WORLD PROBLEMS.

Wairarapa Age, 20 June 1932, Page 5

WORLD PROBLEMS.

DELIBERATIONS OF POWERS AT LAUSANNE GREAT BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE DEFINED. MR. NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN’S STATEMENT. • RUGBY, June 17. There were important developments when the Lausanne Conference entered upon its work to-day. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald announced the decision of Britain, France, Italy, Belgium and Japan to suspend, while the Conference is sitting, payments in respect of war debts and reparations, certain of which fall due on July 1, in order to press the earliest possible completion of the work of the Conference. The declaration was heartily welcomed by the German Chancellor, Dr. von Papen, as the first visible proof of the intentions of the Governments concerned to alleviate the task of the Conference. Britain’s policy in regard to war debts and reparations was firmly stated by Mr. Neville Chamberlain. Press reports state that he declared that it was the British opinion that vast intergovernmental obligations could not be exacted without disastrous consequences to the whole economic fabric of civilisation. He added that Britain was so convinced that only by radical measures could they restore that confidence without which the wheels of credit could not revolve freely, that they would be prepared to take their share in the general wiping of the slate, provided all the other Governments concerned would do the same. They would not hesitate to make further sacrifices of their legal claims, if by so doing they could aid the common cause. He felt convinced that in that spirit only could the problem before them be successfully solved and the first step taken towards a return to normal conditions. The real problem they had to consider was not the capacity of one country or another to make payments, but whether the making of such payments and even the uncertainty about the future created by liability to make them constituted a standing menace to the maintenance of international trade. The French Prime Minister, M. Herriot, urged that a modification of the regime of economic restrictions would more surely achieve their purpose than summary measures. • The heads of several other delegations spoke, all expressing a readiness to collaborate in the rehabilitation of the economic situation in Eiirope and the Conference adjourned till Tuesday. The heads of the delegations of inviting Powers will meet on Monday.— (British Official Wireless.) OUT FOR BUSINESS. MR. RAMSAY MACDONALD’S DECLARATION. LONDON, June 17. As the result of last night’s private conversations between representatives of the principal Powers, Mr MacDonald to-day summoned journalists, and read an “important document,” signed by representatives of the five principal creditor Powers, to which Dr. von Papen, after the resumption of the private plenary sitting, added his blessing and hope that the conference would not disappoint the aspirations of the world.

The fact that the conference is able to resume with some measure of agreement created a buzz of excitement, a pleasant contrast to yesterday’s unpromising start.

After the morning session, Mr. MacDonald told the Australian Press Association that the British delegation was out for business, because the world was in such a state that any unnecessary delay was unthinkable. To-day’s decision involves about £7,000,000, due for payment between July 1 and I’s under The Hague Agreement.

France’s signature to the moratorium 'declaration is interpreted as meaning that the conference has started a long and fruitful life, despite the fact that M. Herriot’s speech revealed that the Anglo-French views were as divergent as ever, because France opposes the clean slate.

Sir John Simon stated that the declaration obviated the necessity for an immediate moratorium, therebv dispelling the anxiety of further delay. “It is, ’he said, “the first real step towards a general European settlement.” The declaration says: “Deeply impressed with the increasing gravity of the economic ano financial perils overtbe wor, d> are convinced that these problems require a final or definite solution, which must be pursued henceforward without delay.” Sir Thomas Wilford notified New Zealand’s adherence to the Five-Power declaration, and added that he was convinced the delegates meant business, and were earnestly endeavouring without procrastination to achieve a European settlement and permit the early confrontation of America. Mr Lathan has written to Mr. MacDonald that Australia accepts the document signed by the creditor Powers and gladly adopts the same course. COMMENT IN PARIS. ’ REPARATIONS DEAD AND BURIED. (Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m.) , T PARIS, June 18. Newspapers here, commenting on the Lausanne Conference, assume that both conditional and unconditional reparaV oaß pay T”‘ S may be regarded as dead a n;l buried. « the d !i, Pari A’” su SSests the possibilmonths Conference lasting six