EVACUATION OF RHINELAND

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1929, Page 13

EVACUATION OF RHINELAND

BBITtSH COVEBXMEXT ATTITUDE

British Official Wireless.

Rugby, July 22.

The Rt. Hon. A. Henderson, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, was asked in the House of Commons whether the Government W’as bound by the undertaking given by the late Government in regard to the proposed committee of verification and conciliation in connection with the evacuation of the Rhineland.

Mr. Henderson replied that his Majesty’s Government, as well as the French, German, Belgian, Italian and Japanese Governments, were committed by the decision taken at Geneva last September to the principle of the proposed commission. The composition, operations, object and duration of the commission wei'e, however, matters which would form the subject of negotiations on these points. The British Government had not committed itself and did not propose to commit itself until the conference met. The meeting place of the forthcoming conference on reparations was etill under consideration between the Governments concerned. Mr. Henderson stated that he hoped a definite decision was now imminent. Asked whether the Government was prepared to treat the question of the evacuation of the Rhineland independently of the question of reparations, Mr. Henderson said that the Government 'retained complete liberty to withdraw the British troops if and when it seemed expedient to do go.

Asked whether British mediation had been offered in the boundary trouble between Bulgaria and Yugo-Slavia, Mr. Henderson stated that the British Government and the French Government were offering friendly advice, both at Belgrade and Sofia, with a view to facilitating direct negotiations between the Governments concerned.