SMUTS’S APPEAL

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11660, 26 October 1923, Page 6

SMUTS’S APPEAL

“PROFOUND SENSATION" “NEGOTIATION'S FOR (ONFFUFNCE HINDERED BY FRANCK. “RAISING DIFFICULT IF?.” By Telegraph.—Pres? As*n. —Copyright. r» an*! N.Z. Dnrn* AftsooinHo^. (Received Octolvrr 25. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Octoher 24. Tho “Dally Telegraph's'* diplomatic i orrespomlent says : “General .Smuts's spt oeK eausftl a profound sensation in aiploma.lie elides. Its significance u> heightened by the simultaneous uttorof the American. Ambassador That- simultaneity was not a .'uit’vsdonee, hut the outcome of a pint and (aieful consideration, which explains tile prominence given to General Su uts’s declarations bv the American Fuss. “Colonel Harvey's reiteration on behalf of President Coclidgc <4 the conditional offer of co-operation synchronises with the renewed attempt by Britain. t~ secure France's assent to the appointment of a commission of experts, with an American chairman, to consider reparations. These are the negotiations General Smuts alluded to. They are now in progress, but are not shaping well, M. Poincare declining to commit himself, and raising all sorts of difficulties. POINCARE'S VIEW UNCHANGED. “General Sniuts’s proposal for a wider international conference has not yet led to formal negotiations, but a meeting of the Allied Premiers lias been informally broached by Belgium. M. Poincare is even less likely to be drawn into this conference than into sanctioning the appointment of an expert commission. He contends that reparation issues can be dealt with by the Reparations Commission, and’ no revision of the German debt can bo effected, except by the unanimous agreement of the Governments concerned. He wjll not sanction any reduction, except within the limits he has previously laid down. “The conference which General Smuts proposes would comprehensively revise and resettle the original peace terms, and the original treaty would lapse. NOTES ALREADY SENT ■The “Moining Post” states that General Surut&’s allusion to an international ccnfeienco was based on tho fact that the British Government some days a£Ci addressed to the signatories of the Versailles Treaty a scries of dispatches suggesting the time had arrived when the United States might he assed to confer on the subject of reparations, and cognate matters. The “Morning Post” understands that no replies have jet been received.

CONFERENCE IN PARIS

TO DECIDE ON REPARATIONS. PROPOSAL ADVANCED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received October 25, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, October 24. The newspapers attach great importance to General Smuts’s speech, which they describe as “straight talk to France.” The “Evening Standard’s” diplomatic correspondent declares that the Baldwin Cabinet and the Imperial Conference were fully aware of the views General Smuts proposed to set forth, and it points out that General Smuts enunciated his views in very full detail before the Imperial Conference, following Lord Curzon’s statement on foreign affairs. It is not assumed that the speech will displease France and M. Poincare. It is known that events in the Rhineland have not developed as M. Poincare had anticipated, which might distinctly affect his view of the proposed conference Important negotiations recently proceeded between Britain and the Allies, aiming at the assembling of a conference of the signatories to the Versailles Treaty. Nothing hitherto has occurred to hinder negotiations. The general idea was to bold the conference in I’arifl in December, if possible before the Dominion Premiers leave. The intention is to deal with reparations end inter-Allied debts, apart from the Reparations Coir mission and the League of Nations, but technical and financial experts, and ac-Tedited German representatives, will be in attendance. Authoritative quarters axe surprised that General Smuts’s declaration should have been made on the eve of Mr Baldwin’s important pronouncement at Plymouth to-morrow, but it is believed that Air Baldwin knew what General Smuts intended to say.

“BUICIDE CLUB”

BRITAIN NEED NOT JOIN, 'Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. {Received October 25, 6.5 p.m.) LONDON, October z 4. The ‘‘Daily Express” says: General Smuts is back to the policy of the British Note of August 11th, which favoured the holding of a conference of tho Powers, including the United States. Ho really advocates the inde pendent action suggested by Lord Curzon’s Note, that is, ‘Seize the lend in Europe, whether France likes it or not’. Tho objection to this course is that British public opinion is hopelessly divided on the question of acting in irdepender.ee of France, or coercing her to adopt our standpoint.” The “Express” adds: “Britain ha«% not tho power to prevent Europe, under France's guidance, from marching to moral and economic suicide. She is. however, master of her own destinies. and i«s not obliged to join the suic;do club.”

“ COD SPEED YOU !”

MESSAGE TO GENERAL SMUTS

Australian and N.Z. C*bta Association (Received Oe+ol>er 25, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, October 24. I lie League of World FrioncKMp sent th-. following message to General Smuts- “God speed you! Thia is the lead that England and the vjild awaited.”

AMERICAN POLICY

NO CANCELLING OF DEBTS. FUTILE TO EXPECT IT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received October 25, 8.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 24 President Coolidgo intimated that Colonel Harvey's speech in London ro-fU-rtod tho Administration’s attitude completely, and the President’s friends fit a ted that Colonel Harvey might, even have iiv d stronger language to express the view. Regarding the maintenance of a

large army, the American people and Government are not going to let Go vernments abroad spend hug" au<ti* for armament at the American expense. Reiteration is made of the futility of e> porting the United States to enter any arrangement for tho settlement of European affairs involving the cancellation of the European debts to the United States. The Government, fi;i thormore, believes that the Europe an troubles cannot be solved until the reparations problem ie definitely settled.

It is hoped here that the German abandonment- of passive resistance mav ofon the way to negotiations, such as those outlined in Air Hughes’s speech of a year ago. “DESIRE TO BE HELPFUL.”

President Ooolidge informed newspaper correspondent* that the Administration will continue a rational policy of non-interference in regard to the Separatist movement in Germany. The United States, he said, recognised Germany’s right to govern itself as it desired; but it would have no sympathy with anv absolute dictator.

Air Coolidge reiterated that the United States desired to bo helpful m Europe, but the way had not yet appeared. Readmitted that chaos in Germany would, probably make it difficult to obtain settlements of the various European war debts to the United States.

REPARATION PAYMENTS

LATEST GERMAN OFFER. “READY IN PRINCIPLE.” A. uM radian and N.Z. C.«bl« Association (Received October 25, 0 45 p.m.) PAULS, October 25. Germany has written to the Reparations Commission declaring herself ready in principle to resume deliveries of reparations, but unable at present to finance the same, and requesting the commission to undertake an inquiry into Germany’s resources .and capacity ; also to allow a German representative personally to explain the measures for revising the budget and .stabili.MUg the currency.