Evening star., 1923-08-21
PO|NCARE-CURz0N
DUEL WAS BITTER
Revelation of Secret Fight
Shows Ruhr Solution Was
Never Near.

PARIS, August 21.-PerhapS the
most interesting and the most illu-
minating glimpse of postwar \diplo-
macy, famous for it's failures during
the past two years. in Paris, London,
Cannes. Genoa and The Hague, was
afforded when the French and Brit
ish governments decided during the
past week to open to public view of
the world their entire diplomatic
front yards
Not only have they suspended their
reparations and interallied debt prob
lens. but they have threatened to let
them hang, exposed to the view of the
world. until neighbors interfere. II
any lesson has been learned from pre-
war secret diplomacy, which smolder-
ed for years under the surface of al
lied international usages and court
esy. il is the full public understand
ing that both France and England to-
day seek with regard to their con-
trove rsies.
1t is no longer a secret of the
chancellors Office alone, or of the
foreign office, that the personalities
of Premier Poincare and Lord Curzon
do not make for harmony. These two
of the most eminent among European
L
channel compliments for the past two
months. but il is only their decision
TO wash their linen in public that has
made II known now that they have
never been even close to joint solu-
tlon of Europe's most vital problems.
Britain's note to France of a week
ago, in which Lord CurZon for the
hrst time openly questioned the le-
gallty of French occupation of the
Ruhr. and which took general issue
with Polncare's widely advertised, al
most stereotyped theory on the set
tiement Of reparations and interal-
lied debts, brought into the open. al
most Immediately. Frances yellow
book. laying shamelessly bare the
whole series of hitherto clandestine
dlpiomatlc 1nterchanges from May 2
to August 3.
Pointed Repartee.
The book contains thirty-seven dip
loIialc documents. many of which
are devoted to what is now seen as
nSht pointed repartee between Lord
Curzon and Premier Poincare. II
SHOWS the chiefs OF the two foreign
oficeS progressively growing more
caustlc in their dealing with each
Uiner untH the state of opposing
viewpoints became so pronounced
that both accepted the view that fur
lher argument was useless
IL VIII be recalled that France and
Belgium jointly rejected Berlin's first
proposal Tor solution of reparations
Mlthout consulting with England
me yellow book" discloses the fact
that Lord Curzon requested DELAY of
lhis reply until an exchange of views
could be held among the allies
folncare, through Ambassador d'Es-
,aulaire at London, responded that
ne could not wait longer than to-
morrow" and for rejection of the
f1I III
winch demanded reduction of the debt
ana complete overthrow of the treatv
OF versailles. we have no one to con-
suit but ourselves"
Again on June :. when Germany
launched another Eet of offers. Poin-
LONDON to inform Curzon that these
were likewise unacceptable to France
This apparently reused the ire of
u. sse britIsh secretary for foreign
dHalfS, Tor here II may be said, be-
gan the feud eliminating in public
exposition of this most pronounced
difference of views.
Lord curzon listened to the deliv-
cry OF the message from Poincare
without interrupting the French am
6assador, and then informed him that
Brlta1ns opinion was that French
action in the Ruhr was contrary to
Curzon, according to dEstaulaire.
believed that the political haze of the
Ruhr, question took precedence over the
juridical aspects.
Premier Poincare replied tartly.
Like Lord CurZon. l too estimate
that 1t is useless to discuss the jurid-
1cal side of our action in the Ruhr.
We have explained our viewpoint in
the matter and our arguments appear
to me unanswerable."
Intention OF Remaining.
The French premier proceeded. how
ntf -I.n l.,
vious British admission of the legal
ity of occupation of the Ruhr and
reaffirmed the determination of
France not to evacuate until Germany
paid further, instructing the ambas-
sador, You can assure your inter-
which it is most essential to report
to the British. that we have no in
tention whatever of remaining in the
Ruhr any longer than is necessary.
and we have neither political am
bitfons nor anneXationist' thoughts"
Later on Poincare wired D'Estau-
1aire, 1T is useful to repeat to Lord
Curzon that Germany's capacity of
payment is not pose for which we
have fallen. The Germans caused dis
that capacity, but Germany has pre-
served all the real wealth"
To this Lord Curzon replied, with
subtle diplomatic sarcasm, From the
wording or the mem mOranduT, which
your eXcellency hands me, it would
almost seem as though cessation of
passive resistance would be regarded
by the French as equivalent to active
cooperation on the part of the Ger
man population in whatever meas
French authorities seem fit to take or
order. This would be excessively i'm
practical
The British foreign secretary con-
tinued by saying, Even if it We're
conceded that French action in the
Ruhr is justified or authorized under
the treaty of Versailles" Then. as
though this were not enough to make
Poincare frantic with rage--secretly,
of couFse-Lord CurZon pursued the
discussion with the statement that
"if, on the other hand. the French
are content with German revocation
of all measures enjoining the duty
of passive resistance, is it to be un-
derstood that such revocation would
be followed by the return of eyicted
and imprisoned populations to their
homes, together with restoration of
their properties"'
Lord Curzon then launched several
pointed questions directly at Poin-
care. with the inference that all that
the Germans had to expect from ces-
tinuance of French occupation Of the
Rhur.
Poincare retorted with caustic irony
instructing d'Estaulaire that Lord
Curzon knows we are studying the
matter, not in the same AMIGA BILE
spirit which animates the British
government
The correspondence between the
two foreign offices dragged on until
finally the ambassador mediator wired
Poincare: Lord Curzon told me again
that the patience of British opinion
and parliament would not allow the
cabinet to defer much longer a deflni-
tion of British policy"
Poincare replied to the ambassador: