CHAOS AT THE HAGUE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 230, 28 August 1929, Page 7

CHAOS AT THE HAGUE

REJECTION OF LATEST OFFER. INITIATIVE TRANSFERRED TO BRITAIN. FRENCH VIEWPOINT. (United Press Association.; —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. ) (Australian Press Association.) THE HAGUE, Aug. 26. Mr Snowden’s rejection of the four Powers’ latest offer has again thrown the conference into chaos. The French emphasise that the four Powers have no further offer to make and that the initiative has been transferred to Britain. They point out that Mr Snowden has never yet intimated the figure he would accept. M. Loucheur (France) describes Mr Snowden’s refusal as a painful surprise. He cannot believe that Britain will persist in refusing to come to a reasonable agreement. If the Young Plan is re-drafted, the Powers will enter upon a parilous adventure, so France refuses to co-oporate in the demolition of the Young Plan. France awaits Mr Snowden’s proposals. A French correspondent telegraphs to the Daily Telegraph from The Hague to the effect that the impression to-night is that Mr Snowden will not be satisfied unless 80 per cent, of Britain’s claims are met, according to his own valuation. • “NOTHING FURTHER TO OFFER.” (British Official Wireless.) Received August 28, 11 a.m. RUGBY, Aug. 27. Mr P. Snowden remained at his hotel this morning, awaiting any fresh proposals that might be advanced. Tho delegates of the other countries declare that they have nothing further to offer, and that any further proposals must come from the British Chancellor of the Exchequer. Two meetings have been fixed for today, but material progress is held up while the financial question remains unsettled.

NEW ELEMENTS IN THE OFFER,

(British Official Wireless.) Received August 28, 11 a.m. RUGBY, Aug. 27. The only new elements of importance in the offer made Britain by the four Powers were the Italian offer to guarantee a annuity of 7,000,000 marks, representing Italy’s share of the Czecho Slovak debt payments, and the offer of a 14,400,000 marks’ annuity instead of the capital sum available out of the surplus arising between the Dawes and Young Plans. Both this latter proposal and the proposal put forward to satisfy the British claim for a fairer share of the unconditional annuities were still subject to reservations. With regard to the withdrawal of claims by third parties, these were offered subject_ to both Germany and the smaller creditor Powers making considerable sacrifices. The Times states: —‘ The British delegation has explained that it does not ask for such offers to be made by Germany or the smaller Powers. To express any interest would be to endeavour to influence the decision of the sovereign countries, that is to say, Great Britain in no way supports the efforts of the other principal creditor Powers to induce Germany and the smaller creditor Powers to make sacrifices. “If the fou,' Powers succeeded in reaching a bargain with the other countries in question, Great Britain could hardly interfere, but it must . plain that she does not want to see such sacrifices rondo and will not lift a finger to bring them about.”