HOPE FOR EUROPE

Evening Star, Issue 18715, 18 August 1924, Page 8

HOPE FOR EUROPE

AMERICAN AMBASSADOR’S OPINION.

DAWN OF A NEW< DAY.

MR MACDONALD’S RESTRAINT,

LAST SCENES AT CONFERENCE

Tress Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON, August 17.

(Received August 18, at 11.15 a.m.)

A great crowd assembled in Downing street while the delegates wore _in Mr Ramsay MacDonald’s room putting tho final touches to the pact. An ever-chang-ing crowd paraded the street tor several hours afterwards in the hope of seeing the diplomats return for the purpose of signing, but the twenty-five motor care which wore required to bring the full personnel drove into tho Foreign Office courtyard, and the occupants entered the building unobserved. Mr MacDonald, however, was accorded an ovation as ho crossed tho street from No. 10, and he was warmly applauded ns he entered the room in which tho delegates assembled. “ Our task,” he said, “ seems completed. Has anyone anything to say regarding tho documents before ns?”

A tense silence followed, while the representatives of the Powers looked at one another, but none rose, and all gave a silent assent. Then Mr MacDonald, Mr Kellogg, M. Herriot, M. Theuxiis, Signor Stafnni, and Dr Marx spoke in the order named. . . It is stated that the most distinctive speech was that of Mr Kellogg,_ who said ; “It was evident from the beginning that, von come here with the firm determination to settle tho most difficult problems which have ever confronted Europe nay, the world—in time of peace. I may b© too much of an optimist, but I believe that this settlement will mark the dawning of a now day, and mean hope for millions of people.” Mr MacDonald's address, which was afterwards described by Dr Marx as containing “utterances which will find a pey(mauent place' in tho annals of Europe, was delivered from notes on a postcard. Ho said; “Wo have tried to meet each ■other as far as public opinion in tho various countries will allow us. V e sign with the feeling that we have turned our backs on terrible years of war and nai mentality.” Mr MacDonald proceeded to enumerate tho issues still to be faced, including tho Interallied debts, disarmament. "the position and authority of the League of Nations, and finally economic problems, which will arise ns soon as Central Europe is on its loot and tho big industrial combinations begin to operate. He concluded; “Me shall go a long way Before wo reach the goal of European peace and security.’'—-A. and N.Z. Cable. PROTOCOL SIGNED. AGREEMENTS RESERVED FOPv PARLIAMENTARY ASSENT. LONDON, August 17. (Received August 18, at 11 a.m.) The Foreign Office reports of last night’s ceremony show that the, pxotocol of° tho London Conference was finally signed, but that the annexed_ agreements were merely initialled. They will b© signed on August 50 after submission to the French and German Parliaments—Reuter. PROTOCOL AND ANNEXES. DETAILS OUTLINED.

LONDON, August 17. (Received August 18, at 11.15 a.m.)

The agreements concluded at the conference comprise tho final protocol and four annexes. They made no reference to the evacuation of the Ruhr.

The protocol sets forth, inter alia, that tho agreements are mutually interdependent. Annexe No. 1 consists of the agreement mentioned on August 11 between the Reparations Commission and the Gorman Government relative to tho carrying out of the Dawes plan. [The text of tho preliminary agreement which the Reparations Commission and Germany signed binds Germany to take tho necessary legislative measure to enforce tho Dawes plan. The Commission agrees to take measures to tho same end, including tho facilitation of the issue of a loan. Both parlies agree to make any additional arrangements upon which the London Conference may decide, and undertake to refer disputes regarding the interpretation of the agreements to arbitral inn in accordance with methods to be fixed by [ho London Conference.] Annexe No. 2 specifics, inter alia, the form of arbitration to bo adopted in various eventualities, ft, provides for a mixed committee of Allied and German representatives to determine the procedure for deliveries in kind.

Annexe. No. 5 provides that (lie Dawes plan shall bo put into execution by September 20 at the latest, including the promulgation by Germany of the necessary laws, the installation of executive, bodies, the establishment of a bank and a German railway company and the fulfilment of contracts, an 800,000,000 gold mark loan ; the restoration of the fiscal and economic unity of Germany to bo completed by October 5, including the restoration of the power that the German Admins tration enjoyed in the occupied territories prior to January 11, 1923; the restoration of the industrial and other undertakings in the Ruhr to the owners, the railway system to be taken over by the Dawes Railway Company by September 21, the lines worked by the Franco- ’ Belgian regime to be completely transferred to that company by November 20. The agreement deals with an amnesty for political acts since January 11, 1925, and authorises ihe reference of disputes to The Hague International Court. Annexe No. 4 embodies arrangements relative _ to an American sitting on the Reparations Commission when anything arising out of the Dawes plan is considered, and for arbitration regarding German_ default. Sanctions are not to be applied unless flagrant default is cstabi fished. The Allies, in the event of sancI tions being applied, will safeguard specific I securities pledged for the service of the I loan, and will give the service of the loan priority in disputes in connection with the loan to be submitted to the World Court.—A. and N.Z. Cable. GERMAN' NATIONALISTS HOSTILE. BERLIN, August 17. (Received August 18, at 10.40 a.m.) The Nationalists publish a declaration, rejecting the London compromise.— Reuter. TRIBUTE TO MR MACDONALD. LONDON, August 17, (Received August 18, at 11.40 a.m.) Dr Marx paid a tribute to the “ Human understanding and characteristic sympathy of this great Prime Minister of Britain,” —A. and N.Z. Cable. MR MACDONALD, PEACEMAKER. LONDON, August 17. (Received August 18, at 12.45 p.m.) At the conclusion of the initialling of the conference agreement, Mr MacDonald, in the course of hand-shaking with everybody, gripped Dr Marx’s hand and led him" to M. Harriot, silently lifted the latter’s right hand, and linked it with that of Dt Marx, then stepped back, smiling genially, while the Frenchman and German shook hands.—Reuter. No bad after-effects wits WADE’S WORM FIGS. Pleasant, sure, and certain.—{Adyt.jj

IMMEDIATE EVACUATION. PARIS, August 17(Roceived August 18, at 12.45 p.m.) It is officially announced that tho French will evacuate tho towns of Off onburg and Appenweior on August 18.— Reuter. LONDON, August 17. (Received August 18, at 12.30 p.m.) In a third Note, tho Franco-Bolgiaas state that they propose, as a token of good faith, to evacuate Dortmund and several other places to-day.—A. and N.Z. Cable. SIGNING THE DOCUMENTS. LONDON, August 17. (Received August 18, at 11.40 a.m.) After the speeches the delegates adjourned, smoking and chatting for twenty minutes until they wore recalled to tho room by Mr MacDonald, when each delegate placed Ills signature on the documents. Tho hour was 8.50. Afterwards came hand-shaking and hurried departures. What can I say,” replied M, Ho mot to questioners, “except that I am very contented?” Mr MacDonald left for Lossiemouth at 10.30. The Gorman and Belgian delegates leave this morning, and M. Herriot on Monday.—A. and N.Z. Gable. THE NEXT ~STAGE, LONDON, August 17. (Received August 18, at 11.40 a.m.) The next critical stage will bo tho presentation of the terms to the respective Legislatures. The Reichstag and the French Senate and Chamber will meet on Thursday.—A. -and N.Z. Cable. THE RUHR. LONDON, August 17. (Received August 18, at 12.50 p.m.) It will be noticed that the agreement mentions tho Ruhr evacuation only obliquely by providing for the restoration of the Ruhr undertakings to owners. The evacuation is covered specifically in an exchange of brief Notes, in which M. Herriot and M. Theunis informed Dr Marx that it is incumbent to continue the occupation for a year. Dr Marx replied ; “We shall take a note of your decision, but we do not recognise the legality of tho occupation.”—A. and N.Z. Cable.

COMMERCIAL AND OTHER TREATIES. LONDON, August 17. (Received August 18, at 12.30 p.m.) The ‘ Sunday Times ’ learns that tho Allies have arrived at an extraneous decision paving tho way for commercial treaties and dealing with war debts shortly and an agreement to approach the League of Nations with a view to a further reduction in armaments. —A. and N.Z. Cable.