The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-05-20
THREAT ALLIED DIGNITY
London Times Man Sees
No Other Course
STRONG RACIAL FEELING
Solution of the SiIesian Situa-
ton Is Complex; Area In
~ Dispute
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch

London, May 12.-Mr. Lloyd
George, the prime minister, issued
statement this morning reiterat-
ing the British attitude towards the
Upper SiIesian question expressed
by him in his recent speech In the
house OF commons and discIaiminq
responsibility for the "distorted re-
ports IN the French newspapers"
In the course of the statement
Mr.. Lloyd George said:
"The fate of Upper SiIesia must
be decided by the supreme council
and not by korfanty."
He continued:
"crildren Of the treaty cannot be
allowed to break crockery In Eu-
rope with impunity. Somebody
must place restraining hand or,
them; otherwise there will be con-
tinued trouble.
Great Britain cannot consent to
stand by whilst the treaty her rep
resentative signed less than two
years ago is being trampled upon"
The prime minister's statement
began as follows:
y adhere to the statement I made
u, the house Of commons on subject
OF Sitesia. Naturally, can only ac-
csPt resPonsibiIIty for what ! actu-
s;sd dIsl5f{s5 FssoF| IS s| s
neWspapers. The almost ur,4i,]tu6lfS
approval given by the American and
the italian, as well az the British.
press in the sentiments then *.
pressed show that the great nations
VINO stood by the side Of France h,
the war mean to interpret the treaty
OF Versailles fairly"
nave never witnessed such I'M
animity of any question:" continued
the statement. Cali shades of opinion
IN these three countries take the
same view. 1t would be unfortunafe
were the French press to take a diff
ferent view, but we must be tolerant
OF d1nerences of opinion amongst
with all respect, 1 would saw To
the French press that the habit of
treating every expression of allied
opinion which. does not coincide with
fraught with mischief. That attitude
of mind, if persisted in, will be fatal
to any entente.
The stand taken by the British.
American and Italian public on the
Silesian question ought not to be Oh :
fensive to France. They stand nv
the treaty of Versailles. Thew mean
to apply the Terms of the treaty lust :
iy, whether they happen to be for or
against Germany. :
Fate Of SiIesia Must BE Settled.
The fate Of Upper Silesia must he
decided by the supreme council, and
not by Korfanty. Children Of the
treaty cannot be allowed to break
Somebody must place a restraining
hand on them; otherwise there will
be continual trouble.
The course Of the world In the
coming years cannot be forecast. The
m1sts ahead are more than usually
dense. Much will depend upon the
allies holding together. Apart from
treaty obligations events which can
not be foreseen must determine the
future groupings of the nations and
the future of the world, and especial
~ OF Europe, will be determined by
old or new friendships.
Under these circumstances. the
treaty of Versailles Is a document of
Infinite n1oment-especially to the ma
lions of the entente. 1t binds us to-
gether when there is SO much To
divide us. Those who treat its pro
visions as If they were the sport of
passion and prejudice may not have
to live long to regret their hot head
edneSS.
British shirk No Respon sibiIity.
THE British people shirk no part
of their responsibility under this
treaty. There are temporary difficult
ties which make It difficult to spare
troops, but these I confidently antici-
pate will be over. soon, and call at
tention the fact that at the recent
conference we intimated our readi-
ness if Germany refused the terms of
the allied council, to place the British
fleet at the disposal of the allies for
any operation that might be deter
mined upon
".The British government was anx-
ious to have the division of Silesia
settled at the London conference. All
the facts of the plebiscite were
known. However, our allies were NOT
ready to proceed with the discussion
We will abide faithfully by the de-
cision given by a majority of the
powers who have voice under the
treaty in defining the Silesian bound
airy, whatever that verdict may be-.
We fully accept the plebiscite as an
expression of the wishes of the people
of Silesia, but having gone into the
great war we sustained gigantic
losses in defense of an old treaty. to
which this country was party Great
Britain cannot stand by whilst the
treaty her representatives signed less
than two years ago is being tranpled
upon"
An Eeono~,ic- blockade.
London, May 18.-German opppsl.