The Guardian And livening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1929.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And livening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1929.

THE BRITISH ATTITUDE. The British ease in tne parley at The Hague respecting the reparations was stated with unexpected lorce and decision by Mr l'Ailip Snowden, the Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer. The speech made by the new Minister will go down into history. The Minister by Jus bold declaration put Labour in a new light; also he gave the international delegates something very fresh to efiscuss. It would appear that the Young Plan of the revision of reparations is doomed to failure. Britain is not going to make any more sacrifices which are as unequal as her financial sacrifices in respect to the war have been all along. Actually, Mr Snowden did not say anything new in regard to what Great Britain had done or is prepared to do, but what he said he repeated with a force and emphasis, which left no doubt as to the direct-, ness of his speech or his sincerity of action, if his viewpoint were accepted. Britain is prepared to make now as before, sacrifices which will help to solve the financial problem of Europe, but equal sacrifices must be made by the other countries, and notably America whence comes Mr Young, the author of the plan Mr Snowden will not accept, it is interesting to note that the Balkan States are supporting Great Britain, while Italy and France are the notable opponents. The newspapers of the former country are saying things of Great Britain which are as untrue as they are unfair, seeing all that Britain has done for Italy. It is rather remarkable that the great sacrifices (as also the achievements) of Great Britain in the war are not more readily appreciated in both France and Italy. It is clear beyond any doubt that the cleaning up of the financial mess is costing Britain more than she can receive from her late Allies in the war, yet those debts were incurred by Britain in greater part for the protection and salvation of the allied territories. Neither do those nations appreciate the great contribution of Great Britain towards the winning of the war by direct sacrifice. There is lacking more than mere recognition of the facts of the case, there is the absence of any expression of gratitude for what was done in every branch of service by Great Britain towards thd winning of the war.. And > across the Atlantic, America still goes on receiving British gold for services and sacrifices. on the part of Britain which were in essence for the benefit of the wholb world. The opposite result to the titanic conflict, and where would have been all those nations to-day ? Had tile Allies to sue for peace as Germany did, beside the enormous loss by the Allies in conducting the war ,there would hare been the enormous levy Germany would have made in thousands of millions to requite her financial cpsts. The countries would probably never have paid, they would have been ruined by the magnitude of the indemnity claimed. All that was escaped and Britain was the main contributing factor to the final victory—while always giving comfort and confidence to the Allies by reason of her presence and powers in the great conflict. Even if the nations and their representatives are not cognisant of all this, Mr Snowden is, and hence we have his confident speech and declaration as to Great Britain being at the end of her sacrifices. The delegates are now taking stock of the position, but they are doing it in an atmosphere which has been made perfectly clear for all. Some remark has been made about tne bluntness of Mr Snowden’s remarks, but it appears necessary to Ire plain-spoken so that there will be an end to vascillating views as to -what might be, rather than to what is the case. Britain’s attitude in point of fact has been made perfectly clear.