LONDON PACT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 28 August 1924, Page 5

LONDON PACT

ENDORSED BY FRANCE,

BRITISH MINERS ANXIOUS. DEBATE IN REICHSTAG. *1 OABLX—PBESH ASSOCIATION •-COP YBIOF PARIS, Aug. 26. M. Poincare (the ex-Premier), in a speech in the Senate on the London reparations agreement, which was largely in defence of his previous policy, declared that France accepted the Dawes scheme because it conduced to the re-establishment of the interAllied entente. He objected to France abandoning her pledges before Germany had carried out her promises. When the Premier (M. Herriot) rose to reply to M. Poincare, the latter constantly interrupted, and the proceedings developed into a keen and contentious duel between the protagonists of the two policies. The Premier concluded by saying that grave problems remained unsettled and he would not make rash promises. He asked the House to choose between isolated action and inter-Allied cooperation.

The motion, which was carried, expressed confidence in the Government, which will pursue the execution of the London agreement and obtain the necessary guarantees of security for the satisfactory settlement of the interAllied debts

LONDON, Aug. 26. The Coal Miners’ Federation asked the Premier (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald) to receive a deputation with the object of pointing out their objections to the Dawes reparations scheme. The secretary of the federation says the miners will not permit political exigencies to adversely affect the economic position. They are gravely concerned because thousands of miners already under notice are working short time, and they want to hear what Mr. MacDonald has to say before they take further action. BERLIN. Aug. 26. Yesterday’s debate in the Reichstag on the Dawes Bills brought nothing /new', but merely a wearisome repetition of the familiar arguments. All fourteen parties are determined to express their views

It is expected that the Nationalist Party will give members freedom to vote as they choose on Thursday. The general opinion at present is that the pact will he ratified, though it is almost certain that the voting will be close.