HAGUE CONFERENCE DOOMED TO FAILURE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6991, 17 August 1929, Page 5

HAGUE CONFERENCE DOOMED TO FAILURE

British Claims Rejected “NOW WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE,” SAYS SNOWDEN CONTINENTAL SOLIDARITY. United Press Association— By Electrlfl Telegraph—Copyright. Received Friday 7.45 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 16. A British spokesman at the Hague to-night explained that Mr Snowden has sent no letter which could be described as an “ultimatum.” He had simply sent a personal note to tho Belgian delegate, M, Jaspar, expressing the hope that action would soon be taken in regard to his proposal to appoint a sub-committce to revise the annuities and percentages proposed by the Young plan. Later, M. Loucheur made a statement to French pressmen to-night, which was tantamount to a rejection of tho British claim. He said representatives of four Powers had met ,to-day and reaffirmed their solidarity. He expressed the opinion that Britain would obtain ample satisfaction within the scope of the Young plan, which could not be remodelled in the absence of the Americans. He indicated that France would not accept Mr Snowden's motion. It is understood tho offer which Mr Snowden and his experts agreed was most inadequate, amounted to £850,000plus some unspecified odd amounts left more or less unappropriated by the Young plan. French circles to-night expressed the opinion that the deadlock was complete and a breakdown on Saturday was inevitable. In commenting on M. Loucheur's statement, Mr Snowden, who was in the best of spirits, said: “Now we know where we arc.” He described the terms of the reaffirmation of solidarity by the four Powers as “rather like a Communist manifesto.” Italy Will Not Budge Received Friday 8.15 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 15. The Hague correspondent of the Daily Herald attributes the new impasse to the refusal of the Italian delegation to renounce any portion of tho advantages received from the Young plan. Belgium and France both agreed to concessions; Italy alone refused. The correspondent adds that no doubt Signor Pirelli’s attitude is directly duo to instructions from the Fascist Government. Prospects of the collapse of tho conference are ominus. French Press Calls Snowden Grave Digger “BLIND AND FANATICAL.'’ Received Friday, 11.35 p.m. • PARIS, Aug. 16. Newspaper comments on the Hague prospects are extremely pessimistic. Figaro declares tho conference is dead and buried and that Mr. Snowden will go down to history as its grave-digger. Le Petit Parisien declares France offered Mr. Snowden concessions up to 60 per cent of his claims, which were turned down.. Mr. Snowden was seemingly aiming at a rupture. “ He holds the interests of Europe in his hands and must bo blind and fanatical to destroy the Young plan,” it declares.