PROGRESS AT LUGANO

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 70, 15 December 1928, Page 9

PROGRESS AT LUGANO

REPARATIONS AND THE RHINELAND SETTLEMENT NOT COMPLETED; THIS SESSION ATTITUDE OF BIG THREE The correspondent at Lugano of the London “Times” states that a complete settlement of the reparations and Rhineland questions will not be effected at the present session of the League Council, but the progress made promises well for the future. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) (Rec. December 14, 8.40 p.m.) London, December 13. The “Times” correspondent at Lugano says extravagant hopes that Lugano will see a complete settlement of reparations and the Rhineland steadily fade as the session of the League Council draws to a close. Such hopes are unwarranted from the outset, but when the story of these tortuous negotiations is fully told it may be found that the Lugano conversations really mark the turning point. Progress has been made promising well for the future. Britain, France and Germany have agreed upon the most important point of all, namely, that the expert committee must meet as soon as possible, and the delegates now at Lugano must leave the subject severely alone. Consequently all. talk about Lugano making further arrangements concerning that matter is pure fiction.

Britain wants to leave the Rhineland as soon as possible. It is believed that France does not see anything to be gained by remaining. British circles here, the correspondent says, are of opinion that the German attitude throughout has not helped towards a solution. It is understood that M. Briand overcame some of Dr. Stresemann’s prejudices and scruples in last night’s conversation. Sir Austen Chamberlain remained in a nearby room in case he was wanted, but his intervention was not needed, M. Briand merely dropping in en route to his bedroom in order to' say his efforts had been successful. M. Briand’s difficulties have been the greatest owing to the attitude not only of the German delegates, but of the German public. Much current pessimism may be attributed to Dr. Stresemann’s poor health, also the painful illness which taxes his indomitable strength to the point of irritability. It is possible that Dr. Stresemann' also sees that his power in Germany is waning, and he hastens to find something to reinforce it.