A LAST EFFORT

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 226, 23 August 1929, Page 7

A LAST EFFORT

meeting of the powers.

CONFERENCE AT THE HAGUE. GENERAL PESSIMISM. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). (Australian Press Association.) Received August 23, 10 a.m. THE HAGUE, Aug. 22. After a meeting of the six Powers’ representative® to-day, it was announced that the private conversations would be resumed in a last effort to avert failure. The meeting was adjourned until Friday afternoon. France, Italy, Belgium and Japan have completed their proposals, largely fulfilling Britain’s demands at Germany’s expense. GRAVITY OF SITUATION. SECRECY BEING OBSERVED. GERMANY’S POSITION IN EVENT OF FAILURE. (Australian Press Association.) THE HAGUE, Aug. 22. Everyone in close touch with the Reparations Conference is pessimistic. It is regarded as practically certain that the conference will end on Saturday at least in a publicly-acknow-ledged failure or an indefinite adjournment. The gravity of the situation was shown on the faces of delegates following a plenary session held this evening, in connection with which the closest secrecy is being observed. It is only known that Dr Stresemann detailed at length Germany’s difficulties and demanded that she should be told how much, when, and to whom she must pay reparations. Dr Stresemann contended that as Germany was in nowise responsible for the disagreement among the creditor nations she should in any case be allowed to begin the reduced payments under the Young Plan on September 1. He added that the Budget had been framed in expectation of the adoption of the plan. If the Government now had to increase the payment to the level of the Dawes scheme the Government would be defeated. Both M. Briand and Mr Snowden, however, expressed the view that the Dawes scheme could not be abolished until the Young Plan was adopted. For the first time thoughts are now turning to the arrangements necessary in ■ the event of a final rupture of the conference. A French correspondent, writing to the Daily Telegraph, states that the creditor Powers are beginning to realise that their quarrel over the division of reparations may endanger the very existence of the reparation payments. The Daily Telegraph has an unconfirmed report that a revised offer to Britain will be submitted to Mr Snowden to-night, but, possibly, at a late hour. ITALY WILL NOT YIELD. (Australian Press Association.) THE HAGUE, Aug. 21. Signor Pirelli' visited Mr Snowden to-day and told him that Italy was unable to yield any part of her share of the reparations payments. THE RHINELAND. REPORT IN BERLIN. (Australian Press Association —United Service .|) BERLIN, Aug. 22. The German newspapers this afternoon give great prominence to a report allegedly emanating from British official sources, to the effect that the War Office has instructed the commander of the Rhino troops to prepare to begin to evacuate the occupied zones on September 1. British official circles at Wiesbaden, however, deny the receipt of such instructions. It was further reported that Belgians would replace the British at Wiesbaden, which caused the Mayor of Wiesbaden to telegraph to Dr. Stresemann urging him to prevent this if possible. WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS. CONVERSATIONS PROCEEDING. (Times Cables.) 1 LONDON. Aug. 22. The Times states: “Tentatife arrangements have been made for the withdrawal of the British troops in the Rhineland as soon as the Government is able to give the order. Conversations are proceeding, but it is hoped to begin the withdrawal in September. The Government wishes the evacuation at the earliest possible moment, preferably in complete form rather than in stages.”