Evening star., 1921-05-18
LLOYD GEORGE FIRM
IN OPPOSING POLISH
SEIZURE IN S|LES|A
Reiterates Stand That ST.
preme Council Must De-
eide Fate of Area.

by the t>>H-'ia'"d Press.
LONDON. May 1s.-Air. LLOYD
George. the prime minister issued d
statement this morning reitera,ins the
British attitude toward the Upper
Sl'eSiar question expressed BY him in
his recent speech IN the house OF COM
mons. and diScIaiming responsibility
for the Distorted reports in the French
newspapers.
Lloyd George said: The fate of Upper
SlieSla must be decided by the supreme
council and not by korfanty'
He continued:
thiidren Of the treaty cannot be al
loved TO break crochery in Europe
with impunity. Somebody must place
d restraining hand OIL them: otherwise
/ there will he continual trouble.
Great Britain cannot consent to
stand by whilst the treaty her repre-
Sentatires signed less than two years
ago Is being trampled upon
Adhcres TO Statement.
The prime minister's statement be-
gar as follows:
Il adhere 20 the statement | made
in the house of commons on the sub
accept responsibility for what actual
iy said and not for the truucated and
distorted reports in the French news
papers The almost unanimous ap-
prevail given by the American and the
Italian. rs well the British press 10
the sentiments / then expressed show
that the great nations who stood hy
-
interpret the treaty of Versailles fair
ly'
IL have never witnessed such uuan-
unity on any question" continued the
statement. "All shades of opinion in
these three countries take the same
view. |, would be unfortunate wer, the
French press to take a different view
but We must be tolerant of differences
OF opinion amongst ourselves.
Raps French Press.
with all respect. | would say to
the French press that the habit of
treating every expression of allied
opinion which does not coincide with
their own AS an impertinence is
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 of
fenSive TO France. They stand by the
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 Korfarty. Children of the
treaty cannot be allowed to break
rrockery in Europe with impunity
Somebody must place a restraining
hand on them: otherwise there viii
be continual trouble.
Mista tnusunIly Dense.
The course of the world in the
coming years cannot be forecast The
mists ahead are more than usually
dense. Much will depend on the al
lies holding together.
Apart from 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 determined by old or new friend ;
ships
Under these circumstances the
treaty Of Versailles is a document of
infinite moment-especIaliy to the ma
tionS of the entente. 1t binds us to-
gether when there is so much to di- |
vide us. Those who treat its provi- +
sionS as if they were the sport of !
passion and prejudice may not have |
to live long to regret their hot
keadedneSS.
Ready to Use Fleet.
The British people shirk no part Of |
their responsibility under this treaty |;
There are temporary difficulties which |
make it Difficult. to spare troops but
these, confidently anticipate will be
over soon. and I call attention to the
fact that at the recent conference we
animated our readiness if Germany re-
fused the terms of the allied council TO
Mace the British fleet at the disposal of !
Tho allies for any operation that might
he determined upon.
The British government was anxious
IN have the division of Slesia settled at
,ht, London conference. All the facts of
the plebScte We're known However. our
lilies were not ready to proceed with the
discussion We will abide faithfully by
The decision given by Il majority of the
nowers who have voice under the
treaty in defining the Slesian boundaries.
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 and sus-
old treaty to which this country was a
marty, Great Britain cannot consent to
stand by while the treaty her repre- !
sentatives signed less than two years
ago is being trampled upon"