The Guardian AND EVENING STAR. SATURDAY, MARCH 31st, 1923, THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 March 1923, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR. SATURDAY, MARCH 31st, 1923, THE WEEK.

Tub close of the week enters upon the Easter holidays. These full early this year. Next year they will be about three weeks later. As Easier follows so close upon the Christ mas and New Year term, the holidays are not so widely observed. Besides it is a changing season, with shortening days and holiday makers abroad are Hot so numerous, Still Faster is an acceptable break, and the immediate occasion of the period in tile Christian era is closely observed in all lands. The hopes held a few months ago that Westland might he linked to Canterbury by this time have been dissipated. The occasion for that happy union, still appears to be in the lap of Hie Gods. There is no mention yet of the official opening, though rumors are abroad again of possible hitches. Still, we must not be pessimistic about the great event. It will tiimspire some time this year, and having waited s () long we must continue to exercise the same cheerful patience. At the worst ike line will hr in operation well before the end of the year, and w ith that assurance we must for the present be content. Easter is a time for cheerful greetings, and the holidays provide the opportunity for friendly intereouise. Sport of various kinds will entertain the holiday maker-, and generally there will be wide opportunity for filling in the Easter vacation with a pleasant round of holiday making.

Tub Ttirko-Grecian negotiations are again to be reopened. The 'Allies have reached their decision on the Turkish counter claims: to the resolutions of the Lausanne Conference. The new conference is expected to be held at Constantinople alter Faster. The forecast indicates that further economic mid financial concessions are to be made to Turkey, but not niiv political advantages. Turkey will not make any material gains by the delay which has been forced on by the Angora Government. In the interim Turkey has been non-aggressive, either verbally or militarily. This state of repose is rather a favorable sign, except we are to believe it presages the calm before the storm. But we may assume that the Allies will 1)0 'better prepared in the Near East now than previously. It may be assumed too that the conversations to come will mark the close of the negotiations. Any further delay would appear to lie lieyond endurance, and the Allies must needs have courage and the hacking to enforce their terms. It is perhaps a hopeful sign, too, that Genera! Haringt; n, the British officer in the Near East, should find it convenient to proceed to Paris and London to discuss tile situation. The position, in point of fact, must be distinctly easier —for which iclicf much ihanks.

Tub situation in Germany is rather more tranquil of late, and there are signs of events operating favorably. A

‘‘revolution" in the midst of an invasion was nipped in the hud this week. The prospects for relief conic from a •Labor movement of an international character, in which, Britain, Franco, Belgium and Germany are chiefly represented. The British representatives are three notable Labor leaders in whose sanity there is some confidence. Messrs MacDonald, Henderson and Thomas are to he in Paris this weekend tc confer with French and Belgian socialists regarding the Ruhr situation. But a preliminary conference has been held in Berlin of Allied labor and socialist parties and with the consent of the Gorman trade unionists, lines for nil agreement have been laid down. These, on the face of them, afford reasonable belief that a way out of the impasse will he reached, and if so the Labor organisations will score an important point. Tile lines pursued appear to be those suggested sometime back by Air Gompers, the American Lal>or leader. It is hopeful certainly to see that the German laborers realise their moral obligations in the matter, and this realisation is one of the nappicst circumstances which could possi'ldy come, out of the whole trouble.

PnoßESsoit Condliffe, who is not unknown hero, has been writing in the press this week on the reparations triangle and dissecting the economic clauses of the Treaty of A’ersailles. His analysis of a very complex question is worth coming over. He w rites: The word “reparation”, as used in the peace negotiations and in subsequent discussions concerning the settlement, is productive of much misunderstanding. To nw>si people it seemed then, and it still seems, eminently fair and reasonable that Germany should be made to repair the damage done by her occupation of Northern France and Belgium. One is apt to forget that there are otlier devastated areas in Europe, such ns Serbia; but the justice of the claim made by France and Belgium for restoration of their invaded areas may be conceded at the outset. This reparation was one of the conditions laid down by President AA ilson as a basis for armistice negotiations and was accepted by Germany. Another of the now- almost forgotten conditions was, however, “no annexations,

no contributions, no punitive damage's.” How far thir, was disregarded in tho actual settlement propounded to the Gormans at Versailles mnv be gathered from the summary of the chief economic provisions of the Treaty as set out below. To this settlement Germany was given no option hut to submit, since negotiation was deemed inadmissible.

By the Treaty, Germany lost all her overseas possessions in various parts of tlie world, together with all public and private capital invested therein, while she remains liable for any debts contracted in connection therewith. She ceded to the Allies till the vessels of her iner'eantilb ‘marine exceeding IC'JU tons gross, half the vessels between 1050 tons and 1600 tons, and one quarter of her trawlers and ether iishiug boats. By the restoration of Alsace-Lorraine, seventy-five per cent of her supply of iron-ore was lost. This act of retributive justice is intimately connected with Inter development in the Westphalian coal area (the Ruhr basin) which is the industrial complement of tho Lorraine iron-fields. A series of provisions in the Treaty dealt with Germany's con!. The Saar coalfield on the borders of France was placed under the League of Nations for fifteen years. The mines in that area were, however, givOU permanently to France, if at the end of the fifteen years tho inhabitants declare for reincorporation in the German Republic. Germany may buy back the mines firm France by payment of their value in gold. The Lpper Silesian coal-field was subjected to a plebiscite; but although a majority of the inhabitants declared for Germany as against Poland, the vote was disregarded, and a League of Nations Commi‘iMO‘l made an arbitrary division of llie territory. Tn these two coal-fields Germany IoM approximately one-third of her coal supply.

In addition the Treaty pledged her to ilia he good the loss Franco had sustained by the destruction of her northern coalfields, and provision was made for an annual tribute of coal to Belgium. France and Italy as part of the reparation payments in kind. By these two provisions Germany was to supply out of her depleted resources 3,-100,000 tons of coal per month; but this figure was afterwards reduced by agreement to 2.000.000 tons per month. It was a shortage of 10 per cent mi this coal delivery which was made the occasion a. few weeks ago of the occupation of the Ruhr basin. Further sections of the Treaty make provision for the seizure of German property. Pot!i public ami private, in Allied, neutral and annexed countries, particularly in Alsace-Lorraine. Aioieuver, a Reparation Commission was set up and given power to sequestrate any (!ii proporty in uny country up to the value of a thousand million I'otmds sterling in | art payment of reparation. This power, involving inteifereiiee with the sovereign authority of the German State, has been a .source of much resentment and friction. There are other clauses compelling Germany to admit Allied goods on favourable terms no matter wliat tarill's are imposed by the Allied countries; stipulating for similar favoured treatment of Allied goods on the Gorman railways; denouncing all commercial treaties with Germany, except these the Allies choose to renew; and abrogating German copyrights and patent rights while prohibiting Germany from similar action. The river transport system- whieli is so important in the industrial life of Germany is taken oui of the eontiol of the German Government and placed under an international commission. The reparation 1 :|ymt'ins proper which have since been assessed at £(>,600,000,0!'0 aro bv way of addition to tbe’-e economic sections of the Treaty.

It will bo recognised, remarks Mr Cc.ndliiio, in conclusion, that, with tlic exception of the tribute of coni in compensation for tbc destruction cf French coalfields, none ol those farreaching and comprehensive provisions run bo brought under the heading ol repartitions. They ere in fact economic penalties designed to .strike u mortal blow at the three bases of Gorman industrial life—her overseas possessions, her mercantile marine, and her coal supply. M. Clemenceau lias repeatedly ami cynically admitted the fact, and is in the habit of describing the Treaty as a means whereby the war is being continued. Is it to be wondered at that there is neither peace nor plenty in Kurope ? It is the exaction cf these penalties of which Britain has so far had the lion’s share, that is destroying the economic life cf Germany, preventing the payment of the reparations which are justly due to the devastated mini tries and disturbing the peace of the world. It was both possible and right for Germany to repair t lie damage caused by the invasion of Franco and Belgium, but reparations proper have been lost sight of in the enforcement of penalties which were not only a flagrant violation of the terms upon which Germany laid down her arms. Init have proved a menace to the economic security of the whole world, including ourselves.

The wonderful vitality of Sarah Bernhardt was displayed to the end cf her life. The noted French actress has played a great part, and has been always a name to conjure with. She inherited great vivacity, which is the portion of most French people. She was a loveable woman, and in her parsing leaves, a blank hard to fill. Her histrionic ability was of the superlative order. Age could not wither, ncr custom stall her wonderful held on the public. Her greatest “hoy” part “I,'Aiglon” was pourtrayed after she was fifty, and it was one or her greatest creations. She possessed great versatility, and wherever she performed created a furors. In 1915, when within hale of three s.oic years and ten she suffered the lo>s el a leg, but the following year she appeared on the hoards again-iit her seventieth year—still the commanding actre-'s of yore. Madame Bernhardt was jnslv called the Queen of the French stage. For a generation there was not any one to dispute her title or her claim to it. tfer life was one in which pliilnutrohhy played a part-, not uncommon with devotees to the profession she pursued - be it said to their credit. In her death she will Pc mourned by people of many nation-. One of the world’* idols has passed and the world is the poorer for her loss. But she was a noble woman and has left a noble record, and example behind her. The curtain has fallen. but the memory of her many triumphs will live, and he a story to tell again and again.

The Tauranga election was the occasion of much political effort brought out by the presence of Sir Joseph ANard in the field. The Government secured what in the circumstances must be considered a notable, victory. The fight was a fierce one, the full strength of the Reform party being thrown into the fray. The result so far as the Government was concerned, was to save a bad position becoming worse. Still, by the grace of the Liberals Atr Massey remains in office. Tauianga extended the Government more oven than the late session did, and we have as a result important premises from the- Government affecting the Dominion administration. Sir Joseph Ward’s health having improved so sat-

Rfaetdrily ns to permit (1 "strenuous cflmpnngn, we tnay expect to hear again from him in regard to national polities. In the course of the fray such independent journals as the 'Wellington ‘Tost’’, the “Mercantile Gazette”, and others, have stressed the fact that Sir Joseph’s ability should he at the disposal of the country again. For that reason his re-entry to Parliament can be but delayed. There are those who predict a dissolution will be inevitable Ore the end cf tho year, in Which circumstance it seems reasonable to expect that Sir Joseph’s services will he acceptable to a constituency before the. year wanes.