PROGRESS MADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 25, 31 January 1933, Page 7

PROGRESS MADE.

WAR DEBT TALKS.

British Ambassador Meets

Mr. Roosevelt.

PROCEDURE IN DISCUSSIONS,

(United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, January 30,

A message from Warm Springs, Georgia, states that a tentative understanding for meetings in March on war debts and plans for a worldwide economic recovery was reached by the President-elect, Mr. Roosevelt, and the British Ambassador at Washington, Sir Ronald Lindsay, after a four-hour conference.

A statement given out by Sir Ronald as he departed en route to London, where he is to confer with the British authorities regarding the coming negotiations with the Roosevelt Administration, was the only announcement made concerning' the meeting.

The statement was as follows:—"The British Ambassador and Mr. Roosevelt had a wholly informal and unofficial, but very satisfactory, conversation concerning tentative arrangements for coming meetings in Washington. It is hoped that it will be possible to start these meetings early in Ma?ch."

The fact that the statement referred to meetings rather than a meeting, is interpreted by some to mean that Mr. Roosevelt's desire for separate negotiations on debts and economic affairs still stands.

Before the conference Sir Ronald Lindsay admitted that great difficulties were facing a final settlement, but he added: "We are going to make a good effort." He was extremely reticent regarding definite details and smilingly parried questions which he did not wish to answer.

One such question referred to a report that Mr. Roosevelt had invited Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald to come to America.

There is a general feeling that the conference largely consisted of the formulation of the procedure for negotiations. Mr. Roosevelt made no promises, but has not abandoned the idea that the debt situation may furnish an opportunity for bargaining.