HAGUE CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1929, Page 5

HAGUE CONFERENCE

AN AGREEMENT REACHED.

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegr a ph—Copyright).

THE HAGUE, August 27. The ’British delegation announce that an agreement in principle has been reached upon the allocation oi the, reparations.

AGREEMENT OUTLINED.

BRITISH WELL • SATISFIED

THE HAGUE, August 28

It is officially announced that the British delegation state that the basis of the agreement is a s follows:

Tile other creditor Powers, by an adjustment that is to be made with Germany, within the framework of the Young Plan, will provide sums which will enable -Britain to receive a total of ninety-six million marks as an unconditional annuity. Further, the Italian delegation undertakes that the Italian State Railways will purchase one million tons of British coal yearly for a -period of three years at the best Britisli free market prices ruling at the date of the contracts.

A final agreement is being prepared. The conference continues.

SNOWDEN APPLAUDED.

LONDON, August 28

The Hague conference has broken up 'for the night, and the representatives of the five Powers will meet the German delegates in the morning.

Rt. Hon. A. Henderson states that he considers the settlement is a very satisfactory one.

Rt. Hon Mr Snowden was loudly cheered as he left Binnerihof.

VALUE OF SNOWDEN’S WIN. LONDON, August 28

Tt is generally- admitted Mr Snow-

den and Mr Graham have won an epiccontest by a wonderful rush in the straight at the last lap at 1.35 a.m.

Under the proposed settlement, Britain - secures £18,000,090 froun sums to be guaranteed 'by the other creditor Powers.

Britain also receives £9,000,000 'rom the balance of the unconditional

annuities under the Young Plan, and finally £2,100.000 to be made available by rearranging (subject to Germany’s consent), the annual amount of the unconditional annuity, without

increasing the aggregate total, so that the amount for . meeting the services of the Dawes loan will be a fixed sum each year. Thus Britain .receives a total of £4,800,000 or ninety-six million marks.

Mr Jasper’s untiring mediation is largely responsible for the settlement. .. FRENCH FEAR. PARIS, August 29. The Ministry of the Interior has ordered cinemas to refrain from screening news gazettes showing Mr Snowden at The Hague, because they tfear it will provoke a Hostile demonsti-ation, and perhaps riots.

A GREAT VICTORY. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) THE HAGUE, August 28. It is agreed that Mr Snowden has won a great victory. It was he that suggested the decisive meeting and showed the way to averting the impasse arising from the Powers’ refusal to believe that he meant what he said. The debate began in an atmosphere of gloom and despair. Not one person in ten believed a solution was possible.

There was n dramatic touch at midnight,™ when the Germans were summoned by ’phone, indicating an adjustment of the British and 'four Powers

viewpoints. Both M. Briand and Herr Stresemann had previously implored a settlement to save political and financial chaos. Mr Snowden followed, assuring that ..e desired only just, equitable treatment for Britain, which the Young plan omitted. He then outlined a scheme which, subject to Germany’s consent, will give Britain eighty per cent of her claims, which was acceptable to him.

ALL GOING WELL. (Received this dnv at 9. a.m.i THE. HAGUE. August 28. It is reported that; Germany’s refusal to 'pay costs of the Rhineland occupation after Ist September is proving a stumbling 'block, but M. Lauchen*. emerging at luncheon time, whispered that all was going well. BRITISH RELIEF. AT DISPUTE SETTLEMENT. (Received this dnv at noon.) LONDON. August 28. Great relief, coupled with deep gratification, was expressed throughout political circles to-day, as the result of the tide suddenly turning and with such a triumphant finale, there is a disposition in London to speak more freely than for some days past. It appears the big moment, which occurred during the week-end seems to have linen the culmination of a cunning French move to entrap Mr Snowden by exploiting his determination to such an extent that Mr MacDonald would have been forced to make an eleventh hour intervention and fly to The Hague, but Mr MacDonald’s further intimation during the week-end emphatically refusing the merest concession to French demands, caused France, and perhaps also Italy, to realise that Britain to a man, was behind Mr Snowden’s claims.