FRANCO-BELGIAN ACTION

Hokitika Guardian, 31 March 1924, Page 1

FRANCO-BELGIAN ACTION

MR MACDONALD REPLIES TO QUESTION.

[Reuters Telegrams.]

LONDON, March 27

In the House of Commons, Mr Asquith asked for information regarding the situation in the West of Europe, especially in connection with reports of French organisation energetically perfecting a system of loc-al agreement, which would convert the occupied territories into a special reparations preserve by methods which would practically ruin tiie industries concerned and seriously impair Germany’s power of stabilising tho currency. He expressed disquietude lest the Administration of the Saar was exercising arbitrary powers unknown in democratic countries.

Mr MacDonald, replying, said that the British Government after investigation was uf opinion that the agreements so far concluded by the FrancoRuhr industrial organisation-in the Ruhr and Rhineland and German industrialists did not conflict with the Peace Treaty or reparations settlement. There had been indeed attempts to mako these agreements the occasim for redistribution of .reparations settlements regarding which the Government hitherto had successfully protested and would continue to protest.

The British Government had insisted that the Commission’s committees established by tho Treaty of Versailles should coniine themselves to their constitutional functions;, including particularly those ill the Saar and Palatinate.

Mr MacDonald said the difficulties in the Palatinate were especially great on account of the Separatist movements. supported not merely from inside. Passing to the question of security, Mr MacDonald emphasised his conviction that France would never gel security by special acts. The British Government aimed at securing a moral guarantee through a body like tlic League of Nations, but certain tilings must first be done. Ihe question of reparations must be settled. The Government always had declined to explore the problem ol security until reparations had been settled. Why should tho busy men of Franco' and Britain waste time in discussing details uf plans of .security until they had settled European conditions under which the problem of , security would have to bo settled. When tho exports’ committee reported, the Allies might arrive at an agreement regarding reparations in which Germany could wholeheartedly co-operate. They must make up their minds that Gcimnnr was bound to enter the League or Nations. If the difficulties due to the occupation of the Ruhr were cleared up, then he would like to see an invitation signed by France. America, Italy and Britain, to all nations of the world to consider the whole question of disarmament. That was no dream, because there was a stronger body of men in responsible positions all the world over than ever before, who wore now anxious to support the Government which was working to that end. lie concluded bv . declaring that he was most anxious to have the question of Jubaland and Dodccanosa settled in order to remove the cause of Anglo* ILilian irritation.

Mr Lloyd George complained of the vagueness of Mr MacDonald-s statement. He drew attention to M. l.’oincaro’s declarations that French troops would remain in the Rhineland until reparations had been discharged. He dei-1 trod that if experts recoin mended a reduction of the assessment against Germany, the abatement should lie made all round. He concluded that no people on earth would give away less for sentiment than the Trench.