Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-05-18
LLOYD GEORGE
RElTERATES
STATEMENTS
Declares Upper Silesian
Question Must be Decid-
ed by Council.

London, May 1s.-(By the Associ-
ated Press.)-Mr. Lloyd George. the
prime minister, issued statement
this morning reiteratine the British
attitude towards the Upper Silesian
question expressed by him in his re-
cent speech in the house OF commons
and disclaiming responsibility for the
distorted reports in the French
newspapers"
In the course Of the statement Mr..
Lloyd George said:
THE fate of Upper 8ileaia must be
decided by the supreme council and
not by korfanty.
Children Of the treaty cannot be
allowed to break crockery in Europe
with in,punity. Somebody must place
a restraining hand on them; other
wise there will be continual trouble.
Great Britain cannot consent to
stand by whilst the treaty her repre-
sentatives signed less than two yearH
ago 10 being trampled upon"
Means Fair Treatment.
The prime minister's statement be-
gan as follows:
Il adhere to the statement I made
in the house of commons on the sub..
iject Of Silesia- Naturally, I can only
accept responsibility for what I
actually said and not for the trun-
Gated and distorted reports in the
French newspapers The almost un-
,animous approval given: by the Amer
lean and the Italian. as we'll as the
British press to the sentiments then
Expressed show that the great ma
tions who stood by the side of France
in the war. mean to interpret the
treaty Of Versailles sairly."
II have never witnessed such un-
the statement. All shades of opinion
in these three countries take the same
view. 1t would be unfortunate were
the French press to, take differen,
view, but we must be tolerant of diff
ferences of opinion amongst our
selves. u <" .>
: With all respect. I would say to
the French press that, the habit OF
treating every expression OF allied
opinion which does. not coinciden,
with their own as an impertinence is
fraught with mischief That attitude
of mind, If persisted in, will be fatal
to any entente.
1.-THE stand taken by the British
Italian and American public on the
! Silesian auestion ought not to be Of
fensive to France. They stand by the
treaty OF Versailles. They mean to
apply the terms Of the treaty justly
whether they happen to be for or
against Germany.
'The fate of Upper Silesia must be
decided by the supreme council. and
not by korfanty. Children of the
treaty cannot be allowed to break
crockery in Europe with impunity.
q nhNI ,,I~
hand on them: otherwise there will
be continual trouble.
! 'The course of the world in the
coming years cannot be forecast. The
mists ahead are more than usually
dense. Much will depend upon the
allies holding together.
! Apart from the treaty obligations
events which cannot be foreseen must
determine the future groupings Of the
nations and the future OF the world
and especially Of Europe. will be de-
termined by old or new friendships.
! Under these circumstances. the
treaty Of Versailles is document OF
infinite moment-especially to the ma.
uons of the entente. 1t binds US to.
gether when there is so much to di.
vide US Those who treat it's provi.
sions as If they were the sport of pas.
sion and prejudice may not have tc
live. long to regret their hotheaded.
ness.
British Do Part
THE British people shirk no par,
of their responsibility under thi.
treaty. There are temporary diff
|culties which make it difficult te
spare troops, but these I confidentl.
anticipate will be over soon. and
call attention the fact that at the
recent conference We inumated oul
readiness il Germany refused the
terms Of the. allied council, to place
the British feet at the disposal of ths
allies for any operation that might b
determined upon.
''The, British government wa:
anxious to have the division of Silesia
settled at the London conference. Al
the facts of the plebiscite were
known. However. our allies were moi
ready to proceed with the discussion
1--WE will abide faithfully by the de-
cision given by majority OF the
|powers who have a voice under thu
treaty in defining the Silesian bound
laries whatever that verdict may be
I'VE fully accept the plehiscite as al
depression of the wishes Of the peo
Iple Of Silesia. but having gone int
1.-THE great war we sustained giganti,
losses in defense OF an old treaty Il
which this country was . party, Grea
britain cannot stand by whilst ehi
treaty Representatives signed les
THAN two years ago 10 being tramples