The Monmouth inquirer., 1923-10-11
CURzON FAvORS
WAITING POLICY
Makes a Bold Bid in Conference
for Its Approval by I'M
periaI Premiers.
FRANCE TO ACT FIRST
Shows Britain's Interest and Urges
Opening Way to Resume ParIeys
With BerIin-Fears German
Disruption Is Near at Hand.

London.-Lord Curzon in a most inn
portant speech on Great Britain's for
eign policy made a bold bid to the
by the Imperial Premiers. Indications
are that his efforts were not unsuc-
cessful in proving that in the face OF
supreme difficulties this policy, as n
Of mastery inactivity, really is very
far sighted.
Put briefly, Great Britain is waiting
for France to take the initiative n
put forward proposals for a continu-
ance of allied cooperation, in view OF
Germany's giving up its policy OF pas
sive resistance in the Ruhr.
The Foreign Secretary did not, con-
trary to some expectations, refer to
the so-called official report on the
Paris meeting of Premiers Baldwin
and Poincare, which indicated an un-
Outstanding being reached between
the London and Paris governments.
The digest of his speech, released for
publication, contained no more than a
third of what he said, and indicates
that the meeting of Baldwin and Poin-
care was an air clearing conversation.
1t is understood, however, that Lord
Curzon very frankly discussed AAglo-
French relations and the causes which
had contributed to German demorall-
cation. Circumscribed as it is, the re-
port which was made public will do
much to reassure feeling here that
nothing has taken place lately which
can be construed as a giving up by
this country of it's claim for repara-
tions or an intention to stand aside
while any agreements are reached
with Germany.
Great Britain, as Lord Curzon as
serted, awaits the next move by
France. 1.-THE French Government
knows that we await and expect the
next proposals from them" he said.
The contingency of the cessation of
passive resistance must have long
been anticipated at the Quai d'Orsay,
and consequent measures doubtless
exist in outline if not in details. We
shall be quite ready to receive and dis
cuss them in a friendly spirit. Dur
position in Cologne gives us the right
to be consulted in any local arrange
ments, and that position we have no
intention to abandon"
Lord Curzon further indicates that
Great Britain's stake in the economic
recovery Of Europe was as great if not
greater than that of France, saying:
1--WE have already shown III willing
ness by unexampled concessions to
contribute to it"
The Foreign Secretary reminds
France that as the German Govern
ment has made a sincere effort to
abandon passive resistance the way
should be made open for the resump-
ton of negotiations. He makes a
very equivocal reference to the
French Ruhr victory, saying: 1--WE do
not grudge our allies the victory-if it
is a victory. But are we any nearer
a settlement"
He asks pointedly what the new
form of civil administration or organi-
cation in the Ruhr is to be, adding:
''These are questions which it is vital
to put and vital also to answer" The
disruption in Germany, he points, out,
is what had been anticipated here and
he describes it as an ominous political
symptom. "It has a ~portentious eco
nomic significance" he says, 'for it
means the ultimate disappearance Of
the debtor himself"
Nothing was said by the Foreign
Secretary in his speech about any re-
ply to Germans famous offer to sub
NIT to an international investigation
commission the question of Germans
capacity to pay ~reparations, and ap-
parently this part of the British pol
icy, which Premier Baldwin in August
told Parliament could not wait indef-
nitely, is regarded as having been
superseded by the situation in
Germany.