TOPICS OF THE DAY.
THE PARIS INTERVIEW: THE TRUTH.
THE time has come to tell the truth about the Paris Interview, and to correct the misunder- standings which have arisen from the communique of September 19th. Unless the dangerous cohfusion in the public mind is set at rest, the injury to the Govern- ment and to the highest interests of the nation may be fatal.
The country must be told the facts, and all con- cerned must know that Mr. Baldwin, so far from with- drawing the British Notes, emphasized them by showing how great is the weight of public opinion behind them. For this reason we take the responsibility of publishing a correct version of the nature of the interview.
If the communique had given an accurate account of what happened at the interview between the two Prime Ministers it would have run as follows :— "Mr. Baldwin at the meeting of the Prime Ministers made it clear that he did not desire to re-argue the merits of the Ruhr controversy, as on that matter his views and those of the British Government were unchanged. All he desired to do, while establishing personal relations of con- fidence with M. Poincare, was to make him realize how overwhelmingly public opinion here was opposed to the policy of the French Government. Not to realize that might lead to most dangerous delusions about the attitude of the British people. Mr. Baldwin wculd have been wanting in public duty had he failed to bring this fact before the Chief of the French Government."
In case of further misapprehensions as to the matter as a whole, we desire to deal with a criticism which is likely to be made in regard to our statement. It will perhaps be said to be unauthorized. That will be true. Nevertheless, the nature of Mr. Baldwin's conversation with M. Poincare as represented by us will not be denied. The responsibility for making this statement—and it is a heavy one—rests upon us and upon us alone.
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