LONDON CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19249, 13 August 1924, Page 7

LONDON CONFERENCE

AN ESSENTIAL CONDITION. EVACUATION OF THE RUHR GERMAN NATIONALISTS’ DEMAND I'.ui Association—By Telegraph—-Copyright, BERLIN, August 11. Unless the German delegation returns having secured the military evacuation ot the Ruhr, it need never have gone to London, and General Dawes need never have come to Europe, say the Nationalist and a large section of Dr Stresemann’s following. The general public is only interested in the conference as a possible avenue for the evacuation of the Ruhr. They will judge the delegation from this standpoint alone. A semi-official commentary on the London proceedings frankly admits this, but suggests that the question may be discussed directly between Germany and France and Belgium. It also hints that Germany may find it profitable to trade certain commercial concessions in return for evacuation. —The Times. EVACUATION HASTENED. FURTHER FRENCH CONCESSION. QUESTION OF GERMAN DISARMAMENT. LONDON, August 11. (Received August 11, at 7 .00 p.m.) The understanding that France is prepared to withdraw her troops from the Ruhr a year after the execution of the Dawes plan has caused an excellent impression in conference circles. it is believed that Germany will not raise ailhculties in accepting thp French conditions in regard to this matter, which will probably embrace the conclusion ot a Franco-German commercial agreement. It is understood that Mr MacDonald has agreed to M. Harriot's proposal to have before the conclusion of the conference an exchange of views with thp German delegates on the question of German disarmament in order to facilitate without delay the resumption of wie operation of the Inter-Allied Commission of Military Control. —Reuter. REPARATIONS COMMISSION. AGREEMENT WITH GERMANY. PARIS, August, 11. The text is published of the preliminary agreement which the Reparations Commission and Germany signed on August 9. This binds Germany to take the necessary legislative measures to enforce the Dawes plan. The Commission agrees to take measures to the same end, including thefacilitation of the issue of a loan. Both parties agree to make any additional arrangements upon which the London Conference may decide, and undertake to refer disputes regarding the interpretation ot the agreements to arbitration in accordance with methods to be fixed by the London Conference.—Reuter.