FRANK SPEAKING.

Taihape Daily Times, 23 January 1919, Page 6

FRANK SPEAKING.

ALLIED CONFERENCES. r "• "''* DIFFERENCES REVEALED. SATISFACTORY ADJUSTMENT VANCOUVER, January 4. Mr. Dafoi, a leading Canadian journalist, who, is accompanying Si* Robert Borden (Canadian Premier) cables: — "While the series of informal conferences between representatives of the Allied nations has been earned on in complete screcy, there is not lacking plain surface indications of the currents running below. "Much light has been thrown upon the character of these conversations, and the difficulties which they have revealed by President Wilson's scries ; of addresses in England and the •frank statements % the French Chamber by M. Piehon (Foreign Minister, and M. Clemenceau's speech, which was both guarded and frank, is interpreted as being, in effect. a warning that France after her terrible experience, cannot reply upon the League of Nations unless it takes a form which will afford her an ab-' solute guarantee of protection M. Clemenceau's report of his conversation with Mr Lloyd e'Gorge shows that the acceptance of the League of Nations' ideas was made conditional for France by security on land, and for Britain by security on sea. NATIONAL AMBITIONS. "That in both France and Italy there are formidable movements looking to gratification of national ambitions is indicated by M. Piehon's statement and by the resignation of Signor Bissolati (Italian Minister for Pemsions)*. M; fPichon'sspeech was in reply to the demand that the French Government should seek at the Peace Conference the extension of France 'to the left bank of the Rhine, while Signor Bissolati 'a retirement is interpreted as indicating his disapproval of the proposals with regard to Dalmatia and its hinterland, which Italy will submit to the Allied Conference.

"There is no feeling of alarm at these revelations of difficulties {but lather a satisfaction "that these differences are being frankly recognised The intense desire of all is that the jclose relationship between the four great Allies, which M. Clemcnceau voiced, will- ensure a satisfactory adjustment of their differences.'' FRENCH FEARS FOR FUTURE The "Times" compares the speeches of President Wilson and M. Clemenceau, and argues that there is no fundamental discrepancies {between the aims of the two men. "France feels and sees," says the "Times," "what German invasion means, and demands adequate security against a recurrence of that danger she so narrowly esea'ped and the sufferings she yet endures. President Wilson is equally determined to deliver her from those evils. "Where M. Clemienceau appears most markedly to differ from President Wilson is in his confession of a certain scepticism as to the adequacy of any means except one to secure the just claims of France There is no difference between President Wilson's ideals and the more prosaic immediate object which M. Clemenceau sets before France." DANIELS CENSURED. The "Graphic" says that the speech by Mr Daniels (American Secretly to the Navy) ueclaring that the United States should have the

largest navy in the world, seems dclibcrataly framed as an offence to Britain. "The speech is therefore out of place between friends." added the "Graphic," which urged President Wilson to cable to Mr Daniels to restrain his language.