The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-02-22
BRITISH HOPE OF
us. INTERVENTION
Has Given Indications She Might
Move, Curzon Says, and She
Should Be Hopeful of Success.
WAR DANGER IN NEAR EAST
curzon Declares Recall of Troops
Would End Entente-Bonar Law
Silent on Move-Liberals for
Constructive Policy.

London.-Stateme nts on foreign
policy were made simultaneously by
Premier Bonar Law in the house OF
commons and Lord Curzon in the
house of lords following the opening
of parliament it'll the address from
the throne.
In discussing the Ruhr situation
both Bonar Law and Lord Curzon did
not hesitate to explain how delicate
in their view vas the situation Gre
ated by the French advance. The
premier as he spoke of French resist
ance on their plan said:
what could we have done?' We
could have said to our French friends,
If you do that, it is the end OF the
entente do not think it would have
been wise. | began as head OF this
government with the sincere hope OF
being able to carry through the recon
struction of Europe by the side OF
France. / think so still. But | felt
that in taking that step she was do
ing something disastrous, not only to
England but to herself, and even to
the economic life of Europe. It has
proved So"
Bonar Law, however, admitted that
from the political point of view, M.
Poincare had little choice in the mat
ter.
In tones of great gravity both min
listers discussed Tie presence of Brit
ish troops on the Rhine. Lord Cur
ION pointed out that difficulties were
constantly arising about the levying
of customs on the coal in transit on
the railways through the British zone
and about the transport of troops.
At any moment the British might find
themselves in a situation of almost
intolerable friction, and the skill with
which their commanders had hitherto
poised themselves on this narrow
ledge had been remarkable. But he
could not conceal from the house that
the strain had been very great. The
balance of argument, he thought, how
ever. was decidedly in favor OF the
British remaining Neither French
nor Germans wanted them to go, and
it would be a great blow to both II
they did and woul9 be misinterpreted
by both.
Bonar Laws concluding words
were:
'The French may occupy the left
bank of the Rhine or the Ruhr for ten
years. but if the net result is to in
tensify the feeling Of German nation
ality. the danger will come later, and
do not think it is any advantage to
France.
1--WE still have our troops on the
Rhine. do not know whether it
would be possible for them to remain
there long. Up till now it has not
become acute, but it may. 1t is per-
fectly true that either the German or
French government could easily make
1t impossible for our forces to remain,
but | think it would be misfortune.
While we are there we are at least
in touch with the situation and have
a chance of having say in 1t. think
it would be a pity to bring an end
to the entente. 1t is no good appeal
ing to the. League of Nations if you
are certain that France will have
nothing to do with it."
The prime minister's speech causef
a sensation, but his optimism proved
in the end to be infectious, and gen.
eral cheers greeted it.
viscount Grey, speaking before
Lord Curzon, had suggested an ap-
peal to the League of Nations to in
tervene in the Ruhr question Lord
Curzon replied it was no good pro-
posing Intervention. as neither France
nor Germany would at present as
sent. AS for the League of Nations,
Lord Grey knew perfectly well Eng
land had for long desired the admis-
sion of Germany, but there had al
ways been opposition from other
quarters.