Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, AUGUST 29th., 1929. MR. SNOWDEN’S SUCCESS

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 August 1929, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, AUGUST 29th., 1929. MR. SNOWDEN’S SUCCESS

Snowden will be the most popular Minister in Britain today, all political parties acclaiming him for his triumph at The Hague. The details of the Reparations Conference agreement will not trouble the average Briton, but he will feel gratified on general principles that other Powers have been convinced, once and for all, that there is a limit to British generosity regarding war-debts and reparation claims. So often had Britain made concessions that it appeared to be an axiom with her Allies that they had but to ask, and Britain would grant. Mr. Snowden has taught them a valuable lesson to the contrary, and the British taxpayer can breathe more freely. Perhaps the most startling fact of the whole of the recent proceedings is that it should be a Labour man, whose Party has hitherto preached internationalism, who uphold, so worthily, the banner of nationalism. It is clear that the Socialists as Opposition critics, seek-

ing material for party propaganda purposes, are very different when they, in turn, become Ministerialists.

As for the merits of the latest agreement, Mr. Snowden is reported to be satisfied, and, in that, case, most of his countrymen will be. He has not got all he asked, but perhaps, like lesser men in less important disputes, he demanded originally more than he really wanted, to permit of margin for bargaining. The amended Young plan will replace the Dawes scheme, and Germany will know exactly what she has to pay the Allies, thus rendering it easier for her statesmen to adjust their budgets. Germany has, of late years, met the reparations liabilities as these became due, and the new proposals are considered to be well within her power to meet. She is recuperating from the worst of the war’s effects, and with the Republic more firmly established, domestic peace and international accord should enable her to regain most of her former prosperity. Evidence is already forthcoming that German skill and enterprise in various directions, on land, sea and air, is as vigorous as in pre-war days, and that Germany will be a formidable competitor for world trade. This strength will at once permit her to pay Reparations liabilities if she desires, or to raise obstacles and objections, which will be difficult to counter, unless her creditors are united.

Recognition of this danger is probably impressed on the minds of French, Belgian and Italian statesmen, who could do little if Britain stood aloof. There should be no permanent soreness between the Allies as the result of The Hague controversy, although for a time there may be anti-British tendencies. It is clear that Anglo-German relations are improving, and the British support regarding an earlier Rhineland evacuation, will be recalled gratefully by the German people. The prospect of European concord has improved, and the forthcoming League of Nations meeting may be more fruitful than some of its predecessors. The Labour Ministry’s policy is known to differ in some degree from that of the Baldwin Government, and it will be interesting to await events to see if the triumph at The Hague is followed by similar success at Geneva.