Evening star., 1923-08-02
ty's government has decided to lay

tvs government has decided to lay
before parliament. with the least pos
sible delay, the papers which have
recorded their own views and en-
deavors. We are inviting. the allies
to agree to the publication of the
notes or statements on their part. to
which reference. has been made. and
which are required to explain the
situation as a whole.
His majesty's government enter
tains the hope that the publication of
these papers may assist in determin-
ing the real dimensions of the prob
lem with which the allies are con-
fronted. and may convince the world
of the imperative necessity of prompt
and united action to deal with IT."
The prime minister then made the
same statement to the members of
the commons that Lord Curzon made
In the upper chamber, expressing re-
gret that the government could not
find enough material in the French
and. and Beig,an Isie, ne responses to send
J. Ramsay Macdonald, leader of
the labor opposition, expressed pro-
found disappointment at the replies
the government had received from
France and Belgium. There was one
general point of satisfaction, he add
| ed. namely, that the government ha5
| finally determined to devise a policy
| of its own and pursue ii. That policy.
as he understood it, was that Great
, Britain had. and must have, views
and interests which II must express
and protect
Mr. Macdonald said Great Britain's
conception OF the alliance had been CO.
operation, and that the means by which
! policies should be defined was by dis
| cussion pursued with the concurrence of
all the partners and not one in which
any one partner could claim control of
anything concerning his own interests.
Holds View ReasoabIe.
The labor leader submitted that the
British conception was proper and
reasonable, and as far as the action
I Indicated by the prime minister car
ried out this general conception of
British policy he might have the as
, surance that the vast body Of the
commons was behind him.
Mr.. Macdonald noted that the pre-
| mier had made no mention in his
speech of the period between June S
and July u, during which d number
OF questions were addressed to the
governments of France and Belgium,
and he asked If some details as to
what had occurred could not be Civ
/ en-. He also asked assurance that If
circumstances arose before the reaS-
sembling of parliament at the regular
! time in the middle of November the
commons together, SO that any i'm
| portant step to be taken should be
! taken with the full consent OF The
house. He advocated the abolition of
secrecy in the conduct of foreign AT
/ fairs as part of the new positive pol
| icy.
| Mr.. Macdonald said il was per-
| fectly clear that, France was in the
| Ruhr. not for the purpose OF getting
! reparation, and one was compelled to
the conclusion that the French policy
was policy permeated by warlike
feelings. AT the same time, he hoped
! that France and Belgium might beat
Great Britain in the endeavor TO de-
, wise policy which would lead to
the reconstruction of Europe.
Favors British Withdrawal.
Speaking in the house Of lords
! after the foreign secretary had made
| his statement. Lord Birkenhead. ths
| former lord chancellor. declared the
whole French nation was behind its
government in relation to the Ruhr
| He said the policy for Great Britain