ENTENTE INTACT.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1922, Page 5

ENTENTE INTACT.

TIMES REPORT DENIED, “A WICKED INVENTION. DENIAL ON BOTH SIDES. CONFERENCE GOES ON. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received May 9, 8.15 p.m. Genoa, May 8. Mr. Lloyd George, speaking to press* men, declared his reported statement that ‘'the Entente is at an end” was a wicked invention and the ravings of an insane person desiring to wreck the conference. The French delegation were outraged. Mr. Lloyd George said the future of the conference depended on Russia s answer. If it provided a bona fide basis, then he would remain at Genoa; but he did not expect a direct “yes” or “no.” There were difficulties connected with Clause 7, regarding private rights and property rights, but he hoped England and France would work together in the matter. There could be no direct loan by the Allies to the Soviet Government. M. Barthou (the French delegate) also emphatically denies the report of Mr. Lloyd George’s alleged statement. In a letter to Mr. Lloyd George regarding the Times’ allegations, he writes: “You appeal for my testimony regarding last Saturday’s conversations. You did not say the Entente is at an end, or that your advisers were pressing you to make an entente with Germany. You did not say one word to break the friendship between our countries.”—Aus.*NX Cable Assn.

QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT. ENTENTE NOT IMPERILLED. FATE OF THE CONFERENCE. Received May 9, 5.5 p.m. • London, May 8. Mr. Austin Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, replying to a question, said, firstly, that he was unable to state when Mr. Lloyd George would return; secondly, he had no reason to suppose the discussions at Genoa would imperil the Entente. and there had been no change in British policy regarding carrying out the Versailles Treaty; thirdly, he was unaware that a time limit had been imposed on the conference. The entire House, crying ‘Tion’t answer,” and “Order, order!” supported Mr. Chamberlain’s refusal to reply to the final question, asking if it was a fact, as reported in the press, that Mr. Chamberlain “was arranging another holiday conference, or a conference holiday, at San Remo.” Mr. Chamberlain added that the statement which appeared in the Times was a breach of international confidence. He

quoted extracts and complained of including the phrases “The Entente between Britain and France is at an end” and “The Prime Minister’s advisers, especially Lord Birkenhead, have been constantly advising Mr. Lloyd George to break with France.” This was a great deal of nonsense. (Cheers.) Mr. Cham-

berlain said he was aware that the editor of the Times had been staying at the French headquarters at Genoa, but he had not been in touch with anyone who had authority to speak for the British Government. ANXIETY OF MEMBERS.

Members of all parties in the House of Commons are evincing remarkable interest in the Genoa situation, and some alarm lest the conference should break down. Mr. C'hamberlain and other Ministers were strenuously engaged during question-time satisfying the demands for information. The House displayed impatience at members asking facetious and trifling questions, and in other ways showed sympathy with Mr Lloyd George. Lord Robert Cecil asked if the Times’ statements had been published by the Havas Agency. Mr. Chamberlain replied: “If so, I hope they will also publish my reply. I cannot conceive what public purpose was served by their publication by a paper which has deliberately set out to misrepresent the Premier and mislead the country.” (Cheers.) Mt. Will Thome: “Has the House power to bring the writer to the bar of the House, so that the Speaker can admonish him?” (Loud cheers.) Mr. Chamberlain did not reply. A French correspondent at Genoa ■writes to the Daily Telegraph, repeating the statement that Mr. Lloyd George declared that he could not but interpret the fact that France sided with Belgium against England as an indication that France did not want to remain true to the Entente, and that in future England would consider herself free to contract new friendships if she thought it advisable. The correspondent adds: •*Of course the very serious words uttered by Mr. Lloyd George have their principal origin in the decision reached by M. Poincaire regarding the procedure necessary to solve the German reparajtaons problem.”

CAN GERMANY PAY! Mr. Lloyd George informed M. Barthou that Britain had decided to renounce her sharp of reparations due from Germany. IMr. Lloyd George’s and Sir L. Worthington Evan’s meeting with Herr Wirth and Dr. Rathenau to-day created the impression that if France, after May 31, retorts to independent action against Germany. England will perhaps regard herself as free to negotiate a separate agreement with Germany. These developments are the cause of regret m French circles, but it must be remembered that even the average Frenchman doea not see the possibility of enforcing, even partially, the Versailles Treaty, eapeeiallv the reparation clauses, unless Germanv is threatened with coercion if she breaks her pledged word, and nowhere else, is the real mu-ting of the ways between the French and British policies. French circles hope that if the Soviet Governments does not amount to clear acceptit will be considered as a Tefusri nd the Genoa proceedings will oe reared up as soon as possible, this »e--caaiae should the conference continue to Znse a new dash between British and French opinions, it would prove more dStoiit to bridge the gulf _b etvrtr. themgable Am?-