Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-07
British Commons
Continued from PAGE One)

probiemS or security and reparations.
MIR. Macdonald supported the
resolution in n speech characterized
by moderation. which elicited from
Mr.. Bonar Law expressions of full
agreement with many of his state
mcnts, but the Prime Minister main
tanned his previous position that the
time was not ripe for intervention,
that such move would be regarded
as hostile to France and that the
government was not prepared to as
sumo that responsibility. He ap-
pealed to the Labor leader not to
press the matter for division, and
the resolution was talked out.
MI. Macdonald declared that
France was rewriting the treaty Of
Versailles without consulting her al
lies. and events were happening
which were only too likely to lead
to new war. He feared that the
nations were becoming less shame
faced in openly talking of prepare
tons for the next war. and he warn
ed the House of the. possibility OF
france signing separate peace with
Germany and presenting the Allies
with the accomplished fact.
He urged that England should
have the courage to give the moral
lead to Europe and degne her posi-
ton and stand by it. instead of al
lowing herself to he controlled by
events like a puppet. The important
point was to get an international
loan so as to provide France with
the immediate cash she needs.
Lord Robert Cecil agreed that the
government should make it quite
clear to the other governments
ys-bn ctr Ia
was. H. \. l.. Fisher contended that
it was an international problem and
that every effort should be made to
get the United States in.
The prime minister. in winding
up the debate. declared that France
had gained nothing by her Ruhr adj
venture: on the contrary. she had
sustained heavy loss and 1t was
impossible to prophesy the out
come. He admitted that the govern
ment had nothing it could propose
TO the House, and said that perhaps
the absence of a policy was bad.
but to have policy which could not
succeed and which in itself was bad.
would he even worse.
Mr.. BOnar Law argued that it
was not a question OF NJ. POincara
or his government. Evidence indi-
Gated that with the present French
chamber any French government
would have been impellcd to the
same course. Clearly the French
polio as supported by Chambers
and the French people; therefore
the Britt I government had no al
tentative before it.
There were only two courses, the
prime minister continuedtO accept
the Ruhr advance with the greatest
amount of friendly feeling possible,
or to break faith and make the two
countries practically hostile.
To himself it seemed inevitable
that to break the entente would
mean the possibility of enforcing
Englands will on France by war.
At this moment France would deep
" resent any attempt at mediation.
The government had dissociated it.
self from the French action. but did
not desire to quarrel with France if
it could possibly he avoided. The
governments policy would not
cha nge with each debate on the sit
uation. He did not believe for
moment that anv French statesmen
seriously contemplated forming a
European bloc against England.
He concluded by asking what sort
of reception Mr.. Macdonald thought
his proposal would meet in the
French and Belgian Chambers.