HAGUE CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 September 1929, Page 5

HAGUE CONFERENCE

MR MACDONALD’S INTENTIONS

(United Press Association—By Electric Teleg. -pb—Copyright),

LONDON, August 31. .The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent’ says Mr MacDonald at Geneva Will announce that United Empire delegations are prepared to sign the optional clause of the new Hague International Court of Arbitration Statutes, almost without reservation. It is soil-evident that imer-Empire disputes will automatically he excluded, notwithstanding what Irish critics say. MR MACDONALD. (Received this da.V at 8 a.m.) PARIS, August 31. Mr MacDonald spent three-quart-ers of an hour with M. Briand. The latter told the press:—We discussed our little affairs with great cordiality. As to relations of the two countries with Mr MacDonald there is nothing to fear. Our relations are betcer. than ever. Nothing could be better. FURTHER details. THE HAGUE, Aug. 30. The financial commission report for submission to the Plenary Conference, agreed that the balance of the unconditional annuities should thus be distributed: ' ■ ' 1 ’ ... ; -i. •• .; ■ - ■ •" •' ' ■ Britain ........... 2,750,0C0 •■a i Japan ............ 830,000 Portugal 120,000 i, France settles from her annuities, Roumanians, Greece's, and CzeCho-Slo-vaxia’s claims. 1 ' ” Britain surrenders £250,000 of her annuities to meet Japan and Portugese claims. All the delegates accept the Young Plan in principle. Agreements regarding deliveries in kind, and the cost of the Rhineland occupation, ■ after September, had l«eii adopted'. ; , GERMAN COMMENT. .1 ■ • ’! (Received this day at 8 a.m.) BERLIN, August 31. Press comments on the Hague results vary with party interests. Especially is this the case with Fascists and Monarchists, who are’ commit-, teds to-,demand a referendum on the Young Plan. More, moderate journals all find some ground for. , disappointment, but there is an under current of gratification that the Rhineland will soon be freed in return for sacrifices, not crushing. Undoubtedly Herr Stresemann’s prestige 'is'regarded as standing much higher. CONFERENCE OONGRATU- :• • ; !,; LATIONS. , ,1 ' (Received this day at 8 a.nl.) ; ■ , THE HAGUE, August 31. ~ Though , shorn of some importance owing to the departure Pf some of the members for the Geneva conference, ended in mutual goodwill and congratulations, Herr Stresemunn, ■whose turn it was to preside, abdicated in favour, of M. Jaspar whose labours, largely contributed to the results. When the formal documents were signed, the. Conference sent birthday. greetings to Queen Wilhelmina in gratitude for the ~nation’s hospitality. ‘ MR SNOWDEN.: . , A GREAT WELCOME HOME. LONDON, Sept. 1. The fact that Mr Snowden’s steamer was an hour late in reaching Harwich only increased the throng and added to the Chancellor’s embarrassment. He looked wan and nervous, but smiled and raised his hat when the .crowd shouted, “Good old Phil. Well done Phil.” There was a wonderful demonstration .at Liverpool Station where a surging- mass man-handled Communists distributing leaflets, declaring that Mr Snowden was a war-maker and the workers will have to pay for his victory. _ • The singing and cheering startled Mr Snowden. ’ ' .

'There were similar scenes at Downing: St. *: ... MR SNOWDEN’S views. (Received this day at noon.) LONDON, Sept. 1. ■’ Mr Snowden, in the course of an interview, stated: “The reparations settlement will give security and help the economic reconstruction of Europe. The 1 delegations were a long time realising that in asserting our claims for "fair treatment, we were fighting for the sanctity of international agreements and restoration of political and economic sovereignty of Germany. One of the Conference’s great achievements was the withdrawal from the Rhineland, the . greatest political achievement since Locarno. Britain s influence in international affairs was reestablished, and our relations with other countries are the most cordial since' war-time.” MR MACDONALD AT GENEVA. GENEVA, Sept. I'. Mr MacDonald has ’ arrived, and is interviewing Dominion delegates. PAYMENTS FOR BRITAIN. LONDON, Sept. 1. The “News of the World” states that as a result of 1 : The Hague Agreement,

Britain will receive 22} millions sterling annually in-addition" to 17} million, war debts from the Allies. This total exceeds the payments to America by four millions, which will be devoted to meeting war claims by the Dominions, and also liquidating two hundred millions paid to America before the Reparations’.

MR HENDERSON’S VIEWS

GENEVA, August 31

Mr Henderson interviewed was of the 'opinion that the work achieved at The Hague would greatly assist the Assembly deliberations. He added thqt for the first time since August. 191 t, can it die said in the truest sense of the word that the war had ■Aido'l. The Government intended to make another effort in the direction of woi’ld disarmament bogy lining with an early attempt to secure the adoption of the principle of ' compulsory aridtration. Mr Henderson, alluding to the MacDonald-Dawes conversations, said whether they reached results which would enable the Premier to make a bold clear statement before the Assembly, remains to be seen, but if the negotiations were a success and I believe they will be, a five Power conference could take place then, if the decisions of such conference weie feasible they could be passed on to the League.