REPARATION PAYMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20781, 29 July 1929, Page 9

REPARATION PAYMENTS.

BRITAIN'S SACRIFICES. “THE LIMIT OF CONCESSIONS." (British Official Wireless.) (UnlteJ Press Association.) tßy Electric Telegraph—Copyright,* RUGBY, July 27. (Received July 28, at 5.5 p.m.) Mr Lloyd George (the Liberal Leader) called attention in the House of Commons to the Young report’on reparations, and said he was amazed that it should ever have been presented to the British Treasury as a fair settlement of the claims of Great Britain.

Mr Philip Snowden (Chancellor of the Exchequer), in reply, said that the Government was not in any way committed to acceptance of the Young report. He realised the difficult task he would have in approaching the conference, and he could only say ibat he would do bis best to obtain justice for this country, and whatever the result of the conference might, be he assured the House that there would be no further sacrifice of British interests. There wag no desire to increase the amount of the annuities which Germany would be called upon to pay. That was one point in the report on which hi thought there would be very general agreement. There was, however, already a difference of about £200,000,000 between what we had paid to America and what we had received from Continental debtors. Under the scheme we should have to abandon all hope of ever getting anything towards that £200,000,000 of arrears. With regard to the question of deliver! -s iu kind, the Government realised the sen ousness of the question for an exporting country like our own. Anything that the Government could do to case the situation would certainly be done. The proposals constituted a new demand for further sacrifices fn " this country, an 1 from the viewpoint of our national finances our position was sufficiently serious. Therefore we should maintain such right as we had. “ I think I am expressing the view of the Government,” said Mr Snowden, “ when I say that the limb of concessions by this country has been reached Our sacrifices have been i.;nanimous, generous, and quixotic, ami they have imposed a burden of £60,000,000 a year upon our o\yn people, which will remain even if wc get our payments from Germany am) our .Continental debtors.”