CONFERENCE ENDS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1932, Page 5

CONFERENCE ENDS

DANUBIAN TARIFF.

VIEWS STILL TO BE EXCHANGED

(British Official• Wireless.)

RUGBY, April 8,

The final meeting of the Four Power Conference was held at the Foreign Office and a communique was issued later. It stated that the Governments represented had agreed that the fiuan'cil " and economic situation in the Daiiiubian countries requires prompt and. concerted action on. the part both of the Dannbian States and other countries, if it is to be put on a sound basis; and that such action is in the interests of, and may be the first step towards, an economic restoration in Europe. As a result of the deliberations of the conference, a number of economic points emerged (calling far. .further*.....examination and information. As next week s resumed meeting of the Disarmament Conference, and the meeting of the League of Nations’ Council at Geneva would prevent -an immediate continuance of tho present discussions, each of tho four Governments agreed to address to the other three us soon as possible, a considered statement of its views on the points reserved, and on the best mode of further advance.

The “Daily Express” says that the conference crashed ovdr the refusal of Germany ' and Italy to sacrifice trading rights without- compensation. In. the background was German suspicion that the French proposals were intended to block the possibility of a revival of the plan for an AustroGerman customs union. The French correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” declares French quarters regard Germany’s objections as really political.' She fears the closing of the Danube countries against Germanic influence and economic penetration. Mr MacDonald closed the proceedings and intimated the failure of the scheme- of a preferential tariff meant the loss of financial assistance to the States. .