IM. Poincare on the Balancing of the Budget: M. Briand's Reply to Dr. Stresemann Paris, Feb. 2.
Two long-awaited "Ministerial statdmente were made simultaneously to-night, 'The Premier, M, Poincaré, speaking in the Chamber of Deputies, dealt, with the measures taken to Balances the Budget and organizo debt redemption which, he declared, had resulted ina return of oontd fence' throughout the world in French national finances. The float ug debt had been reduced by over seven milliard francs.
Both foreign and domestic credits, the Premier added, had become abundant. He cited improvements Tike the reduction of the discount ate and the de facto stabilization exchange, stating the Banque France now dominated the ex change market.
'The Munster for Foreign Affairs, -M. Briand, reviewing foreign affairs ju' the Senate, said. that ho wel: comed the. dialogue across the frontier with the German Foreign Minister, Dr. Gustav Stresemann, a3 leading to decisive explanations whereby misunderstandings had been dissipated, The Locarno Pact, he continued, contained both mystical and prac: tical elements, but Dr. Stresemann, "wandering amidst the olive-groves of Locarno," had a tendency to hold out his hand to receive rather than to give. Germany must real-jag that' the two countries were bound to meet diiculties before reaching a healthy understanding.
Locarno, the Foreign Minister went on, Was not yet a conjuror's bhat from which one could produce anything.
Ie declared that the evacuation of the Rhineland by the Army of Occupation was not a question for 'M. Briand recalled that he had told Dr. Stresemann at Thoiry:—"If you want to hasten the evacuation the Rhineland you must cary out disarmament and consider how to advance reparations pay-
The Foreign Minister declared that he was opposed to a rupture of relations with the Soviet, but he demanded correct conduct in their diplomatic relations with France.
He anticipated the disappearance of the last obstacle to friendship between France and Ttaly and. finally prophesied that the year 1928 would not close without the grave questions of War debts and reparations being settled in such a way as to consolidate hopes of general peace.
'The Senate' voted, by @ show of hands, a motion approving Briand's policy.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.