4 AUGUST 1923, Page 1

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

THE two most important statements of the week were made by Mr. Baldwin in the House of Commons on Thursday. One referred to the Franco-German problem, and the other to the dispute with the Admiralty about the control of the Air. These statements come before us as we are about to go to press, and it will be understood that our leading articles which deal with these two subjects were written before the statements were published. As regards France and the Ruhr, Mr. Baldwin's statement, which was reproduced identically by Lord Curzon in the House of Lords, was extremely grave. There was nothing in the French or Belgian replies to the British Note, he said, which would enable an Allied answer to be sent to Germany or which held out any prospect of fresh discussion on Reparations. * * * *