SILESIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 May 1921, Page 5

SILESIA.

FIGHTING REPORTED. BETWEEN POLES AND GERMANS. VIOLENT BATTLE PROCEEDING. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Received May 20, 11.15 p.m. Berlin, May 19. A violent battle is proceeding in the Kreuzburg district between Polish insurgents and German military organisa-tions.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

IF GERMANS ENTER SILESIA. A BREACH OF THE TREATY. FRENCH ACTION EXPECTED. Received May 20, 8.45 p.m Paris, May 19. The British Em-bassy has formally asked the Quai d’Orsay whether France will occupy the Ruhr in the event of the Germans entering Silesia. There was a similar conversation in London between Lord Curzon and the French Ambassador.

It is understood France informed Britain that she will be compelled to regard the entry of German troops into the plebiscite area as a breach of the Treaty of Versailles, necessitating fresh precautionary measures. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

[The Quai d’Orsay is here used in the sense that Downing street is spoken of as the mouthpiece of the British Government.]

ANGLO-FRENCH RELATIONS. “GIVING WAY TO BRITAIN.” Received May 20, 8.4 p.m. Paris, May 19. Yesterday was an -anti-British day in the Chamber. During a debate on German reparations M. Tardieu made a bitter attack, lasting an hour and a half, on M. Briand saying France gave way too much to Britain. M. Briand talked of seizing Germany by the scruff of the neck on May 1, but he let the date pass. “Doubtless he will say,” declared M. Tardieu, “that he made concessions in order to maintain accord with Britain, but recent declarations by Mr. Lloyd George show that sacrifices are useless. It was not always necessary to give way to Britain.”

The debate will last two or three days, and M. Briand is expected to answer on Friday.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

GERMAN RECRUITING. 1 ALLIES ORDER It TO STOP. Received May 20, 5.5 p.m. London, May 19. A Berlin message states that the Inter-Allied Military Control Commission’s Note demands that Germany shall immediately take measures to prevent the recruiting of volunteers for Silesia and disband the detachment already formed. —Reuter Service.

POLAND’S RIGHTS. TO FIND HER OWN DESTINY. Received May 20, 5.5 p.m. Warsaw, May 19. The Polish Premier, replying in the Diet to Mr. Lloyd George, stated that the latter’s speech caused indignation in Poland, which did not uphold her rights to Silesia on ancient claims, but on the Versailles recognition of the right of any country to work out her own des-tiny.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

BRITISH PREMIER’S SPEECH. COMMENT BY FRENCH PRESS. Paris, May 19. The Press, commenting on Mr. Lloyd George’s statement, is quieter than might have been expected, but the general view is that the statement is no more satisfactory than last week’s speech. The Echo de Paris says it is even more displeasing than last week’s speech. The Petit Parisien states that Mr. Lloyd George has deeply wounded French sentiment. The Matin says his threats of forming new friendships should be explained, for if it means a friendship with Germany we believe the British people will refuse to follow him. We do not hold the British responsible for the Prime Minister's vagaries. We prefer Britain to Mr. Lloyd George. Gaulois says France and Britain havejsomething better to do than quarrel. They must just settle Silesia in a spirit of friendship. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

JOURNALISTS ARRESTED. Berlin, May 18. The Silesian insurgents arrested in a tram car Mr. Phillip Price, correspondent of the Daily Herald, and Mr Fritz Voight, representing the Manchester Guardian. MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS. Berlin, May 18. Messages from Dantzig report large movements of Polish troops going to Dantzig. The Poles have blown up a number of bridges over the Vistula and have occupied strategical points.