HOUSE OF LORDS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1933, Page 6

HOUSE OF LORDS

' LORD 'SNOWDEN

ATTACKS AIR, .MACDONALD

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copy right; i

(Receicvd Alay 25 at 2 p.m.) •* LONDON, Alay 24;-

In th<s Lords,, find Snowden '• requesting a statement of the Government’s policy at the World Economic Conference, made a surprising unexpected attack upon Air AlacDonnhW Hus described tire Prime Alinist'ers reply to a similar demand in the Commons as absolutely staggering, a* “I know not whether this is due to the Government • having no policy or Air AlacDonald’s constitutional inability to make a clear statement. I suggesttliat Cabinet look into the case of the Prime A 1 Blister. It is a positive danger to the country that its affairs should he in the,-hands of a man who every time he speaks exposes his ignorance or incapacity.”

Referring to Air AlaeDonald’s visit to Washington," and Air Roosevelt s joint statement Lord Snowden said that Air AfacDonnld’s was a mere-re-petition of platitudes. The Prime Minister might just as "well have saved the country the expense of his visit. The joint statement’s references to commodity prices, only showed ignorance of the nature of the problem, ft dismissed excessive tariffs, quotas and exchange restrictions, which are the fundamental primary causes of world depression in less space than the silver question. '

'SNOWDEN AND U.S.-A. DEBT

WHAT IS AMERICA’S ATTITUDE

(Received Alay 25 at L 5 p.m.) LONDON, May 24

Liard Snowden asked : What was to bo the Government policy at the World G-mferefice ? : When the tariff truce was suggested for the duration of the Conference, Mr MacDonald oijly accepted it with reservations, amounting practically th rejection. While the World Conference would begin by denouncing tariffs, the British Government and its tariff advisory committee would be engaged preparing for further increases in our tariffs.., “Mr MacDonald has suggested that the only tariffs to be reduced should be those which are nioffl than suffi-' atant for miti’Onihi economic'' protect tion. Every tariff in tlie world is regarded as necessary to national economic protection. If the World- Conference acted upon Air MacDonald’s principle, it would bo useltss, even, to discuss the tariff question, to say not a word about the American debt question winch had been ' woefully bungles and mismanaged, especially last year.

Mi- Hoover’s magnificent,- gesture, would have'- been a great-' benefit ifthe opportunity , had been -tjhen during a moratorium t-o come to a. definite settlement of the difficult question. Nothing had been done. '•Our next• intsalment is due three weeks hence. Are we going to pay, or default ? rr . The reason for the joint, statements .says .nothing about the debt. Is it that it is a matter-for Congress, which is .very jealous of its rights? If‘Mr Roosevelt made a declaration now, Congress would reject it:.

Mr MacDonald had said that they were going to talk rhout the debt, but nobody was coming from America competent to deal with the question. •T do not beleive the United States will make a definite suggestion about debts until they sec the outcome, of the Disarmament Conference. 3f America gets something out of that Conference, Mr Roosevelt is likely to have the courage to approach Congress regarding the debt question, and suggest that a gain from the reduction in armaments will offset the reduction of the. debt.”