ENTENTE SPLIT.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 May 1921, Page 5

ENTENTE SPLIT.

PEACE TREATY AT STAKE. SPEECH BY BRITISH PREMIER. ALLIES MUST HOLD TOGETHER. By Telegraph.—-Press Assn—Copyright. Received May 19, 7.30 p.m. London, May 18. Mr. Lloyd George, in a statement to the Press, adhered to the declaration made in the House of Commons on the subject of Upper Silesia. He declared that the almost unanimous approval of the American, Italian, and British Press showed that the great nations which had stood beside France in the West meant to interpret the Treaty of Versailles fairly. He warned the French Press that the habit of treating every expression of Allied opinion which did not coincide with their own as an impertinence was fraught with mischief. Such an attitude, if persisted in, would be fatal to any Entente.

The Premier added: “The world’s course in coming years cannot be forecasted; the mists ahead are unusually dense, and much will depend upon the Allies holding together, apart from the Treaty obligatons. Unforeseen events must determine the future groupings of nations and the future of the world, especially Europe, will be detjrmined by old or new friendships.. Hence the Treaty of Versailles is a document of infinite moment, especially to the Entente nations, binding us together when there is so much to divide us. Those who treat its provisions as if they were the sport of passion and prejudice, may not have to live long to regret their hot-headedness.

“The British people will shirk no part of their responsibilities under the Treaty,” proceeded the Premier. “There are temporary difficulties which make it difficult to spare troops, but I confidently anticipate these will be over soon, and I would call attention to the fact that at the recent conference we intimated our readiness to proceed with the discussion.

“We will abide faithfully by the decision of the majority of the Powers who have a voice under the Treaty in defining the Silesian boundaries, whatever their verdict. We fully accept the plebiscite as an expression of the wishes of the people of Silesia, but having entered the Great War and sustained gigantic losses in defence of the old Trea. ty to which this country was a party, Britain cannot consent to stand by while the Treaty her representatives signed less than two years ago is trampled upon.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE POLES’ CASE. THE GERMANS BLASTED. Received May 19, 11.30 p.m. Paris, May 18. The Polish Minister has informed the Ambassadors’ Council that his Government absolutely disavows the insurrection. It took all measures to prevent communication between Poland and the plebiscite territories, and exercised every influence to restore calm. The Polish Government thinks it desirable that Germany should observe a similar attitude, the troubles being due to German state-ments.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

COMPENSATION FOR ITALY. Received May 19, 8.50 p.m. Rome, May 18. Italy is demanding from Poland seven million lire as compensation for the loss of soldiers killed in the recent fighting.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AMERICA STANDS OUT. Washington, May 18. The Government has received the Polish appeal for support over the Upper Silesian situation. It officially states that it will decline to interfere regarding the Silesian question, which is essentially European. Received May 19, 5.5 p.m. Washington, May 18.

Mr. Hughes plainly informed Prince Lubomirski, the Polish Ambassador, that the United States was not concerned in the Upper Silesian question.

KORFANTY’S ARRANGEMENTS. WHY THE POLES ROSE. London, May 18. The Times Warsaw correspondent advises that Korfanty had a long discussion with other Polish leaders and informed the Inter-Allied Control Commission that it was intended to disarm the majority of the Polish insurgents and concentrate the others in the Pless sector. He urged the Allies to distribute troops along the present Polish line to guarantee that the Germans would not invade the industrial district.

The Polish chief, Rosanki, commanding the Rimnik sector, refuses to accept Korfanty*B arrangements. Korfanty previously replied to Mr. Lloyd George’s castigation stating that the Poles had only taken up arms in defence of justice and were willing to accept the Supreme Council’s just verdict. They would, however, never submit to an arbitrary interpretation of the plebiscite figures. Korfanty stated that the Poles would destroy every factory rather than bow to the yoke of German capitalists. He warned Mr. Lloyd George not to use his power to oppress a people fighting for freedom. A WELCOME CHANGE. Paris, May 8. The tone of the French Press in the Upper Silesian controversy is more manifest to-day. It is accentuated by satisfaction at Germany’s payment of the reparations, which is welcomed as the first evidence of Germany’s good faith since the armistice. The correctness of the German attitude in not seeking to profit by the Anglo-French difference is recognised. The papers even declare that the incident may be regarded as closed, stating that the misunderstandings between M. Briand and Mr. Lloyd George have been largely removed as the result of telephonic communications between Paris and London.