EUROPE’S PROBLEMS

Southland Times, Issue 19173, 18 February 1924, Page 5

EUROPE’S PROBLEMS

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE MR RAMSAY MACDONALD’S PROPOSAL NECESSITY FOR FRANKNESS. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, February 16. (Received February 17, 5.5 p.m.) Interviewed by M. Saverwein, correspondent of Le Matin, the British Premier spoke interestingly of his proposal regarding the international reconstruction conference. Mr Ramsay MacDonald said that the conference must be the end, and not the beginning of the chapter. It stood no chance of success unless the preliminary examination completely clarified the problems confronting it. He desired frank and honest exchanges of views with France through the Ambassadors and, of necessity, by personal correspondence. Differences of opinion did not matter, provided they were without ulterior motive. He honestly intended to discuss ideas and hot attack individuals. He would use neither strategy nor complicated formulae in diplomacy but proceed straightforwardly ahead, solely desiring to alleviate the sufferings of Europe by settling a few essential problems in agreement with France. Mr MacDonald was strongly idealistic and believed in the possibility of human progress, but regretfully admitted that warlike elements were gaining ground in Germany. He expressed the opinion that Britain had not used the best means to support the moral elite in Germany, who to-day were almost decimated by misery. “The good elements in Germany must,” said the British Premier, “be strengthened and the Imperialistic bellicose ideas of the Junkers must be eradicated.”

Mr MacDonald added that France and Britain should co-operate morally, economically and politically in order to eradicate everything bad in Europe. He concluded: “Let us work with confidence.”