SECOND EDITION THE SPA CONFERENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1862, 12 July 1920, Page 6

SECOND EDITION THE SPA CONFERENCE.

(Hy Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received Julv 12, Noon. 'LONDON. July 10. .A Spa communique .-rates that the Confc re nolo discussed the question of coal, and JI err '■Jkrgma.nn explained that 'lie shortage of deliveries was due to the Rhine floods and Germany's internal troubles and stril;e,s. .\l.f Alilk'i'and, replying, pointed out that notwithstanding the. Reparations Commission rlia<l reduced the coal demanded from Germany from thirty-nine lo twenty-one million tons annually, Germany had delivered roughly at a rate only half the latter, amount. Moreover, Germany on her own authority, liad reduced the. deliveries by 10,000 ton's daily under iho pretext, that ait increased supply had boen given to Poland. Germany was actually in a more favourable situation than France, being able to fulfil 79 per cent, of her needs against 59 per cent, in the case of France. M. Millerand pointed out. that, at the very moment when Germany was failing to fulfil her obligation-; she was making coal con- 1 tracts with Switzerland and Holland I again'st the protests of tho Reparations Commission. M. Millorand read a Note. Hiving details of the proposed Allied measures, and lffe Germans were given till 'this rnor.ijing to reply. Heir Simons later communicated to the Conference Germany's reply to the Allies' notification 'regarding coal, lie disputed the legal riglil of the Allies to impose the decision. lie admitted thai the coal deliveries should not have been diminished nor contracts with other States concluded m the absence of an agreement, with the Reparations Commission, but, .-aid tho failure of Germany to (ill her engagements wits solely due to reasons of force majeure He said the question of the production and distribution of coal could only be settled by common investigation.—(Renter.) SPA, July 11. Lord Cinzon look Air Lloyd George's place at this morning's Conference. Minor changes were made in the Turkish Treaty, which will he presenter! to the Turks > on the 17th in-t.. and signature is required within 10 dav<-.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)