CENTRAL EUROPE

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1932, Page 5

CENTRAL EUROPE

MEANS OF RELIEF DISCUSSED AT CONFERENCE. (British Official Wireless.) '* RUGBY, September 6. A general discussion began to-day a-t the Strese conference op Centra! and South-eastern European economic distress. . m m /The principal British delegate, Mr Joseph Addiibn, British Minister dt •Prague,. said that Britain had not copio -to thbi conferenceher mind already made up, but she was of opinion that the only means of. attaining their end was the gradual abolition of all oonomic barriers. The exchange system at present in operation was strangling the economic life of ithe world. He agreed with the German delegate that improvement in international exchanges wou-d lead to automatic improvement in the financial situation.

iM. Bonnet sent a telegram to the Prime Minister expressing respectful homage .and the loyal esteem of the conference, which was created by the Lausanne ©bnfeteilcft, of which Mr MacDonald was president. (Mr MacDonald’s reply ' conveys tK e best (wishes t 0 M. Bonnet’s colleagues for success, "which I am confident will attend their labours under , your chairmanship.” .... In “a letter to the iSeoretary-Genetal of the League of Nations, Mr MacDonald, as president of the Lausanne conference, states that in order to ensure co-ordinatibn in the preparation of the world economic conference, between the work of the organising committee of the League council , and ■of ithe preparatory committee of experts, he has suggested inviting the powers to the Lausanne conference that they ask the League council _ to agree that the ! preparatory committee of experts meet- at Geneva with the 'Secretary-General of the League acting as secretariat. Mr 'MacDonald adds he has ascertained from the powers concerned and from the United States that they will agree with the course proposed and that a date during the second half of September V suitable for the first meeting of the committee.

Dr (Stress, la Polish delegate,-- rose on behalf of the agrarian bloc, and emphasised the need .-for the free ex ~ change of goods, whereby to get money to' pay their debts without exchange restriction. He . said : • “If w e cannot re-establish a! general economic eauilibritim, you must give the Dannbiah States . preferential treatment, other“■Mfcb,'\ they wiil collapse ahd will efidanger the rest' of (Europe/’- . The Boumaniati Minister of Cornmerefi, At. Madgeitn'u, .referring to the Whited States opposition to, a prefer-' .entlftl tariff, said: "Let ns ask the United States how we are to meet pur 'obligations /if we are not left free to organise our own affair*. We cannot, meet our debts if we cannot sell our goods.”