OCCUPIED GERMANY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19374, 9 January 1925, Page 5

OCCUPIED GERMANY

REPLY TO ALLIES’ NOTE. PROTEST AGAINST NOiN-EVACTUA-TION. COMPLETE DISARMAMENT alleged. Press Association —By Telegraph Copyright. BERLIN, January 7. (Received January 8, at. 7.45 p.m.) The German Note to the Allies protests against the decision not to evacuate Cologne, and demands at the earliest date a communication detailing the Allied co It*says the Allies could claim the right to postpone the evacuation if Germany were guilty of shortcomings, the importance of which corresponded with the hardship of an extension of the occupation. The Note insists that Germany has disarmed so completely that sho can no longer be a military factor in European affairs and concludes as follows: Differences of opinion arising oyer the evacuation which are the result of OKe dictation cannot bo interpreted as a lack of goodwill on the part of Germany, whereas if the Allies continued to bo tmided bv the spirit of the London Conference a settlement could be speedily reacbe d. —Reuter. AT.T.Trm FINANCE CONFERENCE. EXCHANGE OF ANGLO-FRENCH VIEWS. PARIS, January 7. (Received January 8, at 7.45 P-™-) . , Prior to the opening of the Mr finance conference M. Clementel and Mr Churchill unofficially exchanged views on thewhole question of the mtor-Allied "If the opening of the conference M. Clementel said he was convinced from experience that the conference would teach a unanimous solution of the prob lems. He emphasised the necessity for fixing the distribution of reparations, as uncertainty hindered the work of the e parations Commission as well as of the Finance Ministers, who did not know how much to put to credit in their budgets under the head of reparations. He declared that the conference agenda paper contained mostly matters of detail. There were only three or four dominant problems, which in themselves were of relatively secondary importance compared with the fundamental agreement reached m Churchill, in replying, endorsed M. Clementel’s remarks about the limited technical character of muca of the work before them. “Hope,” he said, flies wings, and international conferences plod afterwards along dusty roads, but the conviction exists, that progress is being made towards unity and prosperity in Europe.” Mr Churchill stated that though the interests of the different Allies were conflicting each was bound to present its own case. All would remember that indissoluble comradeship was more important than the exact achievement of a particular viewpoint. Doubtless larger issues in the background awaited decision and agreement, but the immediate path should not be encumbered with these. They at this conference should bo handle the business as to disperse minor obstructions and create a spirit and atmosphere which would bring a solution nearer.—Reuter. SPECULATION RIFE. PRESS COMMENTS. LONDON, January 8. (Received January 8, at 8.50 p.m.) There is much speculation, but few facta are available from Paris regarding the first conversations. The Daily Express states that Mr Churchill dined with M. Locheur privately on Tuesday night, and alludes to the latter as a man who played an important, but mysterious part in the Franco-British negotiations. The paoer proceeds: —‘ M. Clementel gave Mr Churchill a formal undertaking that the payments to Britain would equal whatever payments were made to America.’ ’ The French Finance Minister also mooted a moratorium scheme which, the Daily Express points out, means that France's first interest payments, beginning a decade bence, if applied to a reduction in the income tax would be equivalent to a reduction of Jjd in the pound. The Daily Express continues with a lively account of how Mr Churchill, who is nicknamed and cartooned in the Paris press as “The British Bailiff,” drove early on Wednesday morning unnoticed in spite of his wonderful hat to the Ministry of Finance, where he was kept waiting 10 minutes, fussing and fuming in an atmosphere of gobelin tapestries, dustbins, and dead cats until a man in a blade suit and wearing a silver chain inquired: “Are you Mister Lord Churchill?” and then ushered him into M. Clementel’s study. The Daily Telegraph states that M. Clementel tried to ascertain the standpoint of Mr Churchill about debts. Mr Churchill, it is believed, denied that an inter-Allied conference would be summoned to deal with the question. He explained that the real purpose of Mr Norman's visit to America was to discuss the question of the gold standard. The Daily Herald says it is clear that real negotiations are proceeding outside the conference, and hints that Frence is preparing to head a League of Debtor Nations. The Financial Times says Mr Churchill has not the slightest expectation of reaching definite results on the debts question at° the present conference. —A. and N.Z. Cable.