REPARATIONS PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 195, 13 May 1924, Page 7

REPARATIONS PROBLEM

AN INVOLVED SITUATION ATTITUDE OF GERMAN NATIONAL PARTY MODIFIED BUT FRENCH GOVERNMENT DEFEATED AT POLLS The German National Party is believed to have considerably modified its attitude towards the experts’ report, and as a result of the meeting arranged between the British Prime Minister and M. Poincare it was hoped that a settlement of the reparations problem would be brought about. The unexpected has happened, however, the French Government being defeated at the polls. .

Br Telegbxph—Press Association. Copybight.

London, May 11.

Th© Berlin correspondent of “The Times” says that the German National Party discussed the situation created by the elections. The proceedings were private, but there is Rood reason to believe that there was a considerable modification of the attitude of the party towards the experts’ report. Probably influences within the party which were ©ven during the election making themselves felt on the side of moderation made further headway. It cannot be said any longer that the Nationalists are flatly against the continuity of . foreign policy pursued by the late Government. The situation Was put somewhat epigrammatically by a most acute German observer, who said: “It will be most difficult indeed to get a majority to accept the experts’ report. But it will be even more difficult to get one to reject it.” There is plenty of time for more moderate counsels within the party to prevail before the Reichstag meets. So far. President Ebert lias taken no steps in the direction of calling on any party to form a Government.— “The Times.” NATIONAL PLEBISCITE DEMANDED REGARDING EXPERTS’ REPORT Berlin, May 11. A committee of the Socialist Party unanimously decided to demand a national plebiscite on the acceptance or rejection of rhe experts’ report. The Socialists argue that the election struggle, by embracing twenty-three parties, obscured the reparations issue, which Is so important that the people should ba permitted to give a clear yes or do. —Aus.»N.Z. Cable Assn. COMMUNIST DEMONSTRATIONS CONFLICTS WITH POLICE AND NATIONALISTS (Rec. May 12, 8 p.m.) Berlin, May 12. Communists and green police came Into conflict at Halle, where General von Ludendorff had planned the biggest Imperial pageant since peace to celebrate the unveiling of the restored Von Moltke monument. Headed by bands, 250,000 officers and men marched past the statue. The procession included twenty-two generals, admirals, Von Tirpitz, Von. Scheer, and also Prince Oscar. Communists organised a counter-demonstration in which at least six police were killed and an unknown number of Communists were wounded. Other Communist demonstrations occurred on Berlin racecourse, where there were numerous collisions with Nationalists before the police broke up the meeting The Communists then seized a brewery and fired revfolvers indiscriminately, until armoured cars arrived. Police stormed the brewery, killing four of the Communists. Hundreds of arrests were made.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

BRITISH AND FRENCH PREMIERS PARIS PRESS ELATED AT MEETING PUBLIC WARNED NOT TO EXPECT MIRACLES Paris, May 11. Newspapers supporting M. Poincare ar© naturally elated, and state that the invitation from London represents proof of Mr. Ramsay MacDonald’s confidence that M Poincare would win to-day’s election. Mr. MacDonald’s predecessors, they say, always appeared to regard M. Poincare as an obstacle to the settlement of the reparations question, and to have looked for the coming of a power somewhat more adaptable than the French Premier as the only hope of a solution. Meanwhile, the public is warned against expecting miracles from the MacDon-ald-Poincare conversations. The talk will b© informal and will cover much ground. It Is fully recognised that there are some delicate questions, upon which the French and British policies are far less easily reconcilable than are the French and Belgian. It is believed, however, that when Mr. MacDonald learns from M. Poincare’s own lips the true feelings of Fiance he will say that vhe measure of agreement alone is capable of encouraging the continuance of a process of clearing the ground for a more formal in-ter-Allied conference. —“The Times.” London, May 11. The Paris correspondent of the “Sunday Times” says there is sound reason to anticipate that the meeting of M. Poincare and Mr. MacDonald will result in an agreement. Air. MacDonald, while opposeol to prearranged sanctions, will agree that Britain is bound to act should Germany flagrantly fail to execute the plan outlined by the economic experts. —Aus.-N.Z Cable Assn. THE FRENCH ELECTIONS SURPRISING RESULT NATIONALISTS DEFEATED (Rec. May 12, 7.20 p.m.) London, May 12. The “Daily Express” Paris correspondent is of opinion that the chances of M Poincare securing a majority are slender. In all parts of France Left candidates head the poll. M. Malvy, the expelled Minister, has been returned for the Department of Lot. MM. Briand and Tardieu have been returned. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

(Rec. May 12, 10.55 p.m.) Paris, May 12. The Nationalists’ defeat is confirmed. The Left bloc, headed by MM. Briand, Painlevy, and Herriott, control a majority of the Chamber. Those elected include AIM. Lochour, Vincent and Trocquer.—Sydney “Sun” Cable.