WHAT THE GERMANS SAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2469, 19 August 1922, Page 1

WHAT THE GERMANS SAY.

HR HAD FOR I’FOPLF NEEDED 'FEARS OF FRENCH It KV ENG F. [.(>NI )()X. A ng. 1-3. The 1 >;iii\ ( 'lll<lllii !|‘V IStM’lill conespondent interviewed I )r. Wiiili. who stated: "Our policy m II ~S lie first I>rofi<i for the people and iiioli reparations. We can and Vi ill observe our oblignlions only ,-n fat aassuring a bread supply for the people's physical existence permits. We have the goodwill and patience in a large degree, bur our strength is ended. For mere humanity's xal;e. ue must assure the people rtf bread to prevent them sinking into misery ami despair. The tliliiculties in seeming bread have been increased by the French action in Alsace-Lorraine. Only a moratorium extending over main months will he of any value. Six months would have heeii <|idto suflieicitl had it heen granted a while ago. hut as the mark depreciates a moratorium becomes less and less effective. The psychological ell'eet of a moratorium would have been of great value, bur that value is now absent. The feeling of danger and uncertainty is one of the worst features of the situation,'" Dr. Wirth discussed the flight of capital, declaring that the best- prevention is to make it worth while to keep the capital athome. That could best be achieved by stabilising the mark, which could only he doin' by halving the leparaiions. "We need," he said, ‘‘confidence for the mark. T 1 te catastrophe is duo to the dwindling confidence caused by the fear that France wants Germany’s life. That is the great question. The sword is over our heads, anc! the collapse of Germany would be an unparalleled thing If goodwill is introduced into Europe, Germany may evert yet be saved.’ •—A. and N.Z. cable. BITTERNESS OF FRENCH PRESS 1 . ATTACKS ON LLOYD GEORGE. PARIS. Aug. 15. Cabinet will hear M. Poincare's statement on Wednesday. An early special session of Parliament is expected. Figaro says: “France cannot longer disguise the fact that Air Lloyd George is now her implacable enemy. He has coollywrecked the conference to which he invited M. Poincare, after he had decided in advance to refuse all concessions. The whole discussion has been a snare. Air Lloyd George and Germany were agreed upon the moratorium question." The paper refuses to believe that Air Lloyd George, in placing the restoration of Germany in the forefront of the economic reconstruction of Europe, really repres nits British sentiment. The newspapers accuse Air Lloyd George of the responsibility for wrecking the breakference, but generally ascribe the breakdown to the publication of Lord Balfour's Note, which had not permitted Air Lloyd George to take steps towards a compromise.—A. and N.Z. cable. PRECIPITATE ACTION UNLIKELY. LEGAL DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY. LONDON, Aug. 16British ollicial opinion does not believe that, France will take independent action precipitately. ’I here are legal difficulties under tlie Versailles Treaty, anil At. Poincare is a stickler to the letter of the law. Under the treaty the matter reverts to ihe Reparations Commission, which has already indicated the trend of its opinions by publishing the text ol the proposed resolution. As in the Allied C 'oldercnee, when At. Poincare was in a minority one, so in the Reparations Commission Frame is in a minoi ity. According to the. treaty, the commission is entitled to grant a moratorium on a liar.' majority, ami only when it decides that Germany wilfully failed to meet her obligations can France recover complete freedom of action, otherwise she would be violating the Versailles Treaty. It is considered most, unlikely that the Reparations Commission would declare Germany in default. For Frame to act without reference to the lommis.-sion would he. indefensible. It is not thought, therefore, that she would do so despite Al. Poincare's reported statemem that the Government would retain it* liberty, of action whatever the Reparations Commission or treaty proceedure. Another element ol hojA: lies in the optimism of AL Theunis, who declares his conviction that the Allies will meet again soon and that tile problem will be settled satisfactorily.—A. and N.Z. cable.