AUSTRIA;

Taranaki Daily News, 27 January 1921, Page 5

AUSTRIA;

FACED WITH CHAOS. BRITAIN REFUSES LOAN. LIVELY DEBATE AT PARIS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn —Copyright. Received Jan. 27, 12.5 a.m. Paris, Jan. 26. The French papers are unexpectedly reticent 'regarding happenings at the Allies’ Conference, evidently owing to the Government’s instructions; but it is reported there was a lively debate yesterday, particularly regarding monetary assistance to Austria. When a loan was suggested, Mr. Lloyd George interrupted: “Such a loan is impossible. I can’t find £120,000,000. I need that to carry out housing reforms in London, where the population is larger than that of the whole of Austria.” M. Briand interposed: ‘‘We are responsible for the state of Austria.” Mr. Lloyd George rejoined: “No, we are not. Events decided Austria’s fate.” Lord Curzon urged that if the Allies did not do something chaos must fol-low.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Paris, Jan 25. It is reported that the conference decided against a loan to Austria, and referred Austrian finance to the Allied Ministers of Trade. THE POPE’S APPEAL. POVERTY AND DESPAIR. Rome, Jan. 25. The Osservatore Romano says that the Pope has made a special appeal on behalf of Austria, which he compares to a head severed from its body struggling with the horrors of poverty and despair. Its commerce and industries are stricken. The Pope does not apportion the blame, but deplores the worlds inability to afford relief, and adds that the practical solution must be political. It is the first duty of the signatories to the Versailles Treaty.