FINANCIAL AGREEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 3 September 1929, Page 3

FINANCIAL AGREEMENT

SATISFACTION OVER RECONCILIATION. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 30. ' After a . three hours session at The Hague last night, Germany accepted the hnancial agreement reached by'the creditor Powers. The final agreement lias been drafted for submission to the Financial Commission this morning and a final plenary meeting of The Hague ■ Conference has been fixed for to-morrow, when notes will be exchanged.

The final agreement has reached some hours after the adoption of the rono'-t of the Political Commission. - The difficulties regarding the demilitarised zone will bo settled by the Locarno Arbitration Committee, the right of appeal to the League of Nations under Article 4 of the Locarno Treaty remaining intact. - A scheme for a special control commission will: bo proposed. England arid Be grim will retain their,members on the'*' {Rhineland,;•..• <Mmmissi- ; 'n~. ;; until evacuation ...bas been completed... r: . :jn bis observations on the report,the British delegate, .Mr Arthur Henderson, chairman of the Political Commission; emphasised the fact that the occupying Powers were acting together. The co-operation which had been maintained- throughout i occupation would continue to the end. In two weeks'-troops' would, be*onvfthe move and the' arrangements made for evacuation would ! eliminate .unnecessary delay or friction. The evacuation would be completed within a fair and reasonable time. A difficult prdblem to overcome was that relating to the observance of Articles 42 and 43 of the Treaty of Versailles, which prohibit Germany from constructing fortifications or maintaining military forces on the left bank of the Rhine or within fifty kilometres of the right bank. Mr Henderson believed the solution found—-that. °f relying on the machinery of settlement under the Lo- • arno treaties for the financial and practical settlement of difficulties—' * would cause general satisfaction. It was - further proof of the genuine reconciliation of Germany and France.

AGREEMENT ON EXPENSES. The chief difficulty overcome at the Financial Commission last night related to the costs of the occupying Powers after the Young Plan is in operation and before the evacuation is ‘eorivoletp. M j,Ultimately tv/fY I . .flgt ee " ment was reached, .providing that Germany. should pay. the : sum of 33,000,000. marks - into a pool : to. coved these, costs.' Any expenses above that point are to be borne by the occupying Powers on; an agreed percentage basis. Germany is to meet the expenses of the civil occupation authorities. : All unsettled German compensation claims arising -out of occupation and evacuations are to be waived.-j - .. . -c, , • w-;, < The d(((legates at Tlie Hague of Britain, France, Germany and Belgn'im to-day signed a protocol embodying the agreements regarding the evacuation of the Rhineland. . A golden fountain peri was used, which Mr Henderson, British Foreign Secretary, and Chairman of the Political Committee, afterwards presented is a souvenir to M. Henri Jaspar, the Belgian Prime Minister, nvho has been President of. the Conference. M. Jaspar made a speech congratulating all concerned, and the proceedings concluded with handshakes •all round. Mr HENDERSON’S VIEWS. . Mr Heriderson later left for Geneva to attend the League of Nations meeting. Speaking to Press representatives before his departure, Mr Menderson said:— .» '‘Some irresponsible people have been suggesting in the past few weeks that there is likely to be in the future a-- want of cordiality or of confidence between the present Governments of Great Britain and France, because, at our conference at The Hague, there has been some frank speaking. They pretend to think that they can detect a coldness, or even a note of hostility, in the relations of the British and 'French delegates. Any such sugges--ion is absurd. TRIBUTES TO M. RRTAND. “If Europe survives the crisis which the World War has left behind it, it will be in a great measure because of the courage .and determination which M. Briand, the French Prime Minister, has shown in working for a policy that will wipe out the enmities arid misuriderstandings of the past. I am certain he will leave a name in nistory that will be Honoured, not in France alone, but by all the peoples of the world who share in the enduring, peace which he will have helped to build. SPIRIT OF CO-OPERATION. “For my part, I believe that what we have done at The Hague in securing the evacuation of the Rhineland by common agreement and other political work which we have had to do, are only the -beginnings of our collaboration. I am hoping that in Geneva we may continue to work in the same good spirit, and may, through its operation, ensure the _ success of the policies to which we attach so great importance. 1 '

Mr Ramsay MacDonald has sent the following telegram of congratulation, to Mr Henderson on -the -Rhineland evacuation agreement: “A fine piece) of work of straightening up settling up, the result of which will speedily be 6een in the pacification of Europe.” v V The War Office announces that orders have been issued for the withdrawal of the British troops from the Rhine, to commence on Sept. 14th. next. The evacuation will be spread ovpr a period of approximately three ; months, and; the movement of personnel will be carried out by the existing line of ’communication, via Ostend to Dover.’j;