RETURN FROM BERLIN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 204, 30 July 1931, Page 7

RETURN FROM BERLIN

EXCHANGE OF VIEWS. MR MACDONALD’S VISIT AT END. NECESSITY FOR INDUSTRIAL AGREEMENTS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received July 30, 11.10 a.m. RUGBY,. July 29.

Mr Ramsay MacDonald concluded his visit to Berlin this morning. Dr Bruening and Dr Curtius, also the British Ambassador, were present at the aerodrome to take leave of the distinguished visitors. A largo crowd cheered when the military aeroplane took off for England.

A communique regarding the Berlin convei-sations stated that they were brought to an end in a further friendly interchange of views. Among the main subjects discussed were the best means of giving effect to tlie decisions taken at the London Conference. Tlie disarmament problem was also discussed, in connection with the preparations for the meeting of the forthcoming Disarmament Conference.

There was general agreement between the Ministers that the personal contacts which have been fortunately established should be maintained and developed. During liis interview with the Press, when he was asked about the possibility of the economic co-operation of Europe, Mr MacDonald said that if each nation developed its productive capacity to maintain a high tariff wall universal bankruptcy would result. Industrial agreements must be made. Regarding the drain of gold, Mr MacDonald said that the contention: “As safe as tho Bank of England” was as true to-day as it was twenty or thirty years ago. The Bank of England had always-been generous in tiding over difficulties in Germany, Austria and Hungary. When there*was a run on German short-term credits a certain reaction followed in respect of foreign deposits lying in her vaults. For this reason there was some little, excitement and a demand for gold from London. “But we can easily deal with that,” Mr MacDonald said. CANDID AMBASSADOR.

GERMANY’S SUPREME IDIOCY. Germany’s supreme idiocy is tlie cause of her present plight, in tho opinion of Mr J. W. Gerard, Ambassador in Berlin for tho United States from 1913 to 1917. He considered the situation to he undoubtedly one of the most threatening the world had faced since the war. “If Germany goes bankrupt,” said Mr Gerard, “and the Bruening Cabinet fails, the country will be left at the mercy of the Communists and the Hitlerites.” Should the Communists gain control, it is not improbable that Russia would march on Poland to reach Germany and intervene on Communistic Germany’s behalf against other European Powers. “They are all half-mad over there,” Mr Gerard added, “and no one can tell what might happen. France c;uy not be 'blamed for refusing to participate’in tlie international loata when part of that money will go on Germany’s pocket battleships.”