ALLIED CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1924, Page 2

ALLIED CONFERENCE.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. MR AIacDONALD’S VERSION. LONDON, July 14. In tlu* House of Commons, Air Barnsay MacDonald said that the question of whether the Dawes Report .sought to impose on Germany obligations not legally within the interpretation of the Versailles Treaty will lie reported oil by legal experts to the Allied Conference. France bad come to regard tin* Treaty of Versailles as something akin to the Ark of the Covenant. Any suggestion to put it aside aroused amazing fears. A similar feeling was entertained there as regards any suggested modification of the operations of tin* Reparations Commission. “We must, however, lie more careful,” he said, "that France does not extend the provisions of the Treaty.” In reference to the probability of American participation in the Allied Conference. Air MacDonald said that practical difficulties alone would prevent an official American appointment at present, ’flu* only thing so far clear was that if there was going to lie an American on the Reparation Commission, France would insist upon an extra appointment thereto, by reason of the fact that the Experts’ Report could only he put into operation on the floating of a forty million German loan, his duties being confined to safeguarding the creditors. \\ ith reference to the alternative arbitration proposal, it must lie remembered that a ropai; tion agent lias at bis command every conceivable article of information enabling him to give judgment whether there was a wilful default or not. The laguage of the' AVliite Paper was left purposely vague. The minimum which they were seeking was satisfactory security lor the creditors. Ibe Spa agreement certainly would not be reconsidered at the Loudon Conference, lie was most anxious that these questions should not be quarrelled about, preliminary to the Inter-Allied Conference whereat the Dawes Report alone would be cinsidered. and put into operation. The Reparation Commission was a political, rather than a judicial one. Certainly as regarded the Ruhr that Commission had been scrapped. and the subsequent action had been taken, not by the Reparation Commission, but by the Governments acting, not together, but on their own initiative. The undermining of security by political action was a problem to be faced. The position that he took up was that the creditor should have a security which would lie satisfactory to him. The preparation of a programme of sanctions would only mean giving Germany a warning how, in the event of her default, she would be finished. All that could he hoped was that the Allied Conference would lie regarded as a no-roenrronl opportunity, not only for the Allies to re-unite, hut to unite in the work of pacifying Europe. Carefully worded speeches were made by Air Asquith and Air Baldwin (Leaders of the Liberal and Conservative Parties, on the resumption of the t'.oreign Office Estimates Rebate, with the evident desire not to embarrass the Government on the eve of the Inter-Allied Conference.

Mr Asquith urged that any assurance in regard to her security that was given to France ought to Ik* part of Britain's general undertaking under the League of Nations Covenant. Secondly, similar security should lie offered to Germany. Thirdly. Germany must be

admitted to membership of the L'agim of Nations. He emphasised the desirability of consulting the Empire and of carrying it with Britain, in order to achieve the object of the League. Air Baldwin expressed sympathy with Air Asquith's argument. All! CIIAAIBKRLAIN'S ADVICE. LONDON. July V>.

lu the House of commons. Mr Austen Chamlierlain critiesed what he described as Air AlacDonatd’s errors with a view tn their avoidance in future. He outlined a policy which be would recommend for the consideration of the Premier. He said the Government should frankly accept tile upholding of the Versailles Treaty as the only possible basis for public law in Europe. Secondly, the Premier should make the maintenance of the Entente with France, a cardinal object of his policy.

Thirdly, they .should make Germany’s observance of her obligations a no less cardinal feature, anil, in return, if Germany accepted and loyally lulfillcd the obligations now presented, they should be prepared to respect Germany’s integrity. and to welcome her back to the comity of nations. They should seek to secure the association ol the l niteil States whenever possible. He suggested that another Dawes Committee, to lie

appointed by the Reparation Commission might be a hopeful way ol securing the results desired. The Foreign Office votes were egreed to. and the debate terminated.