WORLD AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1933, Page 5

WORLD AFFAIRS

PREMIER BUOYANT CONFERENCE AFFAIRS REVIEWED ’(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Juiie 23. Mr MacDonald, as President of the Conference, declared in his address to the newspapers this afternoon that he' was meeting the third week of the Comerence with a buoyant and hopeful heart. He was not discouraged by the United States’ attitude towards the temporary stabilisaion of | currencies, which he had described as a ‘ .'ittle setback.” rle added that lie never felt that there was very much in it. The American conditions were for tne moment very difficult. In relation to the .attempt to arrive at temporary stabilisation, the United •hates’ memorandum .showed clearly what the position was in that country. Although it was open to 1 question, many .responsible men who were earnestly working for the success of the

Conference, felt that the filial outcome of temporary stabilisation' became doubtful if it tended to break the upward tendency of prices in the United States. The situation left by yesterday’s Note'-was not at all "cloudy or uncertain. It had enabled them to go on with their work, and tHb were doing so, There was the suggestion abroad that the Conference should, . adjourn. He could imagine *more foolish suggestion, Recalling his efforts in. the last twelve months to get the Conference convened, lie declared that if they were to adjourn now with a view to resuming in the autumn, til© chances were that the situation, instead of being better, would be considerably worse. Nothing could have a worse effect than such an adjournment upon the determination' of practically the whole world to get some spirit of settlement.

“The Conference is going on,”' ho declared emphatically. There were interests, perhaps, who wanted to destroy the Conference, but. lie hoped that the newspapers would readily resist that soft of influence. Conferences knew that they were slow-working machines if lid; that' the end of the second week was always the time when perhaps pessimism began to show itself, because language' and otlier difficulties by that time had made themselves felt. He had not at this Conference felt as depressed as on certain days when j the Lausanne Conference wag trepihjihg iff the balance. Next week would he one of co-ordination, and the committees would acquire some sense of the bigness of tbe> work on which they were engaged. Those committees were not in full working order. Six sub-commissions of the Economic and Monetary Commissions sat privately to-day for the detailed consideration of the various matters referred to them. ;

Sir Herbert Samuel, referring at Manchester to the Conference's progress, said that’ with this Conference, unlike the Disarmament Conference, unanimity was, not essential, though it was desirable, and if a group of countries agreed to lowe? the obstacles to their mutual trade, that would be an important step in advance.

WHAT IS AMERICA’S POLICY?

SENATOR HULL IN DEFENCE.

LONDON, June 25

Senator Hull (United States Secretary of State), in the course of a statement, condemns the repeated references to the “irreconcilability” of America’s international and domestic programme. He declares these references to be unfounded and illogical. RD-ieir constant repetition, lie says, suggests that they are fomented by forces that 'are in confusing the Conference,, seeking to prevent its success.

He adds: ‘‘Obviously, every country, in the present emergency, must resort to whatever feasible methods rttre requisite to increase commodity prices, accompanied by, safeguards against general chaos in .international trade. 3 cannot conceive the reasons why the American programmes, aiming at a business recovery, with full employment, at suitable wages, and satisfactory price levels, . should not .receive the united support of all who are sincerely striving for international economic co-operation. ‘ ‘The American trade resolution of June 22nd. at the Conference was framed with the full knowledge aud appreciation' of both of the American programmes. Moreover, it was framed in the exact language in which ,it was presented at a Conference before the delegation sailed. Nothing hag happened anywhere to change the situation.

SERIES OF LUNCHEONS. RUGBY, June 23. M, Litvinoff, accompanied by his wife, was among the guests to-day at one of tho series of email luncheon parties which Mr MacDonald and Miss Ishbel MacDonald are giving for delegates to the Conference.

WEEK-END DISCUSSIONS.. (Received Juno 26 at 8.50 a.m.) LONDON* June 26. :: The Conference delegates are spending the week-end in informal hut the frankest of discussions. Stabilisation will be shunted to a dead end on Monday, and an effort made to -(secure Unanimity on trade questions, especi-

ally limitation, production, abolition, and restrictions invented since 1929. N'-gotiat’ons which have been proceeding privately at London among tho great wheat producing countries, are reported to bo nearing a successful conclusion. The reduction in acreage of fifteen per cent, propped by America is stated to have the approval of Canada, / "gent-ina, and Australia’s approval is now confidently awaited.