ACTION DEMANDED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17027, 12 August 1929, Page 7

ACTION DEMANDED

REPARATIONS PROBLEM SNOWDEN’S THREAT AN EMPHATIC ATTITUDE I Bloc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association ) THE HAGUE, Aug. 11.

Interviewed by the Central News Agency at midnight, Mr. Philip Snowden said: “If the conference breaks down, the responsibility will not be on the shoulders of Great Britain. M. Briaml says it is a ease of five against one. That does not necessarily mean the live are right and the one is wrong. It often happens that right is on the side of the minority.”

Asked his opinion of the immediate prospects, he said: “The situation is not grave from my viewpoint, but I shall be prepared to depart at any time if there is no reason to stay.” When told that the French believed lie 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. ’’ “I cannot longer await decisions. 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 the discussion on the reparations position. Mr. W. Graham had'lengthily explained how deliveries in kind and the Young plan adversely affected British export trade, and increased unemployment. FIGURES CHAU TEN G ED M. Oliorou, countering on behalf of France, endeavored to prove that Britain benefited more by Ihe Voting plan than formerly. Mr. Snowden emphatically refused to accept a single one of M. Chcron’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,” he said. “It is untrue to assert that the British experts drawing up the Y T oung plan were instructed by the British Treasury. ' ’

The committee adjourned till August 12, when Mr. Snowden’s motion for a sub-committee to examine the points will be debated.

The Belgian delegation is trying to save the situation by proposals for transferring the final decision to Germany, by suggesting that Germany pay sufficient cash in lieu of payments in kind to satisfy Mr. Snowden, countries receiving payments in kind being forbidden to re-export such goods. The chief delegates of Italy, Belgium, France and Japan had a private conference, after which the Belgians interviewed Mr. Snowden. It was decided .that the representatives of the Six Powers concerned should meet on Sunday and re-examine the situation.

CONFERENCE IN DANGER BRITAIN NOT BLUFFING (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.; LONDON, Aug. 11. The Hague conference remains in being, but the danger of a breakdown has not passed. The position is that Mr. Snowden has 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 refuses to consent to the matter being shelved. He stressed that M. Poincare promised Mr. Churchill that there should be no interference w’ith the Spa percentages. The French press now realises that Mr. Snowden is not bluffing, 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, Daily Telegraph and the Observer, are practically solidly behind the Chancellor.

ITALIAN FRESS DIATRIBE /Australian and N.Z Press Association.: ROME, Aug. 10. The newspaper Impero appears .with heavy black headlines: “ Enough of Britain’s Insatiable Voracity and Hypocricy,” which cover a column of largo type. “Italy has no mines, ships, colonial mandates, or priority payments. Can the same be said of England?” asks the journal. MACDONALD INTERVENES CONGRATULATIONS BY ’PHONE (Australian and N.Z,. Press Association.; (Received August 12, 11 a.m.) THE HAGUE, August 11. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald ' lengthily telephoned to Mr. Snowden congratulating him upon his stand, and heartily supporting it. News of the Prime Minister’s intervention caused surprise among the non-British delegations.

HARMONY MUCH RESTORED BUT RESULT UNCERTAIN (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.! (Received August 12, noon). LONDON, August 11. Reports from The Hague agree that Sunday’s exchange of view's has gone far to restore harmony among delegates, and that the atmosphere is better. Nevertheless, it is considered that the fundamental difficulties remain and that a solution of the crisis is still un certain. The conference meets on Monday to continue the discussion.

PROSPECTS OF CONTINUATION SOME CONCESSIONS MADE (British Official Wireless.) Rcc. noon. RUGBY, August 10. The situation arising out of Mr. Philip Snowden’s speech at The Hague Conference on reparations w r as discussed yesterday by French, Belgian, Italian, and Japanese delegates outside the conference. According to press correspondents, one result of the discussions was apparently an agreement that Mr. Snowden’s objections regarding deliveries in kind might bo met. What is regarded as the first real step towards a’ continuation of the financial side of the conference was made when the finance comifiitec mot Ibis mornng. Replying to a speech by Mr. Graham, president of the British Board of Trade, who explained th ‘ British viewooint regarding deliveries in kind, M, Cheron, the French Finance

Minister, said this matter was open to discussion, and indicated that a way out of flic difficulties was possible. On the other two jKiints of Mr. Snowden’t objections, namely a reduction ot the British percentage of reparations reeepits, and the assignment of an unduly large proportion of unconditional juryments to France, the result of yesterday’s discussions is not, known. On the political side of the conference progress has been made. Tilt political committee yesterday, resuming the discussion on the question of the evacuation of the Rhineland accepted, in principle, the setting up of a technical sub-committee to work out details of the evacuation. The nctua composition and terms of reference o! ttie committee were left until Monday