ALLIED CONFERENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11874, 7 July 1924, Page 8

ALLIED CONFERENCE

UNEXPECTED DIFFICULTY FRANCE OFFENDED BY TERMS OF BRITISH ULTIMATUM. A QUJUbTION OF AUTJAUKITI. By TeU'trraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright Beater’s Teleernm. PARIS, July 4. The terms of the British invitation to the inter-Allied Conference, specifying the basis of the proposed discussions, has offended French official . circles, judging by a statement issued . by hhe Foreign Office declaring that the British memorandum “binds nobody but the authors.” It adds that the French Government intends to preserve complete liberty of action in regard to the suggestions with which the British Foreign Office accompanied its • invitation without first consulting Paris, and points out that France is free, before or at the conference, to submit any proposals it likes, whether in harmony with the British suggestions or not.. , IF GERMANY DEFAULTS WHO SHALL TAKE ACTION P CONFLICTING STATEMENTS. • Reuter’s Teleeram. LONDON, July 4. The Anglo-French misunderstanding over the terms of the invitation to the July Conference appears to centre ' round the French contention that the British Foreign Office inserted in the » invitations suggestions amounting to a suppression of the authority of the Reparations Commission. An authoritative statement has been issued in London, intended to refute this contention. Meanwhile Reuter’s Paris correspondent says the report of the French Ambassador, who interviewed Sir Eyre Crowe to-day in regard to the misunderstanding, is anxiously awaited. M. HERRIOT EMBARRASSED. The Quad D’Orsay hopes for a satis- - factory' settlement from Britain, hut . it is' realised that the difficulty in .. reaching an agreement at the London Conference may be considerably increased. The situation is embarrassing for M.' Herriot in view of the debate on 1 forffigh ’policy in the Senate on July • he will be asked to explain the apparent contradiction between the • complete- agreement, at Chequers - add-the...disagreement in regard to the . rights of the Reparations .Commission »• to decide in regard to German defaults « in the execution Of the Dawes • plan. 1 .."TREATY RENOUNCED” I— -.EAKIS PLEA. BOYCOTT ADVOCATED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. • • (Received July 6, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, July 4. M. Herriot has dispatched a Note to Britain stating that France does not consider herself hound by the British suggestions accompanying the invitation *to the London Conference. The newspapers, in a chorus of protest such as has not been heard for ir.anv months, declare that Mr Ramsay Macdonald baa virtually , renounced the Treaty of Versailles. The ‘‘Journal des Dehats” advocates that France abstain from the , conference until she is assured that no proposal infringing Hie treaty will be dismissed.

LONDON ONLY SUGGESTION MADE. . NOTHING OBLIGATORY. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, July 6. Political ' circles in London are greatly surprised by the French attitude in regard to the Chequers conversations. It is maintained that the British Government has done nothing contrary to any understanding with the French Government in causing the account of the happenings at Chequers to be communioated to the other Allies. It is emphasised that there is’ no intention whatever of ■ interfering with the work of the Reparations Commission, but that the, Commission cannot deal with the matters} outside the Treaty, provided for in the Dawes report. Britain is snbnmttihg no. hard-and-fast deoision or proposal, hut it'merely suggesting her own view and repeating the expressions used at Chequers, which are not binding without consultation of the Allies. A POLITICAL MOVE? BY THE FRENCH OPPOSITION.

Reuter’s Telegram. (Received July 6, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, July 5. It appears from the Note from the * British ‘Foreign Office that Mr Macdonald’s memorandum which has * caused such heart-burnings was also ■ sent with the invitations to the dominions. • The French newspapers supporting the Left Party assert that the Opposition has deliberately exploited and the incident, with a view to “torpedoing” the conference and M. Herriot. “VICIOUS CAMPAIGN*’ LABOUR PAPER’S ALLEGATION. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received July 6, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 4. The “Daily Herald” correspondent in Paris declares that all the Paris Press attacks on Mr Macdonald with ~ reference to the London Conference form part of the French Opposition’s -vicious campaign against M. Herriot. “In public M. Herriot has so far triumphed, but- intrigues continue, and it is plain that even Government officials are deeply involved in. the plot. They are sacrificing the interests of Europe to those of M Poincare.” THE DOMINIONS QUESTION OF REPRESENTATION. Australian and N 7 P/ M'. L-oriatio: OTTAWA, July 4. Questioned in the Canadian House of Commons, the Premier, Mr Mackenzie King, stated that the Dominion Government had not received an invitation to send a representative to the intet-AUied Conference on' the Dawes

report, but was invited to be represented at the preliminary conference in London next week to decide the question of representation. COAL DELIVERIES 4** • . CANCELLATION OF AGREEMENT. Australian and N.Z. Cable’ Association BERLIN, July 4. The Ruhr mine-owners have, given notice of the. cancellation, of the agreement with the Inter-Allied Commission regarding reparations deliveriee, or, the ground that the German Go vernment has declined ’ financial assistance, and it is impossible for the industry to bear the burden alone.