REPARATIONS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 16 July 1924, Page 5

REPARATIONS

DEBATE IN COMMONS. POINTS RAISED BY MR, ASQUITH INTER-ALLIED CONFERENCE. BT CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYBIGHT LONDON, July 14. ’ In the House of Commons carefully worded speeches were made by Mr. H. H. Asquith (Leader of the Liberal Party) and Air. S. Baldwin (Leader of the Conservatives), on the resumption of the debate on the Foreign Office estimates, with an evident desire not to embarrass, the Government on the eve of the inter-Allied conference. Air. Asquith urged: (1) Any assurance in regard to security given to ought to be part of Britain’s general undertaking under the League covenant; (2) similar security should be offered to Germany; and (3) Germany must be admitted to membership of the League. He emphasised the desirability of consulting the Empire and carrying it with Britain in order to achieve • the object of the League. Air. Baldwin expressed sympathy with Mr. Asquith’s argument. The Premier (Air. Ramsay AlacDonald) said that the question as to whether the Dawes report sought to impose on Germany obligations not legally within the interpretation of the Versailles Treaty would he reported on by legal experts to the conference. France had come to regard the Treaty of Versailles as something akin to the Ark of the Covenant, and any suggestion, to put it aside aroused amazing fears. A similar feeling was entertained as regards any suggested modification of the operations of the Reparations Commission. We must, however, be most careful that France did not extend the legal provisions of the treaty. With reference to the probability of American participation, Air. AfacDonald said that practical difficulties alone prevent an official appointment at present. The only thing so far clear was that, if there was going to be an American on the Reparations Commission, France would insist on an extra appointment thereto, by reason ’of the fact tha.t the experts’ report could only he put into operation on the floating of a £40,000,000 loan. His duties were confmxl to safeguarding creditors.

With reference to the alternative arbitration proposal, the Premier said -it must be remembered that the reparation agent would have at his command every conceivable particle of information enabling him to give judgment as to whether there wa,4 a wilful default or not. The language of the White. Paper was left purposely vague. The minimum they were seel'dng was satisfactory security for the creditors. The Spa agreement* would certainly not be reconsidered at the London conference. He was most anxious that those questions should not he quarrelled about prior to the inter-Allied conference, at which the Dawes report alone would be considered and out into operation. The Reparation Commission was political rather than judicial, added Mr. MacDonald. Certainly us regarded the Ruhr the commission had been scrapped, and the subsequent action taken was not by the Reparation Commission, but by the Governments acting, not together, but on their own initiative. Undermining' security by political action was a problem to be faced. The position which lie took up was. that a creditor should have security which would be satisfactory to him. The preparation of a programme of sanctions would only mean giving Germany a. warning of how, in the event of her default, she would be punished. All that could Ire hoped for was that the conference should Ire regarded as a non-recuyrent opportunity, not only for the Allies to re-unite, but to unite on the work of pacifying Europe. Mr W, G. A. Ormsby-Gore (Conservative) asked what arrangements had been reached concerning the representation of the Dominions at the inter-AUied conference. Mr. MacDonald replied that he was still communicating with the Dominion Governments. Mr. Ormsby-Gore asked if a statement would be made before the conference, so that the public of the Dominions would know exactly beforehand what arrangements had been made. Mr. MacDonald said an announcement would be made as soon as the matter had been arranged. Replying to a question. Mr. J. H. Thomas, Secretary for the Colonies, said the Government did not contemplate an Empire Economic Conference being held this year. Mr. Austen Chamberlain (Conservative) criticised what he described as Air. MacDonald’s errors, with a view to. their avoidance in future, and outlined a policy rvhich he recommended for the consideration of the Premier. He said Britain should (1) frankly accept the upholding of the Versailles Treaty a_ s the only possible basis of the public law of Europe; (2) make the maintenance of the entente with France the cardinal object of our policy; (3) make Germany’s observance of her ogligations no less a cardinal feature, and, in return, if Germany accepted loyally and fulfilled the obligation now presented, be prepared to respect Germany’s integrity and welcome her back to the community of nations. They should seek to secure the association of the United States wherever possible. He suggested that another Dawes committee be appointed by the Reparation Commission. This might be a hopeful way of securing the results desired bv the Foreign Office.

The vote was agreed to and the debate terminated. MR. ASQUITH’S PROPOSAL. USE OF EMPIRE’S POWERS. Received July 16, 9.20 a.m LONDON, July 15. The Times draws attention to the suggestion of Mr. Asquith in the House of Commons that Britain, with the apnroval of the Dominions, should guarantee both to France and to Germany the use of all the British Empire’s powers against either State which quarrelled with the Allies without appealing fo the League of Nations. the guarantee being extended to all members of the J eague. The Times thinks it unlikely that the Dominions will at present agree to the proposal.— Times.