DEBT REPUDIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1932, Page 5

DEBT REPUDIATION

ANGLO-FREINOH IDEA Possible legal measure. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 11. Mr .MacDonald, accompanied by Sir J. iSiinon, left London this morning for Paris. They will be the guests of the Frendh Prime Minister, M. Herriot at dinner this evening, when flic discus-ions, which vvii'.l he continued to-morrow, on th e questions awaiting consideration at the conferences in Lausanne and Geneva, will he opened. "The Times” says: "For reasons which, if disappointing, are conclusive, th 0 Government of the. United ■State', is taking no part in the Lausanne Conference, and the. > immediate business of the British and French Governments at the. Paris meeting, tomorrow, what measure of -legal cancellation is possible.” The special points to be raised by At. Herriot in Anglo-French conversations, .wer e discussed at yesterday’s meeting of the French Cabinet. Later according to the Paris correspondent of tb e “New,s-Chronicle,” M. Herriot said; As the British and French view points stand at present, there ia very, little difference between them. \ Consultation with the French Government follows the further exchange of views between the Brit! h Prime Minister and the new Foreign Minister in Germany. The conversations must, in the nature of things, be purely preliminary.

Mr MacDonald's success in securing an extension of the- scope of the Laitanne Conference, has resulted in an unexpected decision by Signor Grandi to .lead the Italian delegation.

During their Parts visit, the British [Miiiiisters will istny at the British ■Embassy. Th e time of the'departure for .Switzerland is nut yet definitely fixed, but it is anticipated that they will leave eanly next week, visiting Geneva on the way to Lausanne, where the Reparations Conference opens on Thursday. The otl'.ier British delegates for Lausanne (Sir H. Samuel, Mr Neville Chamberlain, and Mr ißunciman) are to leave London on {Tuesday.

A .SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM. FORESEEN IN CONFERENCE. PARIS, June 12. M. Herriot (French Premier), Mr ■R. MacDonald and Sir J. Simon (British Ministers), .spent many hours in informal discussions during the weekend, and it is believed these have done much to clarify the situation regarding the Lausanne conference. A communique, has been issued, which states the talks have “shown th e community of views, permitting us to foresee a just and efficacious solution of the problems to be studied at Lausanne.”

It is understood tthat one of the first problems will be that of the prolongation of the present Reparations Moratorium until after the American Freeidental 'Election. The second one will be that of a holiday, for a period of one year, to be accompanied by a percentage of reduction by all countries n their defence budgets.

ATTITUDE OF GERMANY. NO MORE REPARATIONS! BERLIN, June 13. The ; German de’egation, under Herr Neurath, fs starting for the Lausanne Conference on Tuesday, June 14th. It goes with the knowledge that rarely have the German people been so united as they are on the reparations problem.

‘“No More Tribute,” is the slogan of all of 'the political parties, and any Government daring to pledge itself to sign any agreement to pay “tribute” as the reparations have always bee a called in Germany, is cei'ta-n to be swept out of existence by popular anger. Chancellor Von Papen realises this well, and he intends to make it absolutely clear that Germany cannot pay the reparations any (longer. Herr Neurath carefully avoids using the ptirase “Will not pay,” which is what the Germany declaration actually amounts to.