The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1929. A BRITISH VICTORY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 204, 29 August 1929, Page 6

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1929. A BRITISH VICTORY.

For the oause that lack* assistance, For the wrong that needs resist anoe, For the future in the distance, And the food that we «m do.

"Mr. Philip Snowden, British Chancellor of the Exchequer, was loudly cheered as he left the place of meeting." In this brief and impressive sentence our cable message summarises the concluding scene of the Eeparation Conference at The Hague, which, after a vigorous and vehement controversy extending over three weeks, has ended in a complete victory for Britain. But it is even more a personal triumph for Mr. SnoAvden. Fighting with his back to the wall, and almost single-handed, against the conceited opposition of the other delegates, he has driven them back point by point till they have been forced at last to accept the terms that he has laid down.

There have been several critical moments during this discussion when it seemed impossible to reach any unanimous decision. But to all objections aad irgnnients Mr. Snowden made the one unvarying answer. He would see justice done to Britain or he would withdraw from the Conference. At first the other delegates declined to take him seriously. But eventually they were forced to admit that Mr. Snowden was not "bluffing," and his earnestness and sincerity began to tell upon them. His constant reiteration of Britain's claims at last had the effect of inducing the foreign delegates to recognise, grudgingly enough, that he was demanding nothing but justice for his country and fair consideration for her colossal sacrifices. It is an added satisfaction to feel not only that the British presentation of the case has prevailed, but that, as his critics and opponents have now tardily admitted, Mr. Snowden asked for no more than what Mr. Young himself might have described as "a square deal."

On the material side, Britain gains very substantially by this settlement. From various sources she is to receive £4,800,000 a year over and above the share of reparations prescribed for her in the Young Plan; moreover, these annuities are to be "unconditional." Considering the very great concessions that Britain has already made to her allies, the attempt to reduce the percentage originally allotted to her was both unjust and ungeneroii'. But Britain has gained far more than these extra millions. She has made it clear for the first time that she has reached the extreme limit of her capacity to propitiate and conciliate the Continental Powers, and that henceforth her claims in regard to international settlements are to receive the consideration which hitherto they have not secured. This change of policy will certainly strengthen Britain's prestige and enhance her influence abroad. At the same time, the satisfactory termination of the conference has enabled the Mac Donald Government to claim a genuino 'triumph in the field of foreign policy where its strength and reputation had yet to be assured. And all this Britain and the Labour Party owe to the inflexible determination and unswerving courage of Mr. Snowden.