The reply of the Allies was to summon Marshal Foch
and Sir Henry Wilson to Spa.. The Coal discussion was remarkable for the intervention of Herr Stinnes, the well-known German coal magnate, who lectured the Allies in a high-handed, not to say truculent, mann,er. The other German delegates adopted. an apologetic attitude, for the outburst of Herr Stinnes, and, their excuses may have been sincere or may have-been merely . convenient and discreet, covering a secret satisfaction the& Herr Stinnes had said what he did. But we may well ask, What was Herr Stinnes doing at the Spa Conference ? We have travelled a long way from the days when Mr. Lloyd George assured us that the .malefactors would all be brought to book.
we are not mistaken, Herr Stinnes was one of the, leaders in the atrocious scheme under which Belgian women, boys and. girls were deported to perform_.what was in effect slave labour. Herr Stinnes, so far, from appearing in the dock, puts the Allies in the dock. When we go to press on Thursday the Germans seem inclined to yield.
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