HAGUE CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1929, Page 5

HAGUE CONFERENCE

MR SNOWDEN REJECTS COM-

PROMISE

(United Press Association—Ey Electric

Telegraph—Copyright).

THE HAGUE, Aug. 16,

, The Belgian delegate, Jaspar, denies having received any written reply from Mr Philip Snowden, on the subject of the latest proposa s. British circles state that, while it is quite true that M. Jaspar had, not received any'written reply, it was made clear that Mr Snowden did not regard the proposals as satisfactory, and a written reply, in that sense would be sent to IVJ. Jaspar to-morrow. Other correspondents state that the situation was critical until M. Jaspar visited Mr Snowden.

It is now clear, despite the earlier reports, that Mr Snowden has not definitely rejected the new proposals.

DETAILS OF NEW OFFER

THE HAGUE, Aug. 17. It is learned that the new proposals of four Powers are:—

First: Britian is to receive £1,921, 000 more annually than Young Plan provides. Secondly: That the site of the International Settlement BanK’ shouid be London. . ■' l ’

Thirdly: That’the clause in the Young Plan - allowing'the recipient Allied Powers to re-export the deliveries-in-kind. which they get from - Germany, shall be abolished. Fourthly: •> That a concession shall be made to Britain regarding the countries now receiving German coal deliveries.

THE HAGUE, August 17.

To-day’s proceedings at the ations Conference were largely of an argumentative nature. Yesterday’s proposals on behalf of the four Powers had been reduced to writing.'

■ Mr Snowden to-day dispatched his written reply to these, the gist oi which was that, the proposals were entirely inadequate and unsatisfactory, and that a more serious effort must ue made to meet the British requirements if the. Conference were going to proceed. -•

• Mr Snowden’s reply pointed oiit that the British Government was merely demanding rights to" which it already was entitled under the existing agreements. Britain’s original share, • under the Spa percentages, said Mr Snowden, must Ire 'restored, or. its Equivalent given. Also she must recover something like her full percentage of unconditional annuities. .

Mr Snowden, in his letter, again refutes the contention that the Young Pla nmust be taken as a whole, and he :rerainds the other Powers that the experts’ . recommendations were never binding on Britain. Mr Snowden argues, the subject sta-. tmtically at some length, in order to prove the 'sacrifice*, Jhat., Britain... is ..E&ing asked to make. j-. Dealing with the apportionment of the unconditional annuities, Mr. Sno-w-den says: “It is impossible to reconcile France’s increased allotment with f, he promise which M. Poincare made to Mr Churchill in 1928, namely., that France would never seek to obtain priority or further advantages. Britain, under the Dawes Scheme, would receive a surplus, the first in a decade, amounting to three millions sterling,'but the new p ! an would deprive Britain of this mainly for Italy’s benefit, though Italy had already obtained considerable sum.? when Brittain settled Italy’s war debt on a scale of unprecedented liberality. It is now proposed that Italy’s share of the German annuities shall be increased at Britain’s expense.”

Mr Snowden, in conclusion, describes tlie proposals relating to the deliveries jn kind as vague and indefinite. Britain, he says, is not prepared to accept any arrangement imposing upon her .fresh sacrifices. Similiarly he declares th’at the proposals dealing with surpluses of unconditional annuities are inac vptable, and cannot even he regarded hs a serious effort to meet Britain’s r The British Government \must press for a just and equitable settlement.

( BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) 'LONDON, August 18. British circl'es comment on the re proach directe d- at Britain, that sh< is sacrificing tho world peace for a tev paltry millions.\ : ,i; ' That is, it is not a question of mon ey alone. position is tlia after all the sacrifices she lias alread, made, the time has come to call i halt. If she made these concession she would simply be used to manipul ate further concessions, if the occasio .arose. Britain is not placing obstacle jin the way of European pacification. I ■would be truer to say the people wli •liege this are not prepared to do anj thing for pacification, unless Britai pays them therefore. The Sunday newspapers strongly ur animously support Mr Snowden. The French press however continue Ibitter.

BRITISH VIEWPOINT.

(OFFER NOT SATISFACTORY

([Received this div at ( L2f». a.m.) LONDON, August 17. An authoritative commentary issued •from the 'British delegation contends that the presentation of the four Powers written proposals justifies the strong line Mr Snowden has taken •throughout the week. It was his note to M. Jaspar, which was tailed m .Home quarters an ultimatum, uhici

has speeded up the by producing yesterday’s memorandum, but the. British delegation cannot, but regard the terms of such a memorandum as unsatisfactory. Its purport appears to bo that, Britain is already deriving considerable advantages from the Young Plan, but that four Powers out of the generosity ol their own hearts are prepared to make further concessions. Instead ol giving Britain eighty per cent of her full demands she is to get only twenty, and this involves no sacrifices on the part of the four Powers, bill will have to be at the expense of the smaller Powers, and Britain is not prepared *to accept concessions at their expense.

SUGGESTED ENQUIRY. (Received this day at S a.in.) LONDON, Aug. 18

At seven o’clock last evening, M. Jasper visited Mr Snowden and asked him to agree to an appointment of experts to estimate the value of the various allocations of the suggestion in yesterday’s memorandum. Mr Snowden assented and a Committee of Treasury experts of Britnin, France, Italy, Belgium and Japan is accordingly being formed immediately, and is expected to report by 20th. August.