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Hokitika Guardian, 7 March 1924, Page 2

Till. ''Manchester Guardian” of January I.Stli, thus describes the condition of affairs in the Palatinate up to that date: “The Rhineland High Commission by a Franco-P.elgia 11 majoiity 10gistei'ed certain degrees of a. body purpotting to lie the ‘Government of tbe Autonomous Palatinate’ on January 2. thereby practically recognising this territory part of oeenpied Germany, as an independent State, and its self- ; 1111 <1 i 11 1 1 ■< 1 ‘Government’ as legal inters of (hut Slate. If ten days bad elapsed without any Allied Government protesting against tills step, the High Cominissiom'i’s decision would have become legally valid. Bui the British Government protested against it on January 5, and the Commission accordingly postponed its decree by a week. 'I lie British Governnusit then asked ii siil! further to delay the registration. Meanwhile a quaint comedy was played between France and Britain. The Bri-t'.-h (iovermneiil ordered tile ConsulGeneral at Munich, within whose zone of activity the i'nluviiiate lies, to proceed thither on a tour of investigation. Tbc French offered to attach a French officer to him. so as to give the step an ‘inter-Allied’ colour. This was declined. lull they nolle the. less vent a Flinch official, M. Filliol. to dog the B'ilish Consul’s "steps, which lie did with great tenacity. Further, as a kind of reprisal, the French sent a mission to inquire into the situation in the British zone, which seemed a little siiperllunus, as there already were som* thirty French residents there.”