CABLE NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18407, 13 May 1920, Page 8

CABLE NEWS.

Wild agitations against the Peace Treaty are reported from Budapest. The American Socialist Party at the Nationalist Convention rejected the adoption of a dictatorship of the proletariat as a iplank of the party platMr Watt, outlining to British journalists the objects of his mission, said, amongst other things, Siat the people of Australia entertained strong opinions on the payment of reparation by Germany. Whether British opinion on the subject had become more indulgent in the past twelve months or not he was unable to judge, but Australian conviction had not altered, and she looked to a resolute observance of the Treaty. The Australian publio did not want German goods. He would be very much surprised if Australia's portals were opened to German trade in the present generation. He had not como with complaints, but s simply to have a talk en family business. He had pronounced a scheme for dealing with the Empire's debts, but so far had not received a reciprocal reply. " John Bull and Company " had not held enough meetings of the board of directors. They could not run a firm so huge altogether by correspondence and cablegrams- The junior partners might not hold an identical opinion with the senior partners, but consideration of different points of view would avert misunderstandings and conduce to unity and harmony. The " Financial News" says Mr Watt will cause a flutter in the official dovecot. Australia expects to get a good lump of tho German indemnity in May, 1921. Moreover, Australia is determined not to do business with Germany. That is the kind of talk needful when Gorman officials are frittering away milliards of money rather than met their liabilities to the Allies.

Tho " Daily Express" Berlin correspondent interviewed Heir Wirth, who said that Germany based her main hopes of industrial recovery on the forthcoming Spa conference. It was essential that the Allies should remove uncertainty regarding the amount of reparation payable by Germany. They must fix the sum Germany could pay. It was impossible to hope for the recovery of German industry while a sword of Damocles was held over her head. Europe's reconstruction depended on the Allies. In rogard to their claims he admitted the Allies could force Germany to accept any terms, but it would require an army of occupation of two million men to lorce unwilling Germany to work. Representatives of Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden are at present in London inquiring regarding opportunities and facilities for settling a considerable number of their emigrants in Australia. There is a growing number of applications from families in the districts in France and Belgium where Australians were quartered during war time.