THE HAGUE CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20793, 12 August 1929, Page 9

THE HAGUE CONFERENCE

FATE IN THE BALANCE. A FURTHER SENSATION. MR SNOWDEN’S DECLARATION. (United Press association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) THE HAGUE, August 9. It is revealed that Mr Snowden provided a further, sensation by declaring that just before the assembling of the Paris Conference, the French, Italian, and, British experts secretly conferred in London, and undertook not to disturb the Spa percentages. , M. Cheron disclaimed knowledge of the fact. Signor Pirelli, the Italian delegate, however, admitted that lie attended a gathering, but contended that Mr Snowden misunderstood the agreement.

This .vas the first the Germans had heard of secret discussions and their suspicions are sharpened. Some of them declared that Mr Snowden confronted the conference with an ultimatum, but they say that Germany will not even discuss a penny increase of the Young figures to meet Mr Snowden’s demands.

Meanwhile, reliable quarters say that .Mr Snowden is prepared to leave on Monday unless he obtains satisfactory assurances that the British taxpayer will be protected.—-Australian Press Association. POLITICAL COMMISSION. DIFFERENCES OF OPINION. THE HAGUE, August 9.

Further differences of opinion were revealed during a debate at a sitting of. the Political Commission on the question of. a verification and conciliation commission which the French demand. Mr Henderson said that Britain desired the complete evacuation of the Rhineland, and was opposed to’ the establishment of the Commission of Control. M. firiand denied that France wanted a military mission outside Ihe Treaty of Versailles. Herr Wiart (German Minister of Occupied Territories) said that a strong anti-Young plan movement already existed in Germany. If the delegation accepted a new ; commission the Government would fail. It was decided to submit the, question to a committee of jurists.—Australian Press Association. A DAY OF. STRAIN. ATMOSPHERE ELECTRIC. THE HAGUE, August 9. To-day was a day of international strain. Mr Snowden’s speech 's regarded as an ultimatum. The atmosphere is electric. M. Briand stated that' while the situation was' grave, he would not believe that the conference would break down.—" Australian Press Association. MR SNOWDEN’S OBJECT. A FINANCIAL COMMISSION.

THE HAGUE, August 9. It is unofficially pointed out that Mr Snowden’s real object is to get a financial . commission, properly constituted, to consider his proposals.’ He has prepared these quite within the fabric of the Young plan.—Australian Press ' Association.

ITALIAN PRESS COMMENTS,

BITTERNESS IN HEADLINES,

ROME, August 10., (Received August 11, at 5.5 p.m.) : The newspaper linpero appears with the heavy black headlines: “Enough of Britain’s Insatiable Voracity and Hypocrisy ” and “ Italy Has Kb Mines, Ships, Colonial Mandates) or Priority Payments. Can the Samp be Said of England?”—-Australian Press Association.' PAYMENTS IK CASH. A BELGIAN SUGGESTION. i LONDON, August 10. (Received August 11, at 5.5 p.m.) “ I cannot longer await a decision. I do not want to remain here for the rest of my life,” declared Mr Snowden at this morning’s meeting of the Finance Committee, in a discussion on the reparations position. Mr Graham had lengthily' explained how deliveries in kit ’ and the Young Plan adversely affected the British export trade and increased unemployment, M. Cheron, countering on behalf of France, endeavoured to prove that Britain benefited more by the Young Plan than formerly. Mr Snowden emphatically refused to accept a single one of M. Cheron’s arguments, and challenged the accuracy of his figures, which he declared were capable of an entirely different interpretation, “It is time my three points were discussed,” said Mr Snowden. “It is untrue to assert that the British experts who drew up the Young Plan were instructed by the British Treasury.” The committee adjourned till August 12, when Mr Snowden’s motion for a sub-committee to examine three points will he debated. The Belgian delegation is trying to save ,the situation by making proposals for transferring the final decision to Germany by suggesting that Germany should pay sufficient cash in lieu of payments in kind to satisfy Mr Snowden, the countries receiving payments in kind being forbidden to reexport such goods. —Australian Press Association.

DELEGATES CONFER PRIVATELY.

POSITION TO BE RE-EXAMINED. THE HAGUE, August 10. (Received August 11, at 5.5 p.m.) The chief delegates of Italy, Belgium. France, and Japan had a private conference, after which the Belgians interviewed Mr. Snowden. It was decided that representatives of the six Powers concerned should meet on Sunday; and re-examine the situation.—Australian Press Association. THE BRITISH'PRESS. SOLIDLY BEHIND MR SNOWDEN. LONDON, August 11. (Received August 11, at 11.45 p.m.) The Hague conference remains in being, hut the danger, of a breakdown has not passed. The position is that Mr Snowdon lias given the conference .till Monday to make up its mind whether it will consider his points or not. Mr Snowden put Britain’s viewpoint plainly and firmly, and he refuses to consent to the matter being shelved. He. stressed the point that AL Poincare promised Mr Churchill that there should be ho interference with the Spa percentages. The French:press.now realises that. Mr. Snowden is not lilufling and .professes

the greatest indignation at his plain language, but not a single newspaper attempts to refute his arguments. The British press, headed by The Times, the Daily Telegraph, and the Observer, are practically solidly behind the Chancellor.—Australian Press Association.

ME CHUECHILL’S VIEWS. SUPPOET FOE ME SNOWDEN. QUEBEC, August 10. {Received August 11, at 5.5 p.m.) The former British Chancellor (Mr Winston Churchill) did not comment to any extent on the attitude of Mr Snowden to the Young plan of reparations, but he made it clear that Mr Snowden’s stand had his own support. The apportionments under the former Dawes plan had been satisfactory, but those now projected were totally inadequate.—Australian Press Association.—United Service. ME SNOWDEN INTERVIEWED. NO QUESTION OF BLUFFING. THE HAGUE, August 10. (Received August 11, at 5.5 p.m.) IV hen interviewed by the Central News Agency at midnight Mr Snowden said: “If the conference breaks down the responsibility will not bo on the shoulders of Great Britain. M. Briand says it is a case of five against one, but that does not necessarily mean that live are right and one wrong. It often happens that right is on the side of the minority.’’

When asked his opinion of the immediate prospects, he said: “The situation is not grave from my viewpoint, hut I shall be prepared to depart at any time if there is no reason to stay.” ' When told that the French 'believed that he was bluffing, Mr Snowden said: “If they are under that illusion they had better wait and see.” Mrs Snowden interposed: “They don't know a Yorkshireman.”—Australian Press Association.