DANUBIAN CONFERENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 April 1932, Page 6

DANUBIAN CONFERENCE

COMMENTS ON FAILURE.

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.]

RUGBY, April 9.

General regret is expressed in the newspapers at the failure of the Four Powers during the London Conference to establish any common point of view among themselves, and at their consequent inability .to make any useful proposals to the Danubian States. Some hope, however, is extracted from an unqualified recognition by all that remedial action in Central and South-eastern Europe is urgently necessary, and from the imanifest determination of the Governments to pursue their attempts to concert it.

“The Times,” referring in this connection to th© meeting of the representatives of all nations next week at Geneva says that the work of easting an international commerce must be continued without a respite at Geneva. “Tile Times” considers it lamentable that the Four Powers were not able to decide by what, body or group of countries, the problem should next be discussed, or which aspect of the problem is first in the point of urgency. “The Times” recognises that the projected preferential system for the Danubian countries demands sacrifices from all of the States trading with them, and also those remaining outside the system and that the sacrifices would be particularly severe in the case of Italy and of Germany. Constructive proposals, says “The Times” were made by Germany attire conference, whereby she announced hef“readiness to grant a general preference to Austria, and a preference in respect of agricultural products to Hungary, Yugo-Slavia, Rumania and also Bulgaria. “The inability of Germany, however, to accept the original scheme rendered these proposals unpalatable to France, whose material interests in Central Europe, like those of Great Britain, are financial rather than commercial.” • “The Times” continues: “Behind these differences there looms the shadow of the struggle for influence, which overcasts all of the European affairs —commercial and political. The Powers have too long gone hand in hand to be dissociated all at once in men’s minds, and the question of whether or not Germany is to be included- in the proposed customs project, remains the crucial point of the controversy. Yet sacrifices by all are necessary, if a dangerous period, full of disruption and misery, is to be avoided. These were the immediate (Sacrifices, which, if they are wisely made, will bring relief, and ultimate prosperity. The creation of a wide area of free trade remains the goal, but it may, perhaps, best be reached by short stages. There is no conclusive reason why the neighbouring 1 countries should not, forthwith, negotiate with each other for the lowering of every duty that seems capable of re-adjustment to their mutual advantage.”