REPARATIONS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 53, 26 November 1928, Page 11

REPARATIONS

THE GERMAN VIEWPOINT RESTATED IN NOTES TO BRITAIN AND FRANCE DEMAND FOR FREEDOM OF EXPERTS (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copy righ t.) _ (Australian Press Association.) London, November 23. A message from Berlin states that it is understood that the Government is sending identical Notes to Britain and France restating the German viewpoint on the Reparations Conference. The “Morning Post’s” Paris correspondent learns that Sir William Tyrrell is going to England to spend the week-end at Chequers with the Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin, for the purpose of explaining the French views on the evacuation and reparations more clearly than has been possible by dispatches or telegram. He will also probably see Sir Austen Chamberlain, the Foreign Secretary, who is due from Canada on Sunday.

, The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent understands that the German Government intends to make it clear that it cannot possibly acquiesce in the postulates laid down by the Powers with a view to safeguarding their interests in the final settlement nor agree to restrict the freedom of the experts. It will urge that the latter should be free to make -whatever recommendations they think fit after an effective and impartial survey. (Rec. November 25, 5.5 p.m.) Loudon, November 24. The German Ambassador, Dr. Friedrich Sthamer, has handed to Mr. Churchill Germany’s reply to the British memorandum on the subject of the reparations inquiry. Similar action has been taken in Paris. CHANGES IN INTERNATIONAL SITUATION STATESMEN’S NEW METHODS LESSONS OF THE WAR (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, November 23. The Prime Minister, who addressed a party meeting at Glasgow last night, devoted his speech mainly to a discussion of domestic affairs. He prefaced his remarks, however, with a brief review of the changes effected in the international situation in the past four years. These years, he said, had seen Europe, which had been divided into two hostile camps, become, at any rate, a united Europe to the extent that • there was no longer any definition of allies or ex-enemies, but a spirit bringing all countries, irrespective of the past, into closer contact and into amiable discussion —a communion designed to help Europe as a whole to meet the future. Tribute to Chamberlain's Work. No individual had contributed more to that than Sir Austen Chamberlain, Mr. Baldwin declared. The League of Nations had played its part in this, that the statesmen of Europe had now become accustomed, in the place of hurling dispatches at one another ' across the frontier, to meet in friendly I conversation. They had learned by i that that other nations had a point of view which was not only worthy in itself of consideration, but which must be considered, if there was to be any possibility of agreement on outstanding questions. That might seem to those trained in business methods platitudinous and elementary. It had taken the Great War to teach statesmen in Europe that lesson. There was to-day in Europe a spirit of give and take which was absent before the war. To have reached such a state of things within ten years of the war was an achievement that held hope of the future betterment, amelioration, and happiness for the people of Europe. GERMAN OFFICIAL ARMY STRONGER THAN SUPPOSED .(“Times" Cables.) Paris, November 23. A correspondent of “Le Journal” declares that the German official army consists of a hundred thousand men, and is stronger than is supposed, the number of privates being 38,000, corporals 38,000, .sergeants 20,297, staff officers 619, including 39. Generals and 106 Brevet Colonels. There are 596 phantom companies apart from regular companies of the Reichswehr. The annual cost of the army is £35,000,000. whereas the old Imperial Army totalled 900,000 men at the cost of £30.000,000.