THE ALLIES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 August 1924, Page 9

THE ALLIES

EDITION.

TERMS/OF SETTLEMENT. 8? cablk—PEaaa association—copyright Received Aug. 18, 10.15 a.m. LONDON, Aug. 17. The agreements concluded ,at the Conterence, which comprise a final protocol and four annexes, make no reference to the evacuation of the Ruhr. The protocol sets forth, inter alia, that the agreements are mutually interdependent. Annexe I consists of the agreement on August 11 between the Reparation Commission and the German Government relative to the carrying out of the Dawes plan. Annexe II contains the necessary laws for the installation of executive bodies, the establishment of a bank and 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 be completed by October 5, including the restoration -of the power of the German administration enjoyed in the occupied territories prior to January 11, 1923. It specifies, inter alia, the form of arbitration to be adopted in various eventualities. It provides for a mixed committee of Allied and German representatives to determine the for deliveries in kind. III provides that the Dawes plan be put into execution by September 20 at the latest, including the promulgation by Germany of the restoration of industrial and other undertakings in the Ruhr to the owners, the railway system to be taken over by the Dawes Railway Company by September 20, the lines worked by the Franco-Belginn regime to he completely transferred to that company by November 20. The agreement deals w r ith an amnesty for political acts since January 11, j 1923, and authorises the reference of disputes to The Hague International Court. Annexe IV embodies the arrangements cabled on August 3 relative to an American sitting on the Reparations Commission when anything arising out of the Dawes plan is considered and arbitration regarding German default. Sanctions are not to be applied unless a flagrant default is established. The Allies, in the event of sanctions heing applied, will safeguard the specific securities pledged -for the service of the loan and give the service of the loan priority, disputes in connection with the loan to be submitted to the World Court. —Reuter. A previous message, dated August 11, stated : The preliminary agreement which the Reparations Commission and Germany signed on August 9, binds Germany to take necessary legislative measures to enforce the Dawes plan. The commission undertakes to take measures to the same end, including the facilitating of the issue of a loan. Both parties agree to make any additional arrangements whereupon the London Conference may decide, and undertake to refer disputes regarding the interpretation of agreements to arbitration in accordance with methods to be fixed by the London Conference. Another message referred to in today’s cable, dated August. 3, reads: The most important section of the jAllied Conference report is that of the yhrst committee, which, provides that if ’a German default is reported' under the Dawes scheme the matter shall go before the Reparations Commission, with an American member added! If the commission fails to reach a. unanimous decision any commissioner may appeal within eight days to an arbitral tribunal consisting of the American President and two other independent and impartial members, whose decision shall be final. The members of the tribunal are to be nominated for five years by the unanimous decision of the Reparations Commission, or failing that, by the president of the World Court at The Hague. There can be no question of sanctions unless a default is decided through this machinery. Once a default is registered the Allies will confer as to the nature of the sanctions and the method of effective application.

HISTORIC OCCASION. THE DAWN OF A NEW WORLD. GREAT SPEECH BY ME MACDONALD Received Aug. 18, 11.15 a.m. LONDON, Aug. 17. A erod'd, assembled in Downing Street while the delegates in Air Macdonald’s room were putting the final touches to the pact, and an everchanging crowd paraded the street for several hours afterwards in the hope of seeing the diplomats return for the purpose of signing, but the 25 motor cars required to bring the full personnel drove, into the Foreign Office courtyard, and the occupants entered the building unobserved. Mr MacDonald, however, was accorded an ovation jas he crossed the street from No. 10. Land was warmly applauded as he entered the room wherein the delegates assembled. ‘‘Our task,” he. said, “seems completed. Has anyone anything to say regarding the documents before us?” A tense silence followed while the representatives of the Powers looked at one another, but none rose. All gave silent assent, and then Mr MacDonald, Mr Kellogg. M. Herriot, M. Thetmius, Signor Stefani, and Herr Marx spoke in the order named. It is stated that the most distinctive fjpeoch was that of Mr Kellogg, who •‘Slid: “It is evident from the beginning that yon came here with a firm determination to settle the most difficult problems which ever confronted Europe, nay the world, in time of peace. I may be .too much of an optimist, but I believe this settlement marks the dawning of a new day and the hope of millions of people.” Mr MacDonald's address, which was afterwards described by Herr Marx as containing “utterances' which will find permanent place in the annals of Europe.” was delivered from notes on a postcard. He said: “We have tried to meet each other as far as publicopinion in the various countries will allow us. We sign with a feeling that we have turned our backs on the terrible years of war and war mentality.” Mr MacDonald proceeded to enumerate the issues still to be faced, including inter-Allied debts, the disarmament position, and the authority of the League of Nations, and finally the economic problems which will arise as soon as Central Europe is on its feet and the big industrial combinations begin to operate. He concluded: “We snail go a long way before we reach the goal of European peace and security.”— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

' AN IMPRESSIVE INCIDENT. Received Aug. 18. 12.45 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 17. At the conclusion of the initialling of the conference agreement, Mr MacDonald, in the course of hand-shaking with everybody, gripped Herr Marx’s hand and led him to M. Herriot silently, lifted the latter’s right hand, linked it with Marx’s, and then stepped back, -smiling genially while the Frenchman and the German shook hands. PARIS, Aug. 17. It is officially announced that the French will evacuate the towns of Offenburg and Oppenweier on August 18. Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. A HAPPY CONCLUSION. FUTURE FULL OF PROMISE. Received Aug. 18, 11.40 a.m. LONDON, Aug. 17. Herr Marx paid a tribute to the “human understanding and characteristic sympathy of the great Prime Minister of Britain.” After speeches the delegates adjourned, smoking and chatting for twenty minutes until recalled to the room by Mr. MacDonald, when each placed his signature on the documents. The hour was 8.50. Afterwards came handshaking and hurried departures. “What can 1 say,” replied M. Herriot to a questioner, “except that I am very content?”

Mr. MacDonald left for Lossiemouth at 10.30. The German and. Belgian delegates leave this morning and M Herriot on Monday next.

A. critical stage will be the presentation of the terms to the respective legislatures. The Reichstag and the French Senate and Chamber meet on Thursday. Tt will be noticed that the agreement mentions the Ruhr evacuation only obliquely by providing for the restoration of Ruhr undertakings to the owners. The evacuation is covered specifically in an exchange of brief notes wherein MM. Herriot and Theunis inform Herr Marx that it is incumbent to continue the occupation for a year. Herr Marx replied: “We take note of your decision, but we do- not recognise the legality of the occupation.” In a third Note France and Belgium state that they propose, as a token of good faith, to evacuate Dortmund and several other places to-day. The Sunday Times learns that the Allies arrived at extraneous decisions pavmg the way for commercial treaties dealing with war debts shortly, and, an agreement to approach the League of Nations with a view of further reduction in armaments.—Aus.-N.Z Cable Assn.

Received Aug. 18. 11.5 am . LONDON. Aug.' 17. • u e < Lereign Office reports that last night’s ceremony shows that- the protocol at the London Conference was finally signed, but the annexed agreements were merely initially and will be signed on August 30 after submission to the French and German Cabinets. . BERLIN, Aug. 17. I lie Nationalists publish a declaration reflecting the London compromise —neuter.