REPARATIONS PLAN

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 236, 4 September 1929, Page 7

REPARATIONS PLAN

THE HAGUE AGREEMENT. STORY BROADCAST. CHANCELLOR AT MICROPHONE. (United Press Association—By Electric ' Telegraph—Copyright). (Australian Press Association —United Service). LOJNDON, Sept. 2. “This is London calling the British Empire.” Such was the announcer’s intimation when Mr Phillip Snowden took the microphone at 8.50 o’clock to-night to describe The Hague Conference. Mr Snowden’s story was largely a recapitulation, but be disclosed that at 8.45 o’clock on the final evening he put down under six heads Britain’s minimum demands.

“M. Jaspar, who was acting as intermediary, returned in half-an-hour with an advance of £IOO,OOO. I said: ‘At the same rate of progress you will reach our demands by midnight.’ M. Jaspar returned in a quarter of an hour with the offer of another £50,000. I .1,1: iou are doing first rate. Be not weary in well doing.” ‘I cannot do more. You have emptied our pockets,’ M. Jaspar replied. In a kindly way I said: ‘Go through your pockets again and be sure you find enough to meet what is between us.’ M. Jaspar replied: ‘You are too hard. I have never see a man like you.' You are what we in our country would call a type.’ “Someone had a brain wave, and we got what we wanted at midnight, and the conference was saved.”

In closing, Mr Snowden said: “I think it will make a profound impression on our relations in Europe. There will be no reversion to the spineless policy of recent years. Wo have reasserted Britain’s rights in international agreements. We have won the respect of the other Powers. It will liberate the countries of Europe to pursue economic reconstruction. Above all, it has brought a new spirit into international policy, and will help to bring the peace which the people so passionately desire.” GERMAN PROTEST. EX-CROWN PRINCE’S WARNING. (Times Cables.) LONDON, Sept. 3. The Times’s Berlin correspondent states: “Taking his stand at Wurtzburg beside the monument of Arminius, who led the Germanic tribes against the Roman legions, Dr Hugenberg, the Nationalist leader, inaugurated a campaign planned to culminate in a referendum against the Young Plan. Pointing to the sword of Arminius, he declared that Germany’s sword had been snatched away and would not be restored by the world until their hearts were again strong. “A Bavarian speaker stated that the fight for freedom must be waged both against the enemy on the Rhine and at home. “Numerous Nationalist and Fascist demonstrations were held against the Young Plan and the ‘Var guilt lie.” “The ex-Crown Prince Rupprecht, who is notable for the previous moderation of his public utterances, made a speech at Munich to-day, attacking the Young Plan. The exCrown Prince uttered a warning against driving the Germans to desperation and Bolshevism. “Nevertheless, German sentiment is undoubtedly in favour of The Hague settlement. The Government has received numerous messages of congratulation, notably from the Rhineland, where the German Commissar of the occupied territory, declared: “We now have arrived at a new starting point of w'orld history, enabling the Germans to know- when they will be free.”