SENDING FOR GERMANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18773, 29 July 1924, Page 6

SENDING FOR GERMANY.

From the latest news of the London Conference it is evident that the Allies' representatives are determined to leave no stone unturned in their endeavours to find a solution to the reparation problem. The action of M. Herriot in agreeing that Gorman delegates shall be called to London, is particularly indicative of this determination. The political situation in is not calculated to encourage him in making concessions. M.. Poincare's mana is by no means destroyed, and Nationalist opponents will eagerly seize on any apparent weakening by the Premier as an opportunity for partisan criticism. To onlookers it must seem more or less certain that, in the long run, France will have to bow to the considered opinion of a majority of the Allies that her attempt to act in isolation had no justification either in law or in expediency and must be abandoned. But that view, however well established among onlookers, has littfle currency in France, and a Premier who even seems to yield this point runs a serious risk of losing votes and office. M. Herriot dares to run the risk. Some time ago he expressed approval of the Dawes report, in which the evacuation of the Ruhr is insisted upon as a fundamental condition of Germany's undertaking to pay reparation. Now his acceptance of the proposal to invite German delegates forthwith to discuss the evacuation goes definitely a step further. His attitude strengthens the hope that the conference will not dissolve without agreement on a practicable plan.' There are renewed mutterings in Germany about the details of the evacuation —a mere reiteration of the Government's reparation policy when it met the Reichstag again on emerging unchanged from the crisis at the beginning of June.' These mutterings will not prejudice the position. In the |ight of the Dawes report Germany cannot very well object to undertake adequate reparation payments, once France has agreed to retrace her steps in the Ruhr. The outcome of the discussion with Germany's representatives should give the conference a better footing for its recommendations to the Reparation Commission.