GENEROUS GESTURE

Northern Advocate, 20 December 1932, Page 5

GENEROUS GESTURE

NEW ZEALAND OFFER BRITISH APPRECIATION. NO NEED TO FAY. MORATORIUM CONTINUES. (United Press Association—By Electilc Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received 9 a.m.) LONDON, December 19. The newspapers give prominence to New Zealand’s offer to resume the Dominion war debt payments, emphasising the generosity of the proposal and its Imperial significance. The diplomatic correspondent of the “Morning Post” says that the debts were suspended during the Hoover moratorium and Britain had never acknowledged that the moratorium had ended. It was plain that Britain intended that the continued suspension should apply to Imperial as well as to foreign debtors. Otherwise, New Zealand’s half-yearly instalment would have been due in September, but this was neither expected nor asked for. New Zealand now makes inquiries whether the payment to America has altered the position. The answer is clearly in the negative. At the same time, the people of Britain must appreciate the gesture, more so as New Zealand is struggling with the difficulty of the Budgetary problem. It would be a great effort to provide £872,000. CHEERS IN THE COMMONS. MATTER BEING CONSIDERED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY', December 19. In the House of Commons, Mr J. H. Thomas, Dominions Secretary, announced amidst cheers, the New Zealand Government’s offer to resume liability for the war debt payment to Britain if the suspension granted following the Hoover moratorium was made on the assumption of a continued moratorium by the United States.

Ho said that the British Government was most appreciative of the attitude of the New Zealand Government in view of the latter’s own difficulties and responsibilities, and conveyed appreciation of the offer. The matter was receiving the Government’s attention.