REPARATIONS CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 20989, 31 December 1931, Page 8

REPARATIONS CONFERENCE

THE ATTITUDE OF FRANCE PROSPECTS OF AGREEMENT WITH BRITAIN Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, LONDON, December 30. Tho ‘ Daily Telegraph’s ’ diplomatic correspondent says: “Tho outlook for tho International Reparations Conference has undergone an unexpected and. far-reaching change, as there is now a strong prospect of a preliminary agreement between tho British and French Treasury experts which the conference will probably accept.” The correspondent forecasts that tho conference’s task will bo restricted to the discovery of a purely provisional solution of tho reparations problem, broadly following these lines:—Germany to receive a three years’ moratorium on a portion of the Young Plan annuities, this being the mean of the Britsh demand for five years and tho French for two years; secondly, though Germany would he required during tho moratorium to pay the unconditional portion of tho annuities to the Bank of International Settlements, tho money would be re-lent to tho German railways, thus avoiding any external cash payments; thirdly, as compensation for France and some of the smaller beneficiaries Germany would be asked to make limited payments in kind; fourthly, the creditor Powers ' would promise a re-examination of Germany’s capacity to pay reparations at the end of the moratorium. THE FRENCH PRESS LOOKING TO BRITAIN FOR SUPPORT. LONDON, December 29. The Paris corerspondent of ‘ Tho Times ’ says that the Press insists that in view of America’s attitude Franco and Britain must pursue an agreed policy. ‘ Le Temps ’ asserts that “ the entente is indispensable as the basis of a; constructive European policy. Concerted action between London and Paris has never been harmfully directed against any Power or group of Powers, but has always been for the general good of Eorope. The two Powers unitedly wielding the surest international influence should act co-opera-tively. A solution has been easy wherever a great international discussion has been approached after a preliminary, Anglo-Franch agreement, but when this has been lacking difficulties have been insuperable and half measures have resulted. Germany’s creditors and America’s debtors should present a united front between the Basle findings and American stubborness. European nations must present America with a concerted scheme, making her responsible for the chaos following its rejection.” TO BE HELD AT LAUSANNE LONDON, December 30. (Received December 31, at 10 a.m.)' Official: The Reparations Conference commences at Lausanne on January 20

CONSULTING THE GOVERNMENTS RUGBY, December 30. (Received December 31, at noon.) The British Government has approached the other Governments concerned in the forthcoming conference on reparations, with a suggestion that the conference should be held at Lausanne on January IS. The Governments that are being consulted regarding the suggested time and place are the French,; Italian, Belgian, Japanese, Greek,; Jugo-Slav, Rumanian, Portuguese,; Polish, and Czecho-Slovakian Administrations.

PERMANENT SETTLEMENT HOT EXPECTED RUGBY, December 30. (Received December 31, at noon.) The conversations between the British and French experts, in anticipation of the International Conference on Reparations, will shortly be resumed. They r are directed to harrowing down the margin of difference between the British and the French thesis on various outstanding questions, and it is hoped that a considerable measure of common policy will emerge for submission to the Governments before the conference assembles. It is recognised that the present circumstances are unfavourable for achieving a permanent settlement,It is hoped, however, that a temporary arrangement on reparation payments that will tide over the crisis in Germany will be reached at the conference,-