PEACE OF EUROPE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19254, 19 August 1924, Page 7

PEACE OF EUROPE

DAWES PLAN ACCEPTED. THE AGREEMENT SIGNED CLOSING SCENES OF CONFERENCE. DAWN OF A NEW DAY. Press Association— By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, August 17. A great crowd ascmbled in Downing utreet while the delegates were in Mr Ramsay MacDonald’s room putting the final touches to the pact. An cver-chang-jug crowd paraded tho streets for several hours afterwards in the hope of seeing the diplomats return for tho purpose ot signing, but the 25 motor cars which were required to bring the full personnel drove into tho Foreign Office courtyard, and the occupants entered the building unobserved. Mr Ma-c Donald. however, was accorded an ovation as he crossed the street from No. 10, and ho was warmlv applauded as ho entered the room in which tho delegates assembled. •‘Our task,” he said, “seems to be completed. Has anyone anything to say regarding the documents before us’;” A tense silence followed, while the representatives of the Powers looked at one another, but none rose, and all gave a silent assent. Then Mr MacDonald, Mr Kellogg, M. Herriot, M. Theunis, Signor Stafanl, and Dr Marx spoke in tho order named. It is stated that tho most distinctive speech was that of Mr Kellogg, who said: “It was evident from tho beginning that you came here with the firm determination to settle tho most difiicult problems which have ever confronted Europe —nay, the world—in time of peace. 1 may bo 100 much of an optimist, but I believe that this settlement will mark the dawning of a new day, and will mean hope for millions of people." Mr MacDonald’s address, which was afterwards described by Dr Marx as containing “ntterances which will find a permanent place in the annals of Europe, ” was delivered from notea on a postcard. He said; “We have tried to meet each other as far as public opinion in the various countries will allow us. We sign with the feeling that we Lave turned our backs on the terrible years of war and war mentality.” Mr MacDonald proceeded to enumerate the issues still to bo faced, including the Inter-Allied debts, disarmament, the position and authority of the League of Nations, and finally economic problems, which will arise as soon as Central Europe is on its feet and the big industrial combinations begin to operate. He concluded: “We shall go a long way before we reach the goal of European peace and security.” After the speeches the delegates adjourned, smoking and chatting for 20 minutes, until they were recalled to tho room by Mr MacDonald, when each delegate placed his signature on the documents. The hour was 8.50. Afterwards came hand-shaking and hurried departures. “What can I say,” replied M. Herriot to questioners, “except that I am very contented?” Dr Marx paid a tribute to the “Human understanding and characteristic sympathy of this great Prime Minister of Britain.” Mr MacDonald left for Lossiemouth at 10.30. The German and Belgian delegates leave this morning, and M. Herriot <m Monday.—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE PROTOCOL SIGNED. ANNEXES TO GO BEFORE LEGISLATURES. LONDON, August 17. Tho Foreign Office reports of last night's ceremony show that the protocol of the Conference was finally signed, but that the annexed agreements were merely initialled. They will be signed on August 30 after submission to the French and German Parliaments. At the conclusion of the initialling of the conference agreement, Mr MacDonald in the course of hand-shalcing with everybody, gripped Dr Marx’a hand and led him to M. Herriot, silently lifted tho latter’s right hand, and linked it with that of Dr Marx, then stepped back, smiling genially, while the Frenchman and German shook hands. The next critical stage will be the presentation of the terms to the respective Legislatures. The Reichstag and the French Senate and Chamber will meet on Thursday.—A. and ' N.Z. and Reuter Gables. NEW ERA INAUGURATED. M. HERRIOT’S OPTIMISM. LONDON, August 17. M. Herriot, interviewed by tho Daily Express, said : “A new era in history has been inaugurated and has given tho world its longed-for peace again. The Conference means victory for the noble idea of arbitration. One nation Las spoken to another as speaks to brother without any necessity of having recourse to diplomatic Notes. The example set in London is sure to have far-reaclung consequences."—A. and N.Z.Cable. GERMAN NATIONALISTS HOSTILE. BERLIN, August 17. ’The Nationalists publish a declaration rejecting the London compromise.—Reuter. FEELING IN GERMANY. ACCEPTANCE OF AGREEMENT PREDICTED. LONDON, Aujpist 18. (Received August 18, at 8 p.m.) Tho Morning Berlin correspondent says that all parties in Germany are bitterly disappointed at the result of the London negotiations. Tho Daily Telegraph's Berlin correspondent on the contrary says: “Wo should not be. misled by the present manifestations of resentment and disappointment which do not express tho general opinion. After a few days, calming down it is almost certain that a majority of the Reichstag will support tho arrangements made at London. The only difficulty will be the passage of tho Ruhr Railway Bill. This is the only measure arising out of ihe Dawes scheme which requires a twothirds majority, and this is impossible, without the Conservative votes. After the Conservatives have let off steam against the political effects of the railway scheme, they will probably accept the Bill.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. , TERMS OF AGREEMENT. EXECUTION OF DAWES PLAN. RESTORING GERMANY’S ECONOMIC UNITY. LONDON, August 17. The agreement concluded at tho conference comprise a final protocol and four annexes. They made no reference to the evacuation of the Ruhr. The protocol sets forth, inter alia, that the agreements are mutually inter-depem-dent. Annex No. 1 consists of the agreement which was previously reached between the r - ' in—

Reparations Commission and the German Government relative to the carrying out of the .Dawes plan. This agreement bound Germany to take the necessary legislative measures to entorce the. Dawes plan. The Commission agreed to take measures to the same end, including the facilitation of the issue of a loan. Both parties agreed to make any additional arrangements upon which the London Conference might decide, and undertook to refer disputes regarding the interpretation of the agreements to arbitration in accordance with the methods fixed by the London Conference. Annex No. 2 specifies, inter alia, the form of arbitration to be adopted in various eventualities. It provides for a mixed committee of Allied and German representatives to determine the procedure for deliveries in kind. Annex No. 3 provides that the Dawes ■plan shall be nut into execution oy September 20 at the latest, including the promulgation by Germany of the necessary laws, the installation of executive bodies, the establishment of a bank and a German railway company, the fulfilment of contracts, and the raising of an 800,000,000 gold mark loan. The restoration of the fiscal and economic unity of Germany shall bo completed by October 5, including the restoration of the power that the German administration enjoyed in the occupied territories prior to January 11, 1923. The restoration of the industrial and other undertakings in the Ruhr to the owners and the taking over of the railway system by the Dawes Railway Company shall take place by September 21, the lines worked by the I* rancoBclgian regime to be. completely transferred to that company by November 2U. The agreement deals with an amnesty for political acts since January 11, 1923, and authorises the reference of disputes to The Hague International Court. Annexe No. 4 embodies arrangements relative to an American sitting on the Reparations Commission when anything arising oat of the Dawes plan is to he considered, and for arbitration regarding German default. Sanctions are not to bo applied unless flagrant default is established. The Allies, in the event of sanctions being applied, will safeguard the specific, securities pledged for the service of the loan, and will give the service of the loan priority in disputes in connection with the loan which arc submitted to the World Court. It will be noticed that the agreement mentions the Ruhr evacuation only obliquely by providing for the restoration of the Ruhr undertakings to owners. The evacuation, is covered specifically m an exchange of brief Notes, in which M. Herriot and M. Theunis informed Dr Marx that it is incumbent to continue the occupation for a year. Dr Marx replied: “We shall take a note of your decision, but we do not recognise the legality of the occupation.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. FRANCO-BELGLAN GOOD FAITH. IMMEDIATE EVACUATION. PARIS, August 17. Jt is officially announced that the French will evacuate the towns of Offenburg and Appenweier on August 18.— Reuter. LONDON, August 17. In a third Note, the Fraatco-Belgians state that they propose, as a token of good faith, to evacuate Dortmund and several other places to-day.—A. and N.Z. Cable. COROLLARIES OF AGREEMENT. COMMERCIAL TREATIES TO FOLLOW. ' LONDON, August 17. The Sunday Times learns that the Allies have arrived at an extraneous decision paving the way for commercial treaties and dealing shortly with war debts and an agreement to approach the League of Nations with a view to a further reduction in armaments.—A. and N.Z. Cable.