The New York herald., 1921-05-19
|PREMIERS BATTLE
| IN THE OPEN over
| ACTION IN SILESlA
Lloyd George Warns BRAND
That Council and Not
Korfanty Must Rule.
EXPECTS REPLY TO-DAY
French Press Is Told That
World Is Supporting
British Stand.
WILLING TO USE NAVY
children Of Treaty Cannot
Smash Crockery in Europe
Statement Adds.
WILLING TO USE NAVY
BIZ the Associated Press.

LONDON, May 1S.-The freedom with
which Premier Lloyd George and Pre-
mer Brand are debating the Silesian
situation through the newspapers and
the strong words they are using is
creating a great stir in England. The
British public is accustomed to the
courteous and smooth methods Of the
old diplomacy. and the spectacle OF
most delicate differences being handled
by vigorous public debate amazes the
people.
The heads of the two Governments
after their numerous conferences were
expected to understand each other.
Apparently each has chosen the plan
of campaign which he considers the
most effective against his opponent.
NJ. BRAND will have the next word in
the French Parliament tomorrow. and
there Is great interest in London as to
whether he will maintain the same
high key OF controversy which Mr..
Lloyd George started upon in his re-
cent speech in the House OF Commons.
Mr.. Lloyd Georges reference to
Great Britain's willingness to use her
fleet, followed by the declaration that
Britain cannot stand by while the
treaty is trampled on, is taken as sig
nificant of future developments, de-
pending chiefly upon whether M.
BRAND tomorrow proclaims widen
ing Of the gulf between the policies of
the two countries or pictures them as
following the same principle.
insists Upon Restraint.
The Government is anxious to have
the Supreme Council meet during the
week end, believing that delay in the
Allies coming to some sort OF an agree
ment over Silesia and taking action
thereon will only make the situation
worse.
Mr.. Lloyd George, in the course of
his statement this morning, reiterated
the British attitude toward the Upper
Silesian question as expressed by him
in his recent speech in the House of
Commons, and disclaimed responsibility
for the distorted reports in the French
newspapers
The fate of Upper Silesia must be
decided by the Supreme Council and
not by Korfanty," he declared.
Children of the treaty cannot be
allowed to break crockery in Europe
with impunty. Somebody must place
restraining hand on them: other
wise there will be continual trouble.
Great Britain" he added. cannot
consent to stand by whilst the treaty
her representatives signed less than
two years ago is being trampled upon"
Claims General Support.
81 adhere to the statement | made In
the House OF Commons on the subject OF
Silesia. The almost unanimous approval
given by the American and the Italian
MS well as the British press to the senti-
ments I then expressed shows that the
great nations who stood by the side OF
France in the war mean to interpret the
Treaty OF Versailles fairly.
II have never witnessed such unanim-
ity on any question. All shades OF
opinion in these three countries take the
same view 1t would be unfortunate
were the French press to take a different
view. but we must be tolerant OF diff
ferences OF opinion among ourselves.
with all respect. would say to the
French press that the habit OF treating
every expression or allied opinion which
does not coincide with their own as an
impertinence is fraught with mischief.
That attitude OF mind. n persisted In,
will be fatal to any entente.
The stand taken by the British. Amer
lean and Italian public on the Silesian
question ought not to be offensive 70
France. They stand by the Treaty of
Versailles. They mean to apply the terms
Of the treaty Justly. whether they happen
10 be for or against Germany
Council Must He Supreme.
+, '"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. Somebody must
place a restraining hand on them.
otherwise there will be continual trouble.
The course Of the world I'm the coming
years cannot be forecast. The mists
ahead are more than usually dense.
Much will depend on the Allies holding
together. Apart from the treaty obll-
cations events which cannot be fore seen
Continued on Second Page.