THE Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West coast Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 1st, 1924. ALLIES IN CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 August 1924, Page 2

THE Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West coast Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST Ist, 1924. ALLIES IN CONFERENCE.

As was anticipated, the main difficulties eucountered at the Inter-Al-lied Conlereiicc, at present being held in Ijoiuloh, have heen "ith regard to Uniting adequate guarantees for the £40,01)0,000 loan to Germany, the evacuation of the Ruhr, the control of the Gentian railways, and the sanctions to he. enforced in the event ol default hv Germany in meeting her reparations obligations. I util an agreement has been reached on all loose matters, the fate of the Dawes plan hangs in the balance. It must oe admitted that, during the past -week Hide or no progress was made towards agreement o.t any ot these points. But that was only to he oxperteu. The issues being dealt with by the Conference are of such magnitude and of Midi vital impoitanco to the peace of the world that it is quite impossible that a decision should be arrived at quickly. Indeed, comments a Wellington writer, if it were possible, a speedy decision would be. undesirable, because it would ho only too likely to prove to Ik* a case o! deciding in haste and repenting at leisure. In respect of the Gorman railways a certain amount of progress bas lieen made, inasmuch us the committee dealing with this subject, consisting of Sir William Macworth. M. Levervo, and two German nominees, has completed tho task of drafting the law for turning the German State railways into a company under Allied control, as laid down in the Dawes report. This company, it is stated, will bo ihe biggest in tho world, and its staff will number no fewer than 700.000 men. Under the circumstances, it is not to bfl wonder-

ed at that the French are insistent that, in order to ensure the safety of the troops in oeeupatiou of that district, the ' (icrnia.ii railwnymoii in the Ruhr shall lie diluted with 5009 French and Belgian railwayman. The wonder rather is. in fact, that they do not demand that, until the evacuation is completed, tla> Ruhr railways shall he entirely run by a Fra neo-Belgian stall’. As to the date of the economic evacuation of the Ruhr, there is still a considerable difference of nj inion. Britain suggests September. but France holds that that is ton soon; and it seems probable that the Reparations Commission will lie asked to suggest a compromise. The most serious hitch that lias arisen is due to the fact that the hankers more especially the Americans, are dissatisfied with the guarantees offered ami are # therefore disinclined to take up the £10,000.000 loan. Their attitude in regard to the loan has been the cause of the keenest' disappointment to the Conlefenee delegates. In French circles the stand taken by the hankers is attributed to political rather than to financial reasons; and the French newspapers declare that the hankers, influenced by politicians who are hostile to tlie Reparations Commission, aim at preventing Frame from 10taining freedom of action in the event of (lerman default. “Serious, almost tragic," is how the “Matin" describes the difficulty. If, it states, M. Herrint refuses the hankers the guarantees they W|iiire, the Dawes plan will fall to the ground. But. if, on the other halm, lie agrees, it will mean eventually the revision of the Treaty of Versailles.