AMAZING CLERICAL ERROR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 199, 22 August 1929, Page 7

AMAZING CLERICAL ERROR

YOUNG PLAN UNDERESTIMATED FRANCE GETS MILLIONS MORE THAN HER SHARE WHOLE PERCENTAGES DISPUTE MAY NOW VANISH Received August 21, 11 p.m. (Australian Press Assn.) LONDON, Aug. 21. The Daily Telegraph to-day publishes a remarkable announcement from its diplomatic correspondent that an amazing clerical error was made in the preparation of the Young Reparations Plan. The paper says it arose in this manner. The first 37 annuities allotted to France were added up and then divided for the purpose of working out the average French annuity. Later in the table annexed, the Young total is given as 1,046,500,000 gold marks, that is £52,325,000 which underestimates its real value by nearly one hundred million gold marks, or nearly five million pounds sterling. On this basis, France’s share of the Young annuity will be not her Spa percentage of 52, or even her 1925 Paris percentage which was 54, but a percentage in the neighbourhood of 57.’ It is not explained how the experts or the calculating machine made such a mistake, but the discovery of the error is of great moment as an excess of five per cent, allotted to France over and above what the Young committee intended, should enable her to restore something like the fair quotas to Britain and some of the smaller powers.

THE HAGUE CONFERENCE CONCESSION BY THE POWERS NO AGREEMENT ON VALUES [ Australian Press Assn.—United Service. I Received August 21, 11 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 21. It is authoritatively announced in British circles at The Hague that the experts’ report that it is impossible to reply to the questions submitted to them, as they found it impossible to agree regarding the value of the concession offered to Britain by the four Powers and a hundred and one other factors upon which the allocations are dependent. Consequently the Ministers themselves must grapple with the problem.

PERFECT UNDERSTANDING

‘•NO LIGHTNING, NO THUNDER” {Australian Preus Assn.— United Service I LONDON, Aug. 20. “No lightning, no thunder, no earthquake and the conference continues. I understand Mr Snowden and he understands me,’ ’ said M. Briand, as he left the hotel where he met Mr Snowden.

The Australian Press Association adds that this is the first public reference to such an error. Whether such an extraordinary happening could have gone unnoticed until the present is at least doubtful, but the full significance of the error, if it is an error, can only be ascertained when the experts report comes down.

i It is understood Dr. Streseniann wants to clarify Germany’s position. If the Hague Conference ends without an agreement the question is: Will Germany pay, after September 1, under the Young Plan or the Dawes? It is understood, in view of the expert’s report that Dr. Strescmann will announce that Germany is unable to pay more than the Young Plan demands.

THE ITALIAN ATTITUDE INSISTENCE ON YOUNG PLAN THE HAGUE, Aug. 20. Signor Masconi, Chief of the Italian delegation in a ’ ’ atement said that Italy was as desirous as other nations in respect to the agreement, but failed to see the reason why only those disadvantageous to her should be ignored while those whic h were advantageous should be set aside. If the Young Plan w,as rejected, Italy had many claims to bring forward. During the first twenty-seven years the Young Plan assigns Italy less than she is entitled to. Italy insists on the acceptance of the Young Plan as a whole. The above statement is believed to have emanated from Signor Mussolini with whom the delegation is in constant communication.