REPARATION CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1929, Page 5

REPARATION CONFERENCE

PESSIMISM PREVAILS

'United Press Association —By Electro Telegraph—Copvr ebtb

LONDON, April 24

The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspond••nt says opinion in British circles has changed to pessimism, following reports from the Delegation. It is expected that any breakdown will he euphemistically described as a mere postponement till the late summer or autumn.

PARIS, April 24. “Humanly speaking, the Reparations Conference is "dead, yet miracles may happen. Only an act of God can now save the conference,” said one observer. The idea appears to lie that the experts are now at liberty, semiofficially, to re-examine every point already raised. It is faintly Imped that an agreement may bo reached in a process where hitherto there lias been none. If Germany and the creditor powers at the end of the drafting of the report find the position unaltered, there will he no alternative but of informing the Governments that no result was attainable.

The Ere 11 eli are of the opinion that the chances are now of the smallest. They are concerned not only over the di Here nee in the figures hut with Herr Schaoht’s reluctance to olfect immediate mobilisation of that part of the debt over and above what tlm Allies require to 1 pay the I uited States. Optimists suggest as a basis of an agreement low annuities at first rising steel'llv later.. the idea being that iV the Allies accept payments only slightly above the £82,5(10.000 offered, Herr Sclmcht’s prospect of assistance from an international hank may induce him to agree to higher fees thereafter. The stumbling block, however, remains. While Herr Srhacht is eager to continue discussions, there is not the slightest indication of his willingness to shift his ground. It is left to the Chairman to summon the next plenary session.

DISARMAMENT COMM ITTEE

(Received this dav at 10.30. a.m.) GENEVA, April 26.

The Disarmament Committee adopted a French 'amendment elaborating the original convention and enabling signatories to indicate separately the number of aeroplanes, dirigibles and aircraft carriers at honie or overseas, also the number of aeroplanes organised at military bases -at home or abroad. The British and .Japanese delegations to the disarmament commission received instructions to ensure that a special effort would ho made at the present session to agree to a future Naval Disarmament Conference, probably at Washington m 1930.