PROBLEMS FOR NATIONS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 848, 27 October 1923, Page 5

PROBLEMS FOR NATIONS.

REPARATIONS QUESTION. NEW, CONFERENCE SUGGESTED. By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. , LCiNDON, t»ct. 25. The Daily Telegraph's political observer says it is now certain that the French and Belgian replies to the suggestion lor a new Reparations Uomerqnce both contain the acceptance or the idea in principle, but witn the limitation that it must be convened as a committee under the Reparations Commission, whose authority, created . by the Versailles Treaty, must remain complete and unchallenged. Roth Governments have deemed it their duty, us loyal allies of Britain, to leave no doubt regarding their, intentions, it is understood that the same objection will be made against any proposal to create a commission hi experts i. dependent of the Reparations Commission. 1 • • Lord Curzon had , a conference with the Belgian Ambassador. It is understood the former will shortly make a statement to the Imperial Confernme, or to Cabinet regarding new aspects of the foreign situation. The Daily Telegraph says that it has been decided, on General bmuts’s proposal, to prolong tlio Imperial Conference until the third week in November.—A. and N.Z. cable. UNITED STATES ATTITUDE. NO INDICATION OF CHANGE. WASHINGTON, Oct. 25. In reference to a London report that the United States Department of State and the British Foreign Office will issue for publication important telegrams between. Loyd Curzon and Mr Secretary Hughes concerning an international conference on reparations, it is announced that, although there has been an exchange of correspondence, there is no indication here that the discussion has been marked by any striking development in the situation or any change in the attitude of the United, States. —A. and N.Z. cable. AN OMINOUS SUGGESTION. LONDON, Oct. 26. Mr Secretary Hughes, in reply to Lord Curzon, concludes with what the Morning Post describes as an ominous suggestion. This deals with Lord Curzon’s inquiry; "Could Britain and the majority of the Allies hope for the United States’s co-operation, supposing there was a proposal to hold a reparations in quiry without complete unanimity?” v Mr Hughes replies that in that case the United States must reserve its decision regarding its course of action in order that a course may be taken which will give the best promise of ultimate success in securing the desired end of the re-establishment of industrial conditions for European peace and economic restoration.—A. and N.Z.. cable, DEBTS TO THE UNITED STATES. CANCELLATION NOT INTENDED. Received October 27, 9.40 a.m. WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, Although the American Government stands ready to enter a European reparations conference having a full attendance of the Allied Powers, it is unwilling to agree beforehand to a meeting at which there might be empty chairs. For the moment'the officials are content not to elaborate on Mr Hughes’s pronouncement or predict what effect it may have on the British attempt to obtain some semblance of a world-wide effort to solve the ills of the European Continent. The indications are that with the subject re-opened, important developments might follow, and with Britain friendly t 6 the principle of a conference, attention turns to the French, whose objection heretofore made full participation by all the Allies m such consultation impossible. What measure of confidence in French cooperation may have actuated Lord Curzon in despatching a message of inquiry to Washington is unknown hero. The officials are inclined to await an official expression from Paris before venturing an opinion as to whether Lord Curzon’s overture has succeeded or failed. If Franco adheres to the position she has held, it is admitted here that a con-, tributing factor to such a decision may be the insistence of Mr Hughes that the international debt question must be kept separate from that of the reparations. From the outset there is no indication that the United States Government has any intention to cancelling the debt owed it as- the result of the war by France or any otner nation. Mr Hughes has replied in the negative to Lord Curzon’s question regarding the possibility of American representation on the Reparations Commission. Ho held this to be the natural and unescapable result of Hie policy followed by the United States ever since it refused to ratify trie Treaty of Versailles. . The officials are pleased that the official notice has been taken of Mr Hughes’s Newhaven suggestion and that British othcials at least had seen in it the possibility of a final solution. The position of the State Department is that Mr Hughes s reply to Lord Curzon should be left to speak _ for itself as a re-definition of the American policy.—A. and N.Z. cable. THE ISSUE AT STAKE. WELFAjRE OF THE WORLD. Received October 27, 10.20 a.m, WASHINGTON, Oct. 26. The press comment generally enthusiastically supports the reply sent by Mr. Hughes to Lord Curzon, tiro New York world oven seeing a promise m_ Mr. Hughes’s words that the United States may join a European conference even if Franco does not accept. Furthermore, the world is inclined to think that France will yield and that Congress, various members of which have been calling for ■ an economic conference, will join itself with the public in supporting the American Government in such a step. The Now York says: Wo must have faith in ourselves If we are not to disappoint the faith that the world has in us. It is not simply a matter of reparations; it is the welfare of the world., Mr, Hughes lays down fixed conditions under whch “we can help,” —A. and N.Z. cable,