HAGUE CONFERENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17786, 10 August 1929, Page 7

HAGUE CONFERENCE.

BRITAIN’S SACRIFICES.

CHANCELLOR SPEAKS OUT. SPEECH CAUSES UNEASINESSiBy Telegraph—Press Assn. —copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) THE HAGUE, August 8. Mr Snowden in his speech on the Young Plan argued that if the plan were really indivisible the conference need not have met. He asked. why committees were being formed, if not for the purpose of considering the plan and making changes in it. All toe changes the British delegation asued for could be made within the structure of the plan. Reference had been made to French grievances and sacrifices. It was said that the amount of the annuities would be smaller than under the Dawes plan. Mr Snowden said he did not call it a sacrifice to give up something that would never have been received. Even if it were, it was a sacrifice every creditor Power was called upon to bear proportionately. If sacrifices were talked about he would have something to say about the sacrifices made by the British Empire. “No single country made anything like the war sacrifices of Britain, but we never complained. I would not raise the question except in reply to people who talked about the sacrifices they would have to make if the Young Plan were adopted. “Let it be remembered that Britain entered the war, not because her material interests were involved, hut in support of treaty rights, for which she willingly sacrificed her blood and her manhood. No country was left at the end of the war with such a war debt as Britain's, which is now £7,500,000,000, or more than double that of any other nation that fought in the war. “The Allies at the end of the war owed Britain £2,000,000,000, which was advanced to keep their armies in the field. The settlements have been all most generous in character. Generous Settlements. “Take the case of France, whose debt to Britain was £000,000,000. it has been agreed for France to pay Britain upon a present value basis £227,000,000. The agreement with Italy was even more generous. “BriLain owed the United States about £1,000,000,000, and by the settlement has to pay over a period of GO years an aggregate sum of £2,200,000,000, or more than twice the amount she borrowed.” Mr Snowden asked the delegates to contrast this with the settlement the Allies made with Britain, and added that the question of deliveries in kind was most important to Britain. The proposal in the Young Plan affected her export trade disadvantageous^'. He concluded by proposing the appointment of the sub-committee on finance. A certain uneasiness was caused among the delegates when Mr Snowden said that if Britain did not receive just satisfaction she had a moral right to reverse the existing debt funding arrangements. The French journalists interpreted this inaccurately as an intention to revise the debt, but Mr Snowden's words were perfectly clear, and referred to the debt agreement.

Support for Mr Cnov/den. The crisis had not abated by this morning, in spite of frantic efforts at conciliation. M. Franqui, a Belgian delegate, interviewed Herr Hilferding (Germany) at midnight, and both called on Mr Snowden, and strongly appealed to him for a modification of his attitude. It is understood that Mr Snowden was more adamant than ever. He said the British Government would prefer to withdraw from the conference rather than not obtain satisfaction. LONDON, August 9. The morning newspapers without exception support Mr Snowden’s vigorous stand on behalf of Britain. Even the extremely Conservative Morning Post, which usually bitterly opposes Mr Snowden, says: “His robust patriotism pleases as much as it surprises us. We are delighted that there is no nonsense about internationalism, and that he stands firmly upon British interests."

However, the Morning Post, like the majority of the newspapers, agrees with Mr Snowden as to the matter of his protest, but not as to the manner of his argument. They issue an emphatic note of warning concerning the effect of his spech upon the peace of Europe.

LATER. ANOTHER SENSATION. EXPERTS' SECRET CONCLAVE. MR SNOWDEN’S REVELATIONS. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian Press a- soeiatluii.) (Received August 10, 10.10 a.m.) THE HAGUE, August 9. It is revealed that Hon. Philip Snowden provided a further sensation by declaring that just before the assembling of the Paris conference the French, Italian and British experts had secretly conferred in London and undertook not to disturb the Spa percentages. M. Cheron disclaimed knowledge of the fact.

Signor Pirelli, the Italian delegate, however, admitted that he attended the gathering, but contended that Mr Snowden (misunderstood the. agreement.

This was the first the Germans had heard of secret discussions, and their suspicions are sharpened. Some declare that Mr Snowden confronted the conference with an ultimatum. Germany will not even discuss a penny increase of the Young figures to meet Mr Snowden’s demands. Meanwhile reliable quarters say that Mr Snowden is prepared to quit on Monday unless he obtains satisfactory assurances that the British taxpayer will be protected. Steps have been unofficially taken to point out that Mr Snowden’s real object is to get the financial committee promptly constituted to consider the proposals he has prepared. These arc quite within the fabric of the Young plan. .Olontiaued la next column.).

THE RHINELAND. MORE DIFFERENCES DISCLOSED. GERMAN DELEGATE’S WARNING. (Australian Press Association.) (Received August 10, 11.30 a.m.) THE HAGUE, August 9. Further differences of opinion were revealed during the debate on the conference's political commission, regarding the verification of the conciliation which the French demand for the Rhineland.

Mr ,\. Henderson said that Britain desired complete evacuation and opposed the establishment of a control commission-

M. Briand denied that France wanted a military mission outside the Treaty of Versailles.

Herr Wiart, the German Minister in (he occupied territories, said a strong anti-Young plan movement already existed in Germany and if the delegation accepted a new commission the Government would fall. The commission decided to submit the question to a Committee of Jurists.

MR; SNOWDEN’S ULTIMATUM.

AN ELECTRIC ATMOSPHERE}. WHAT WILL EVENTUATE ? (Australian Press Association.) (Received August 10, 1.50 p.m.) THE HAGUE, August 9. Friday was a day of international strain. Mr. Snowden’s speech is regarded as an ultimatum, as it expires at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The atmosphere is, and will be, electric until a way out of the impasse is found or Mr. Snowden and his colleagues take the boat for home. M. Briand staled that while the situation is grave he could not believe the conferencejAould break-down. The cable news in tms Issue accredited to the Times nas appeared in this journal, but only wnere expressly stated Is suca pews tiie editorial opinion of the Times,