REPARATIONS & WAR DEBTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 June 1932, Page 9

REPARATIONS & WAR DEBTS

FFANCO-GERMAN DISCUSSIONS. [by CABLE —PRESS ASSN.r—COPYRIGHT.] LAUSANNE, June 25. The first stage of the Lausanne Reparation Conference has ended with the departure of Captain Von Papen ,to Berlin, and M. Herrjot to Paris. The second stage will re-open on their return, early next week. It is expected that the Conference will last until .July 9, just in time to permit the British delegates to* leave for the Ottawa Conference. From all accounts, the Franco-Ger-man discussions have been conducted in a friendly spirit. Captain Von Papen drew a sombre picture of the state of affairs in Germany. When M. Herriot referred to Germany’s railway assets, Captain Von Papen replied that the income from Germany’s state railways now hardly covered expenses. FRENCH COMPENSATION. PARIS, June 25 Captain Von Phpea, interviewed by “Le Matin,” z said he recognised that in the event of the liquidation of the reparations, France has the right to compensation.

CHANCELLOR’S VERSION. (Received June 27, 10 a.m.), - BERLIN, June 26. Chancellor Von Papen denies he declared that he would be the first to admit France’s claim to compensation, if reparations were liquidated, and adds that he told the French representatives that better advantages would accrue to France from Franco-German co-opera-tion than from the continuance of reparations payments. They should not stop at the removal of political tributes, but aim at coristructive measures, which Germany was prepared to the utmost to further. If the European Powers set their affairs in order on such a basis, it would make the best impression on the United States. “1 hope, notwithstanding the Franco-Ger-man divergencies concerning the tribute, a way will be found to joint European action,” he added. NO MORE CASH PAYMENTS? (Recd. June 27, 10 a.m.) LONDON, June 26. The impression is rapidly growing that the era of cash transactions across -the frontiers has ended. This prospect is regarded as the most hopeful outcome of the Lausanne negotiations up to the present. It is being suggested that French sacrifice of cash reparations might be compensated by German orders for French commercial commodities, for instance, Lorraine ore, and Germany to supply France with electrical apparatus on advantageous terms.

U.S.A. ALOOFNESS. WASHINGTON, June 25. Mr Stimson in a sharp statement denied the reports from Europe regarding American representatives participating in the War Debts discussion. He also said: “I categorically deny the newspaper reports from London that the United States and Great Britain have reached an unwritten gen- ■ tleman’s agreement that they will follow the same disarmament policy and the reparation payments must cease.” > COOLIDGE SUPPORTS PAYMENT VANCOUVER, June 26. “If we do not collect from Britain, we must collect from oui’ ratepayers,” writes ex-President Coolidge, discussing war debts. “It may be argued,” he adds, “that the payment is one cause of the present depression, but that statement .lacks convincing proof. We cannot ignore the loss and destruction of the .war and the present cost of huge armaments, besides the burden of new social experiments. No European nation except Britain, has paid any .amount that could be said to have any effect upon national finances. Anyway, our position is different from the other Allies. We were blameless of the origins and the starting of the war. The money we furnished was borrowed. Somebody must pay it. It ■cannot be cancelled.”

DISARMAMENT. FRANCE UNENTHUSIASTIC • PARIS, June 25. M. Herriot received a gathering of journalists after attending a Cabinet meeting, when he declared that France owed the greatest consideration to everything coming from President Hoover. He said: “I read and reread his message, and I wonder whether it takes into consideration the possible coalitions. The dominating idea at .Lausanne is that a European settlement is impossible by universal agreement.”

ANGLO-AMERICAN CO-OPERATION. LONDON, June 25. Mr Stimson sent the following message to Sir J. Simon: —“I earnestly thank you for the sympathetic discussion of President’s Hoover’s proposals, and I trust that our two delegations, working jointly, will be able to contribute to their fulfilment.”

Sii’ J. Simon replied that he reciprocated this wish for continued cooperation, adding: “Only co-operation •of all states could lift the burden of excessive armaments. Britain deeply appreciates the spirit and purpose of President Hoover’s declaration, and .will.do her utmost to promote the acceptance of concrete proposals covering the whole field of disarmament by .seeking the largest measure of agreejnent by all of the States represented at Geneva.”