BRITAIN AND FRANCE

Hokitika Guardian, 7 July 1924, Page 2

BRITAIN AND FRANCE

A AIISUNDEBSTANDI NO. AUSTRALIAN AND N Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION SURPRISE IN LONDON. LONDON, July 4. Political circles in London are greatly surprised at the French attitude in regard to the recent Chequers Court conversations between the Premiers ol France and Britain. It is innintnineJ that the British Government has done nothing contrary to any understanding with the French Government In causing an account of the. happenings at Chequers Court to be communicated to the other Allies.

It is also emphasised that there is no intention whatever of interfering with the work of the Reparations Commission, hut that the. Commission cannot deal with the matters outside the Treaty that are provided in the Dawes Deport. Britain, it is pointed , out, is submitting no hard and fast decision or proposal, hut is merely suggesting her own view, and is repeating the expressions that wore used at Chequers Conference, which would not he binding without consultation with the Allies.

There is ail Anglo-French misunderstanding over the terms of the invitations to the July Allied Conference This appears to centre round a Trench contention that the British Foreign Office has inserted in its invitation to that conference suggestions amounting to a suppression of tlie authority of the Reparations Commission. An authoritative statement has been issued in London intended to refute this contention.

..Meanwhile Reuter’s Paris correspondent says that the report of the French Ambassador, who interviewed Sir Eyre Brown (of the British Foreign Office) in London to-day in regard to the misunderstanding is anxiously awaited. Iho Quai D Orsay hopes for a satisfactory explanation from Britain, but it is realised that the difficulty of reaching an agreement at the London Conference may ho considerably increased. The situation is embarrassing for Premier Herriot, in view of a debate ml foreign policy fo come oii in the French Senate on July 8, when lie will be asked to explain tho apparent contradiction between the complete agreement lie reached at Chequers Court with Air .MacDonald and the disagreement in regard to tho right of the Reparations Commission to decide regarding German defaults in tho execution of the Dawes plan.

FRENCH OPPOSITION. LONDON, July 5

The “Daily Herald’s” Paris correspondent declares that all the Paris press attacks on Air MacDonald with reference t.o the London Conference form part of a French Opposition vicious campaign against Air Herriot. In public AL Herriot lias so far triumphed, hut backstairs intrigues continue, and it is plain that even the Government official? are deeply involved in the plot. They arc sacrificing tho interests of Europe to those of Foinra ire.” DOAI IN lONS AND CONFERENCE. LONDON, July 5. It is understood that the Dominions representatives in London will shortly lie consulted in regard to the form of the Dominions’ representation at the Conference to he hold, ill London on July IG. whether by high commissioners or otherwise. AIR .MACDONALD’S CANDOUR. PARIS, July 5. It appears from a note from the British Foreign Office that Air MacDonald's memorandum which caused Snell heart burnings has been sent by Air MacDonald with the invitations to the Dominions. The French newspapers supporting the Left Parly assert that the Opposition has deliberately exploited and magnified the. incident with a view to torpedoing the Conference and AL Harriot. IIEHTZOO AYILL LEND AID. CAPETOWN, July 5. It is officially stated that Mr Af.aeDonald has invited the South African Government to send a representative to a con fere nee preliminary to tho Inter-Allied Conference. Air Ilertzog, so far, has not nominated a delegate, but has expressed a willingness to cooperate with tho. Imperial Government in any action which he thinks will tend to a fair and reasonable settlement. FRENCH PRESS PROTESTS. PARIS, July 5. AI. Herriot has despatched a Note to Britain stating that Franco does not con-ider herself bound by tho British suggestions accompanying the invitations sent out for the London Conference. The French newspapers, in a chorus of protest such as has not been heard for many months, declare that .Mr .MacDonald virtually lias renounced tho Treaty of Versailles. The ••Journal l)e> Debuts” advocates French abstention from the London Conference, until France is assured that no proposal infringing the Treatv of Versailles will he discussed.