THE IRON CHANCELLOR.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 304, 5 September 1929, Page 4

THE IRON CHANCELLOR.

THE dramatic victory, following the unflinching opposition to the Young plan, which the British Chancellor, Mr. Philip Snowden, put up at the Hague conference for the past three weeks, will be hailed with delight by all Britishers. It is indeed “ a peace with honour,” and one which carries in its train a great personal triumph for Mr. Snowden, a tremendous victory for Labour diplomacy, and a rehabilitation of Britain s prestige in the eyes of the world.

For the past few years the scintillating vagaries of Mr. Winston Churchill and Lord Birkenhead have resulted in Britain becoming the milch cow for the settlement of the world’s financial obligations, to an almost incredible degree. At last, however, England has .once again produced the ” man for the moment, and he has mide it pointedly clear that the limit of Britain’s conces- [ sions has been reached. With justice on his side, Mr. Snowden has remained unmoved to arguments, pleadings, threats and villification in a manner which has stirred every Britisher throughout the world and captivated the admiration even of opponents. From German commentators he has earned the title of “ Iron Chancellor,” no mean compliment when the source is considered.

Mr. Snowden’s success recalled the late Lord Beaconiield’s triumph when \ as Benjamin Disraeli he attended the J Congress of Berlin. Fortined With 1 secret agreements, Disraeli attended at Berlin to assist in ad justing condi- j ' tions after the Russo-Turkey war, J and defeated Bismark. The German i Iron Chancellor, then in the height of his glory, was not deceived by the ■■ old Jew,” as others were, but nevertheless threats were issued to which Digraeli replied with an ultimatum and time limit. Retiring from the conference for the time being, Disraeli ordered, with some secrecy, a special train for the -frontier to be in readiness at a wayside station at the time his ultimatum was due to expire, knowing full well the information would be flashed back to Berlin. Like a good German, the stationmaster did as Disraeli expected, with the result that the consternation caused at the Congress by the news resulted in Britain gaining her terms.

Unlike Mr. Disraeli, the present Chancellor, Mr. Snowden, had no secret agreements to assist him and had no need to bluff. He stood alone and successful 1 !' fought Britain’s late allies with nothing but his native ability and the justice, of his cause to aid him. His signal victory where others have failed opens up a new era. It once again places Britain and the Empire on its true pedestal, and it shows the Labour Party up in a new light, which must reflect in a greatly enhanced standing, not only in Britain, but also in other parts of the Empire, provided its leaders are wise in their generation.