ANGLO-FRENCH LNTESTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 April 1922, Page 5

ANGLO-FRENCH LNTESTE.

PAST FRICTION REVIVED. ATTACK ON BRITAIN. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Paris, March 30. Disclosures made by a former Minister, M. Marshal, at a secret sitting of the Senate, may prove the turning point in Anglo-French relations, and the turning point for the worse. M. Marsal related a deplorable attempt' by Mr. Lloyd George, at Spa, in 1920, to squeeze France into the acceptance of the British proposal that the price of reparation coal from Germany to France should be £6 per ton, instead of £2. Mr. Lloyd Gcorgp threatened M. Millerand that he would declare the Entente ended and arraign France in the House of Commons unless he consented. M. Marsal seems also to have divulged that an attempt was made ty Mr. Lloyd George to purchase the support of Belgium by a promise of an increased percentage of the reparations. The effect in Parliamentary circles of this disgraceful chapter in British relatons with France is analogous to the effect of the revelation in a court of law of a scandal which previously was only club gossip. The Senate has hitherto been the stronghold of French fidelity to the Entente, but, as a consequence of M. Marsal’s statement, there is reason to fear that some of the foundations are shaken. The newspaper Temps comments: — “We hope no such pressure, which leaves a lasting impression on the minds of the people, will be exerted at Genoa. If on© wishes a better future it is expedient not to poison it by evil memories.” AUTHENTICITY DENIED. BY BRITISH PREMIER. Received April 2, 5.5 p.m. London, April 1. The Paris correspondent of the Westminster Gazette explains that Mr. Lloyd George gave him for publication, in March, 1919, the substance of the memorandum on the Peace Conference, as cabled on March 24, conditional on his not publishing its source. Three hundred and seventy members of the House of Commons subsequently sent a telegram to Mr. Lloyd George, when he Was in Paris, expressing alarm at th© views given iu the Westminster Gazette as emanating frbm the British Peace Delegation. Thereupon Mr. Lloyd George denied that the statements possessed any authenticity.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. STATEMENT BY M. POINCARE. MILITARY PACT DEFECTIVE. Received April 2, 11.30 p.m. Paris, April 1. During a debate in the Chamber oi Deputies, M. Poincare (Premier) said that neither directly nor indirectly will 'France permit any revision of th© Versailles Treaty to be raised at Genoa. ‘ The British military pact was defective in two essentials. Firstly, there was not provision for French reciprocity; secondly, the duration of a decade was insufficient. Negotiation on these points was proceeding with Britain.