WORLD'S NEWS BY CABLE

Otaki Mail, 11 December 1922, Page 4

WORLD'S NEWS BY CABLE

AND DEVASTATE EUROPE. BRITISH GUARANTEE MUST REPLACE OCCUPATION. Loudon, December 7. Mr Lloyd George, in the first of a series of, special copyrighted articles in the Daily Chronicle, says M. Cieuienceau's speeches in America imply a bread) of faith on Britain's part with reference to the paci to guarantee Fiance against possible German aggression. England has no, better friend in France than M. Clemenceau, who has ever been charged with being in the pay of England. If now he <lnf> an injustice to England il b not due to hatred but forgetfulness of the farts. A strong parly in France claimed the lefl bank of the Rhine. and thai that river should be the na lural frontier. If French Chauvinism had its way the Rhine would within a generation overflow its bunks and devastate Europe again. The most moderate and insidious form of (his demand was thai the German provinces on the left bank should be occupied by France till the Treaty was fulfilled, which mfinnl for ever. German military power was crushed, bul the population was 50 per cent greater and was growing rapidly, while the French population was stationary and Fiance had no natural defence against avenging hordes that were now playing in German streets. It is only sinister interference by !statesmen who do not love France that deprives France of the security which the Rhine naturally affords the peace of Europe and the world. "Perhaps the life of our civilisation depends on the strength of the French Ministry at the end of the occupation

period to resist the clamour mat occupation lie made effective, which incite Germany 'to seek revenge. Britain and America, standing together, can alone avert, the catastrophe. Men in Germany preach revenge. Others in France preach annexation. They must lie warned. Such preachings will alienate the sympathy oi all other nations.” .M. Cleinencean knew well, continues Mr Lloyd George, that at any time in the Just three years Britain had. replied that she would take on herself the burden of the pact with or without the United States. lie himself had made that clear. M. Ifriatul was prepared lo welcome the offer ami the Genoa Conference was the outcome. Another week might have produced results, but the Ministerial crisis in France upset everything. i'lie British offer was rejected with disdain. M. Clemeneeau ought to have made Ids complaint in j Baris against his own people and nut i in New York against Fngiishmen. j Kurupean nations could not help see-j fng one of ITie great Powers working ■ tor la iln re, and it is a marvel, in spile | of the unfortunate attitude adopted by France, that the pact was signed at { Genoa, which at anyrate preserved peace for several months. Mr l.ioyd George then proceeds to suggest that the reason tor M. F’oinmi ire’s action in not accepting the 01- , fer to guarantee France against Yer- j man .aggression lias a sinister motive behind it in the shape of France’s wish to annex the left bank of the l;him'. and iih warns his renders r>t the re.-nlf. predicting Hint, the n»rmms would never resi till they tied started a war of liberation, with all its attendant horrors.

CONFERENCE OF LONDON TO SETTLE ENTENTE'S I'I'TIRE. Paris. December 8. Tht! .louniiii says 'he- London Conference will he ilprisne regarding 'lie' fulure of llic Knlente. The main j - points in M. Poincaire's programme ' are: Firstly .in respect of the rancella- ' tion ot inter-Allied war debts. Suggestions are made theoretically Jn view of fhe United States hostility. While France's debtors rlo not pay any thing France cannot consent lo the • reduction of the German debts. It ■ the even! of an arrangement respect- I ing fhe cancellation of .Germany's '. minimum obligations. France should rei eive a hundred milliards of paper marks. Secondly, in Germany's rre-L -cut state, the mobilisation of .naii' ileoi h.'cifis that an tnternationn loan cannot be considered. Thirdly Ihe occupation of the Ruhr region ap pears the only means in the event' o £ Lad faith on Germany's part of mak 1 ing her reform her budget. BAVARIAN MISBEHAVIOUR. NO INDEMNITIES WILL BE PAID. Berlin, December S. f Germany rejected a proposal to sub • mit the question 01 indemnities from J Passau and Ingoldstadt to arbitration, and also Bavaria's proposal to submit the matter to the League ui Nations. Cabinet will offer excuses for the incidents, pointing out that, the reparations asked arc so large that they cannot be paid. The Al'ies demanded apologies and indemnities for certain incidents in these Bavarian 'owns in which Allied officers were ill-treated. I BRITISH CREDIT RISING. E POUND STERLING WORTH OVER | 44 DOLLARS. j . New York, December 7. jj Along with a rising market in ex- . change rates with leading European I countries, the sterling exchange has , been making steady progress upward, j the demand gaining five cents during j fhe past week and reaching 455; cents I jto the £l. This is encouraging bus!- \ ! ness men doing their chief trade with ! | Britain, and has inspired a reeling of ! befierme*nl in the condition of Europe , generally. Many explanations of the I rise are given, but -the chief reason j advanced is the British Government - -- ' retrenchments and wise Budgetary re- ■ gulations.