(To the Editor, 8.C.M. Post.)
Sin,—I had the honour of communicating to the local press a telegram addressed to this Consulate by the French Government, to deny the rumours of the so-called difficult situation of the Banque Industrielle de Chine and of the Sociate Centrale des Banques de Province. The fact that my Goverament has addressed such a telegram to its Consuls shows clearly that the cause of it solicitude exceeds portance what may be called a slight, agitation.
'The wounds inflicted on "France are still open; it is therefore unnecessary to recall the tragic and sorrowful phases of that war, which, in five years, laid low on' the battlefield one milli a half of ovr brave soldier two more millions of Frou permanent state li devastation into yerly calculated by the German armies (with regard to France) is summarized in the following facts:
3,800,000 hectares of land were ravage ed and more than three thousand villages destroyed. The surface destroy. ed represents one tenth of the area of France and the value involved one third of its commercial ang: industrial productive strength. Such are the disasters which the Germans ato obliged to indemnity, and our Allies pledged them-levels to obtain to exact fulfilment of this indemnification according to the Treaty of Versailles.
Up to the present day, Germay ha: not yet deposited one centime in discharge of her debt. But the last, limits are drawing near, and she will be forced to fulfil her obligations, It will therefore be easily understood that, unable to escape any longer from the demands of a delayed but necessary justice, all the clements likely to rain the credit of France are brought—into play, in order to upset the public order by attempting, firstly to destroy her economic order, These calculations, which it would be difficult not to recognize in the late dis. turbances, are useless, for the French ration united in Victory as it was in War, has understood from the very first. that its reconstruction depended upon its perseverance in work and in order, and therefore nothing, can turn away the French people from their firm resolve to attain this end, What may perhaps surprise public opinion, however, is the indifference which Reuter's "Agency employs in. indicating the sources" of these false rumours, which are propagated to cast:
doubt on our national credit. not sufficient, certainly. to simply' point out the existence of certain ramours, it would be more useful to the public to know their origin, and this fact Reuter's Agency should not ignore.
It is not possible that these attacks, which are as prejudicial to our country og the War itself, come from sur Allies, Their sense of honour raises them above suspicion. The general state of France since the Armistice contradicts in every way the grotesque ramours spread about by Reuter's Agency.
Consequently the only sound and logical conclusion which" can be drawn from tiiest facts is that these evil rumours have been circulated by tinreconciles enemies of France for some inc once able end. or from selfish motives. thing which touches our national honour can be indifferent to the French Government and T can affirm that it is not. to be doubted that, if necessary, the credit of our large financial establishments will remain inseparable with that of France.—Years, etc., REYNAUD, Consul for France.
Hongkong. Jan. 16, 1921.
To the Editor of the "Norrs-Catna Dairy News."
Srr,—In the "Times" of July 4 there appeared two further statements regarding the failure of the Banque Industrielle de Chine. The first was a communication from the Paris correspondent of the "Times," and in this it was stated that questions were to be raised in
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.