HAGUE CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1929, Page 5

HAGUE CONFERENCE

SNOWDEN’S POLICY. CONTINENTAL OPPOSITION. (United Press Association—By Electric " Telegraph—Copyright). ‘ LONDON, August 12. The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent here reveals that the lit. Hori. Philip SnowdenVpolicy was unanimously approved of % the British Cabinet after careful consideration. If therefore, Rt. Hon. Ranisay • MacDonald went to The Hague, os it was rumouifqd that he would do, it would be for the purpose of backing up the Chancellor. The whole country, says the correspondent, has shown that it thoroughly endorses his stand. J " •’ .* . i . / There is a Continental cry that the peaco of ‘Europe would be endangered ill event of a reparations disagreement, which says the correspondent, is regarded as a mclo-dramatic exagx '"geration. The correspondent has pointed out absurdity of the suggestion, because, in the event of the j- failure of the conference, the Dawes Plan' of Reparation would still con- - tiiiue in operation. •• PARISIAN PRESS. ' ' * ' 'PARIS, August 12. •Mr Philip Snowden’s words, “ridiculous and grotesque,’’ have caused a record outburst of vituperation. Some of the newspapers excuse him on the ground of the .precarious state of his health. ' Other writers refer to his Jack of breeding. The Paris “La Liberte” ironically congratulates Mr "Snowden upon his .‘ diplomatic manners and upon inventing a new. vocabulary for Use of the Chancelleries. ' ,

The des Dqbats” says that the ' French delegation should 1 understand with, speakers like Mi Snowden, tact and consideration are out of the question. MR MACDONALD’S MESSAGE. . • *' (Received this day at 8 a.m.) ' ' LONDON, August 13. The Hague Financial Commission adjourned till Wednesday. ”' ‘! V ‘ THE HAGUE, August 12. The text' of Mr MacDonald’s telegram to Mr Snowden was: “ Commission will make the most serious misi take and may'wreck the prospects of a settlement unless they understand the financial experts report requires readjustment to meet Britain’s just claims. Irrespective “off party sections the country supports the case you’ve made. The; whole press and all parties in common stand by you. Hope the commission will See 'thevelementary consideration'of fair piby’between tlie countries \ compel reconsideration of some of the experts recommendations. Our actions hitherto in promoting settlement of Europe on the basis of goodwill proves the wish that the. conference will succeed on both political and . financial sides, but we’ve reached the limit of inevitable burden bearing.”

■ STRAINED RELATIONS. APOLOGY FROM MR SNOWDEN FRANCE’S, HONOUR SATISFIED. (Received this day at 1.30 p.m.) • ' LONDON, Aug. 12: ' The “Daily Chronicle’s” Hague correspondent states an Entente Cordiale has never before been so severely strained as in the violent passage of arms between Mr P. Snowden and M. Cheron. When the Conference adjourned the tempers Were .at fever. heat. A meeting of the French, Italian, Belgian and Japanese delegates was held and seconds in the person of Jasper and Hyarris were despatched to Mr Snowden’s hotel to demand an apology. The British Chancellor was at, first inclined to stand by his biting words, but eventually a formula was found whereby France’s honour was satisfied. As a result of the adjournment till

Wednesday the tension relaxed ’ all I round, though there is no very "obvious change to justify better feeling. Evidence that tempers' are still somewhat lrayed, however, was shown by the snarp exchange to-day between M. Briand and Herr Stresseman. , The former referred to the suffering of the ' French troops on tne Rhine last winter to. which Herr Stresseman replied: “You don’t want your poor troops to suffer tlie . rigours of another German winter. ' You had better withdraw them.” ;

Mr A. Henderson threw oil on troubled waters by remarking he was afraid that the Commission was not making much progress.