AN ALLEGED INTERVIEW

Hokitika Guardian, 8 February 1924, Page 2

AN ALLEGED INTERVIEW

MR. LLOYD GEORGE’S CHARGE. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. LONDON, February G. The “New York World” newspaper publishes an interview which it states Mr Lloyd George gave to Mr Spender and in which Air I.loyd George is represented as saying the late ex-Presi-dent Wilson and AL Clemenceau (French Premier at the time) concluded in his (Lloyd George's) absence a secret- treaty for the French occupation of the bank of the River Rhine. (The firstportion of the cable is evidently missing.) I.LOYD GEORGE DISAVOWAL. LONDON. February 7. The “Daily Chronicle” diplomatic correspondent says: “x am informed bv Afr Lloyd George that ho gave no interview to the “New York AVorld.” A\l ion told of the paper publishing a supposed interview with him. Air Lloyd George replied: *T have neither seen, not re»d it, and I am therefore unable to express an opinion until I read the report in detail.’ ”

A SIGNIFICANT SENTENCE. LONDON. February (5.

A significant sentence in Air Spender’s alleged interview made Air Lloyd George say. “I opposed fifteen years military occupation of the Rhine fronlioi by the Allies. 1 seemed to foresee that if the French once occupied the frontier, they would not leave it. Afy forecast lias already been borne out by events. I found that ex-I’resident AA'ilson had .surrendered to Al. Clemeneeau. Thus France gained the right to occupy the Rhine.”

“1 only recently discovered, during my absence from London, that Al. Clemcncoau and Air Wilson had signed a secret compact." “Yet 1 have always been attacked ;,k the villain of the piece.” The “Times” Paris correspondent says; “Mr Lloyd George’s allegation that a secret compact was reached in April 1919. between Al. Clemenceau and cN-Presidenl Wilson regarding the occupation of the Rhineland during his absence in London, is indignantly denied. All that happeud was that, while Afr Lloyd George was absent in Loudon the conversations were continued be-

tween Al. Clemenceau and ox-President W ilson, and when Air ],lovd George returned he was told of the AVilsonClemeneeau agreement. Later, Mr Lloyd George also agreed to it. It is known that the discussions relative to the Rhineland were protracted, and i la-re were grave divergencies of view, hut certainly the decisions were not accepted because at any given moment President Wilson was converted by At. Clemoneeau’s argument. Nor was anything resembling a secret document drawn up.”

AE Andre Tardicii. who was closely associated with Al. Clemenceau in the pi nee negotiations in 1919, has made the following statement regAding Afr l.lovd George's declaration:

“It is a pure lie! There never was j.iiv secret agreement between President Wilson and Al. Clemenceau. Mr Lloyd George has lied, and he has lied without intelligence. He has waited until i lie death of ex-Presulenf A\ ilson in order to escape additional dementi. It i- extraordinary!” FRENCH ASTONISHMENT. _ PARIS, February 7. The “Qua! D’Orsay” is astonished at l!i sudden publicity given to the matter as it is well understood that the publication of the whole of the documents was to he the matter of negotiations between the two Governments. Tin: “Quai D’Orsay” adds that, it knows of no documents to which the insinuations of Air I.loyd George could apply. No secret pact was concluded between Air AVilson and.M Clemenceau. Al. Clemenceau lias refused to make any statement until he has seen a- full report of Mr Lloyd George s int-eiviev. foreign on ice statement. j /ONDON, Ff-lrna ry G • With reference to Mr Lloyd George’s allegations, the British Foreign Office lias issued a statement that the French Government recently notified its intention to prepare a Yellow Book, coutaininj documents relating o> the drafting of Articles 428 io 131 of ihe Peace Treaty. The British Government decided before replying, to acquaint Air l.fiml George with the proposal as an act of courtesy. Consequently proof sheets of the document were despatched to Air Lloyd George, asking whellt or lu* had any personal objection to their inclusion in the Yellow Book, and requesting the return of the proofs. No answer Inis been received, alid the I roof sheets lntve not been returned, and the first indication that the Foreign Office letter reached Air Lloyd George coii-es in this alleged interview. FACTS SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT. LONDON, February 7. Air Lloyd George states that the facts in tin- alleged interview were substantially correct-, hut he did not grant: tin-, interview to Mr Harold Spender, the author. The latter explains that he wrote the article after a week-end visit, describing the. house grounds. with a few of Mr I.loyd George's remarks thrown in. He admit-. that he did not a-*k permission to use them. -PARIS, February 7. Al. Clemenceau attaches no importance to the discovery of the alleged secret compact.