HAGUE CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1929, Page 5

HAGUE CONFERENCE

SNOWDEN’S SUCCESS

-CHANCELLOR AT THE IMICRO-

PHONE,

,‘United Press Association—By Electric 'ieleg.«ph—Copyright).

LONDON, Sept. 2

"This is London calling the British Empire” was the announcer’s intimation when Air .Snowden took the microphone at 9.5 to-night to describe The Hague Conference. His story was largely a recapitulation, but he disclosed that on tlie final night, at 8.45, lie had put down under six heads Britain’s minimum demands. M. Jaspar, who was acting as intermediary, returned in half an hour with an advance of a hundred thousand sterling. "I said, at the same rate •of progress, you will. reach our. demands by .midnight. M. .Jnspar returned in a quarter of an hour with another fifty thousand. I said ‘You are doing first rate. Be not wean' in weljUdoing.’ He said: ‘I cannot do more. You have emptied our pockets.’ In a kindly way I said, ‘Go through your pockets again, and be sure you find enough to meet what is between us.’ M. Jaspar replied: ‘You are too hard. You are what wo in our country would call a type.’ Someone had a brain wave, and we got what We wanted at midnight, and the Conference was saved.”

Im closing, Mr Snowden said: "I think it will make a profound impression on our relations in Europe. There is no reversion to the spineless policy of recent years. We have reasserted Britain’s rights in international agreements. We have won the respect of the other Power's. It will liberate the countries of Europe to pursue economic reconstruction. Above all, it has brought a new spirit into international policy, and will help to bring peace, which the people so passionately desire.”