28 APRIL 1923, Page 1

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

THE past week has been dominated by the inter- national importance of the speech delivered by Lord Curzon in the House of Lords on Friday, April 20th. It amounted to a far more definite statement of the position and policy of this country than had previously been made. On the question of reparations the Govern- ment, he said, was urging Germany to make a declara- tion of her willingness to pay a sum " fixed by authorities properly charged with the duty." On the question of French security the Government was willing to consider any proposal which did not involve the dismemberment of Germany. His speech was preceded by one from Lord Buckmaster and followed by Lord Grey of Fallodon. With the issues involved in the debate we deal in our leading columns. •