The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1921-05-20
GEORGE
BARES Menace
British Premier Tells Commons
That the Poles Defy
Treaty.
FEARS A WORLD IMBROGLIO
Hints That 5ol3hevik Money Is In
volved in an Effort to Cause Brit
ish Revolt-Scores Poles
for Violating Pact.


Lloyd George. in a dramatic speech
Ia the house of commons concerning
the Upper Silesia imbroglio. declared
the action of the Polish insurrection-
lists was complete defiance of the
treaty of Versailles.
II think it is right / should speak
quite plainly" Mr. Lloyd George said.
because, If these things can happen
and we take no notice and do not deal
with Them with that stern justice
which has characterized the attitude
or this country in all its dealings
abroad, it is going to be fatal. to the
peace of Europe. If that is disturbed,
| do not see what is going to happen
to Europe
Il am alarmed, am frightened that.
unless some confidence is restored TO
the world, the consequences may be
of the most terrible character"
Mr.. Lloyd George said there were
two ways of dealing with the Silesian
situation. One was that troops of the
allies assist in restoring order. 1t was
not for him to express u military Opn-
ion, and he did not insist on this part
of the program, but he was entitled te
insist on an alternative. Either the
allies ought to insist upon the treaty's
being respected, or they ought to al
ow the Germans to do SO. The prime
minister continued:
Not merely to disarm Germany but
to say that such troops as she has
are not TO be permitted to take part
in restoring order-tlfat is not fair
To say to Germany: Here is your
| province, here is something which has
| been decided by the Versailles treaty
either for or against you, but the
! Poles are TO be allowed in defiance
of that treaty to take it, and you
Will not be allowed to defend your
selves in province which has been
yours for 200 years and which GER
tainly has not been Polish for 600
years, is discreditabe and not worthy
of the honor of any land.
THE only thing which | would like
to say in behalf of the government is
this:
Whatever happens. we cannot ac-
cept fait accompli. That would be
10 permit a defiance which might lead
to consequences of the most disastrous
kind"
Mr.. Llcyd George declared tie treaty
of Versailles was the charter Of Polish
freedom, and that she was the last
country of Europe who had the right
TO complain about the treaty Poland
did not win her liberty, the prime min
lister asserted; her liberty was due TO
Italy. Great Britain and France
There is not Il letter of the treaty
that does not mean a young British
J life, that does not mean nearly two
| French lives. and there were hundreds
of thousands of Italians" the prime
minister continued
Mr.. Lloyd George cited that the
Poles were divided in the war, half
of them fighting with the Germans
'They fell in German uniforms" he
declared, land shot down Frenchmen,
British and Italians who were fighting
for their freedom.
II see Korfanty (leader of the Polish
insurrectionists) has said that the
Poles in Silesia would die rather than
surrender If they had thought that
earlier when the battle for Polish free
dom was being fought. there would
have been fewer British. French and
Italian lives lost. But they only think
of Ii when the Germans are disarmed
and helpless.
1.-The Polish government has repu-
dated responsibility. and / am bound
to accept that statement as represent
ing their views. But ii has happened
once too often"
The prime minister recalled the set
Element with Lithuania. 10 which the
United States. France. italy and Great
Britain were parties.
wilma was occupied by regular
Polish troops in defiance of the al
lies" he said. They were asked to
retire. and they said:
, ave have no responsibility for it,
, 1.-The same thing is happening now.
The same disclaimer of responsibility
Arms passing from Poland and officers
! crossing her frontiers make ii very
difficult 10 feel that those populations
I of responsibility are anything bat pure
~ verbal"
Mr.. Lloyd George pleaded for the
upholding of the treaty both for the
sake II honor and for safety and Sc
curity.