BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1925, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[Reuter Telegrams.] FRENCH DEBT TO BRITAIN. SKTTLM ENT NEGOTIATIONS. LONDON, November 17. Mr Churchill (Chancellor of the Exchequer) said in the House of Commons that he had received a letter from M. Caillaux intimating acceptance of the principle arrangement for the discharge of the French debt to Britain in annuities of twelve and a half millions, extending over sixty-two years, subject to the settlement of outstanding important points. The discussion, lie said, would he resumed shortlv.

The Italian Government, he added, had been invited to send representatives to Britain to negotiate for the funding of their war debt. The discussion would start at a very early date.

It was announced that a settlement had been reached with Rottmania, and it was hoped that an agreement will be reached on the war debts of Portugal, Greece and Jugo-Slovia during the next lew months. INVITATION TO GERMANY. (Received this day tit 8 a.m.> PARIS. Nov. 17.

On the Hon Mr Chamberlain’s .suggestion Von Hoseh, the German Ambassador at Paris has been invited to , a seat at, the Ambassadors’ conference. FRENCH FINANCE. PARIS, November 17. The Socialist Party’s decision not to contest the Government’s financial proposals is important, in view of the opening of the Chamber to-day, when tr.ere will he a momentuous financial debate, which is expected to last at least a month, and therein heruclean elforts will he required to obtain even a narrow majority for the Government’s proposals in Ixith Houses. The Government’s difficulties are in- f creased by the fact that the proposal must he voted by the Bth of December, when two and a half milliards of Treasury bonds fall due for repayment. Having no funds to redeem these bonds and in order to avoid resorting to current inflation, the Government proposes to suspend payment, and to give the holders other bonds in exchange. NEW TARIFF RESTRICTIONS. LONDON. November 17. Sir Cunlifi'e Lister, in the House of Commons, said that the duties contemplated under the new Safeguarding of Industries proposals would be applied by the Government equally to the imports from all foreign nations, and therefore, this policy strictly conformed with the most-favoured nation clauses of the Anglo-Gorman commercial treaty. The Germans had raised the question of these duties. The British Government had replied that the treaty reserved the right to take appropriate steps to preserve their own industries.