reach. This might lie made a pretext for an indefinite occupation. Mr I’t ingle said the French occupation was the greatest event since the Armistice, for it revived war conditions. Britain ought not to he the satellite of France, or the patron of liuriiiiiny. They should have regard both for the French ami the German views. It was diliieult to establish a <a-o legally for the French action.

League of Nations. He agreed that it was extremely desirable that the French and English democracy should march together, as far as they could, but he held that friendship did not mean they should approve of every French net of every French Ministei that might place the world’s peace m jeopardy. On the contrary, he thought that there was a most sincere form of friend:hip for France that dominated tlio.-e now entreating the Government to take some action to save Franco from disaster. A disaster was inevitable. sooner or later, and Hie later it was tile greater it would be. Mr Lloyd George said he believed the French Government was committed to a policy of irretrievable disaster. There was nothing in the reparations question demanding Mich a violent step as this. M. Poincare s refusal of a prop -sal made by a Bankers’ Committee some time ago was the first fatal step, which aggravated the whole situation, and made it clear that the reparations was nor the object in view, lie believed in the justice nf the reparations, but if tin- present step failed, the reparations would ho prone. Tf this step sueneeded, the cost would l>e so great that the reparations would be irrecoverable. Advisers ‘had chosen between cash and smash. Kraie-e was trying both. She could mil decide between the two. The invasion of the Ruhr had developed far beyond what had been revealed., and beyond what the French Government ever conceived. He did not believe a single French military adviser had ever advocated the seizure of the Bttlir. It was a dangerous position in which to place an army. It was an ill-conceived and an ill thought out invasion. Tile Germans in 15)1 -I thought that terrorism was all that was needed, hut fear was never the last word In human action. A sense of iustice and an outbreak against wrong were always deeper and stronger than fear. (■Vrman.v's national spirit was humbled by the war. but for (lie first time after the armistice, the German nalit I spirit bad reawakened. With bulb tin- l-'ii-ncli and the German pride engaged, nolle knew v. hat the nutenme inielii in-. Germany might break up. which meant that the reparations would he gone, and disarmament would I-• gum-. Similarly, a revolution in (1.-rnii'iiv would he a greater danger in t-ran-e. Britain, and Enroec. than a militarist Germany, lie had pmpeserl referring the matter to the League of Nations last August, hut M. 'Poincaii* refused it. on the amazing ground that nothing in the Versailles Treaty eotild he referred to the League. Tt wav essential that America should come into the League. America had the world’s gold locked in her chest. S l- e was suffering indigestion from a surfeit thereof.

Mr Mind Georg--, continuing, said that America had a moral resjion**hility. They must have \ ii'criea's h- Ip. nob -r without ibe League If Ameii-.i wen- son uded. In- -lid not be liev-e that Era nee would refuse an offer from tin- two gr-nte-t Power* vliielt saved Iter fr-un <h-strut-! ion LAUDER VIEW.

Mr A. Henderson said that while supporting the Liberal amendment, lie regretted Mr l.loyd George's speech, win,-li. lie believed, would do much to harm France, and it would encourage

Germany in her defiance, lb- appealed to the Government to allow a fr a vote, as this amendment to Hie Ail dress-in-Be- !y should he regarded aa vote of (ensure.

Sir John Simon stated that the initial misfortune of the Versailles Treaty was that it bad failed to fix firmly a i eiiarat inns figure. Thu- a premium bad been put upon an invasion of part of Oermanv.

Speaking at the liuT’strie* Luncheon Eair. Mr l.loyd Graeme -aid the Fair had real value, Levon.l the business t; an-ncted. Trade was a mutual process. and it formed the strongest international link possiHle. The only way to achieve a lasting pence was to

tighten the bonds of international trade, bringing the people of the world closer together. He was not sure that such a fair was not the most valuable ( ,- rm of any international conference held since ) cnee, lt offered another opportunity for strengthening the bonds of Imperial trade. “(Ye knew," he said, "that Fiance would regard our intervention as an a t of hostility, so this could not he a right time to act upon this amendment." He was sure, however, that a better opportunity would come. It was better to wait than to do harm by liastv intervention.

The result of the voting, giving the Government about 100 of a majority, was received with loud Ministerial cheers.

Mr Bonar Law replying to a question. said the matter of wireless oomnumientions had been exhaustively considered h.v a sub-committee of the Imperial Defence Committee, and would now come before the Cabinet. He hoped to he able shortly to announce the Government’s decision.