WIDER AGENDA

Taranaki Daily News, 15 February 1933, Page 7

WIDER AGENDA

WAR DEBTS DISCUSSION PROBLEMS OF WORLD TOUR OBJECT TO CAUSE REVIVAL BRITISH CABINET’S POLICY DELEGATES NOT RESTRICTED ' By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. * Rugby, Feb. 13. ( Forthcoming Anglo-American war , debt discussions at Washington were the subject of several questions to the Prime , Minister in the House of Commons to- , day. i Asked if the discussions would be confined to the question of debt payments, Mr. MacDonald recalled that the Government had agreed, concurrently with the discussion on war debts between • Britain and the United States, that there ' would be a discussion of world economic problems in which the two Governments were mutually interested. The object would be to promote a revival of world trade and prosperity. While a settlement of war debts was an essential condition to such a revival the British Government always recognised that there were other factors, economic as well as financial, which would also have to be dealt with. The purpose of the delegation was to get into close personal touch with the United States Government so that both Governments could go on harmoniously to face the big problems that had to be solved before they could come to a settlement. The British Government wanted a war debt agreement with America'which would enable it to pursue its European policy. A special meeting of Cabinet to-day had before it a report of discussions by the war debts committee of the Cabinet. Sir Ronald Lindsay is to sail for the United States to-morrow. It is expected that on his arrival he will discuss with Mr. Roosevelt the procedure to be adopted in the forthcoming negotiations. Messrs. Nathan and G. Lansbury pressed for a debate on the war debt discussions before the delegation went to the United States. Mf. MacDonald replied that it would be better not to restrict the action of the delegation. Great mistakes had been made in the past by replies to well-intention questions. . v GRATIFICATION IN STATES MR. MACDONALD’S STATEMENT. HOPE HE MAY. BE THE LEADER. Washington, Feb. 13. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald’s statement in the House of Commons that the British will, seek at the debt discussions here for a harmonious approach to the problems before the world economic conference was received with gratified interest by the officials preparing for the discussions. . . . The opinion prevailed, however, that Mr. MacDonald’s failure to make any statement on the concessions that Britain may be willing to offer the United States for debt revision left the situation enshrouded in the same haze which has surrounded it since the arrangements for the Washington meeting were first announced.

Intimations that Mr. MacDonald may head the British delegation have created a favourable reaction among officials, as he is regarded as a man of such worldwide vision and driving power that the President can talk to him with good prospects for definite achievements, despite Mr. MacDonald’s statement that the final decisions cannot be reached at Washington. SILVER PAYMENT SUGGESTED. PROPOSAL IN U.S.A. SENATE. Rec. 5.5 p.m. Washington, Feb. 13. A proposal that England should pay 100,000,000 dollars on the war debt in silver was made in the Senate, to-day by Senator Pittman (Democrat, Nevada).