A REPARATIONS WHO’S WHO

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1929, Page 8

A REPARATIONS WHO’S WHO

THE EXPERT FIVE

A CONTRAST IN TYPES

The Exports’ Sub-Commiftec of live “Tiie Five” as they are called, who are grappling witli Hie problem of Germany’s power of transferring money to creditors without upsetting trade balances, have fairly captured the imag iuation of Paris (writes the Paris correspondent ol the’ .London “ Morning "ii-,The complexity of the sullied, the remoteness from daily life of its very alphabet, sink before the importance of the stakes, and the experts. perhaps even by reason ol their remoteness from common morals, become enveloped in a cloak ol grandeur.

There lias never before been a conference held in the public eye where live men round a- table and a- sixth in Ihe background controlled so inm-li of the world’s capital. In so far as finance'is power ,the five are inconlest able; when coupled with the sixth power incarnate. The most experienced onlookers regard them with awe as they walk along the passage.

THE WHITISH PAIR, it may be unreasoning national pride out 1 have the feeling .that the one who looms largest, among the Five is our own Sir Josiah Stamp. His leonine head, with something of the lion’s complacent sense of kingdom is domnating, but never domineering. He is young, but 4S for his reputation ; yet lie was the man who in the .judgment of the competent really fashioned the Dawes Plan hard on five vears ago. He has that in his conn tenanee that men call master —competence. At Sir Josiah Stamp’s elbow is a ’ure tiic outlines of which are more difficult to seize, that of Ford Rovelstoke. The chiselled features ol the mad of tlio house of Haring, once nown as tlio most-sought-aI lor young man in London, present an old friend to the higher world'in Paris. Lord Hevelstoke, Commander of HiLegion of Honour, has. long bad his own Hat in Paris. When you rin here is is said four (footmen open the door, but so discreet are they that thev seem but a vision. Discretion and in nate courtesy arc to the French Lord {ovelstokc’s note. His polish of man nor is not surpassed by any even ol them. He lias Napoleon’s gift dor dis covering capacity and relying on it Perhaps if he had that on occasion ok neglecting it he might be as great a figgurc in modern finance as tiie Em icror was in Statecraft. LION OF ST. MARK. |if Sir Josiah Stamp is the lion ol ■’.nglaiid, Signor Pirelli reminds' you o the king of beasts, according to St. Mark. Of smaller build, but a shade fiercer, the Italian’s square, strong head lias the pride of his race writ upon it. Isy the" side of these two massive e.’ids that of M'. Moreau, Governor ol lie Lank of France, Suggests a dormouse. lie is sweet, he is gentle, lie is smiling, lie is a little hurried, and lie looks very much as if lie wpulil like to sit with friends at a- tea table and have a snug chat. His whole person is snug. M. '.Moreau was Joseph Caillaux s appointment, and however much some people dislike At. Caillaux’s politics ankers will tell yon that bis brain rom tlio standpoint of financial tech ;if,iiu is first-class. This knowledge vill make you look again at Ai. .Moreau ; then you will find a deep glint in his eyes that speaks (if unsuspected force and backbone strange to dormice. A “ LUSTY HEGGAIt.” These’are eminent figures among the /jve. Hut perhaps the man most ■urioiis to note among them is Dr lljalmar Scliaclit, head id the Iteichsliank. Tall and stiff as a Pomeranian grenadier is Dr Scliaclit. He has an imposing forohciiu, a fleshy nose, and no chin. The absence of chin when lie i-oks harassed gives him a signally disagreeable expression; then siuldouli lie remembers himself, and the snii.e that suffuses his lace is that ol a sell'onscious baby.

Compact of vanity and ability, Dr Sehaelit’s strength is a lucid mind tint never allows itself to be flustered h\ passing political considerations. His weakness is. ambition, and bo bankets for the Chancellorship of the German Reich. Dr. Scliaclit attracts most attention of tlio Five. He has come non to Paris’ as a beggar, but a beggar of the lusty sort. If he goes away '■midy-hatided look out lor hard words and perhaps harder tones. And yet it is another of tlio Five who Pvmiis larger still. Rut this is the sixth—All*. J. Piorpont Alorgan, on whose word and that of his associates so mucii will depend at the end ol the course the experts are running. Air Morgan, larger and kinder looking than liis more famous lather, is the one American whom no American journalist will tackle. Not because be is unpleasant ; because be is too big. He represents something supremely above. lie is the finance of the United Stall's. An enterprising New "York correspondent in Paris once called on All- Morgan with the offer to place the American Press at his disposal. “ Thank you.” said Air .Morgan genially, “ when 1 .need it I will send tor you. Good-bye.” That moment never came.