THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1927, Page 3

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

(Australian Press Association & Sun

NEWSPAPER ( OMMENTS. (Received this dav at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, May ->. The newspapers, which were taken by complete surprise by the note to America, unanimously approve of the contents.

The “Times” says: “The last tiling desired was a controversy with the I‘nited States about the debt, whiel we are steadily discharging. hot Mi Mellon’s misstatements obtained a wide currency and cannot be allowed to pass unchallenged. It is particularly regrettable to say that the Secretary to the United States Treasury should have appeared to sacrifice to the demands of domestic politics, the scrupulous accuracy he mil'llt so easily have observed.” The “ Daily Chronicle ” says: “ Ihe note does its utmost to save .Mellon’s place and facilitate his tonkins amends honourable if he desires. The “Finawial Times” declares: “ The note should clear the air and prevent a recurrence of statements that create and foster harmful misunderstandings.” The “ Morn ino Post” says: “The' country will heartily approve of the Govoriiincnt’s action in stating the facts to the world. The British people cannot hut feel it is hard they should he openly accused by a member of the United States (lovernment, of profiting by the settlement which lowers their whole standard of livin';, whether Influenced by domestic exigencies or not. Mr Mellon published to the world orronous statements which we trust he will see lit to withdraw.” 'The “ Daily Telegraph ” regrets the necessity for the note but says: “ '£lio necessity was not -the British Govornment’s making. It has been thrust upon 'them by Mr Mellon’s extremely serious inaccuracies. It is difficult to compute the prejudice done ihereby to Great Britain in Europe.”

AMERICAN COMMENT TO NOTE. (Received this dav at. 0.30 a. in.) WASHINGTON, .May o. Mr Mellon in his statement discusses the situation in the fullest detail. He says: “The Treasury Department, discussing payments received from Germany includes all payments. The British Government confines itself to payments on account of reparations and Belgian war debt. Under such circumstances then' is not a disagreement in fact, but a failure to join in the issue. We are now urged to cancel debts because it is alleged they were incurred in a common cause. Neither abroad, or in this country, has it been suggested that if this is done We are to be reimbursed for the dollars actually expanded in France and Britain, so that goods and services sold us might constitute their contribution to the common cause.” NEW YORK, May 5.

The New York “Times” Washington correspondent states: “In some quarters the 1 relief is expressed that in as much as the publication of the British Note coincided with the opening of the International Economic Conference at Geneva, the controversy had been reopened at that time lx:cau.se of its possible effect opon negotiations. Another suggestion was that Britain’s internal politics might have had something to do with the move and that the war debts problem had been re-opened in tile hope of diverting attention from other strictly domestic controversies.”