POWERS' LAST HOPE.

Shannon News, 30 August 1929, Page 3

POWERS' LAST HOPE.

DISSIPATED BY MAODONALD. MUST ANSWER SNOWDEN. CHANCELLOR HAILED AS NATIONAL FIGURE. (Published in "The Times"). LONDON, August 19. The Hague correspondent of "The Times" says that the emphatic telegram from the Prime Minister (Mr Macdonald), approving of Mr Snowden's stand at the Reparations Conference, may well prove a decisive factor if the financial conference eventually reaches an agreement. Certainly the telegram at first produced much consternation among the French and Italian delegates, who continued to believe that Mr Macdonald would sooner or later intervene in order to moderate Mr Snowden's intractability. , The telegram removed their last hope of avoiding a straight answer to the Chancellor's demands. Some Continental delegates found it hard to believe that Mr Macdonald's telegram was genuine. There was even a fantastic rumour that Mr Snowden had received a cypher dispatch embodying the Prime Minister's real views for his private information, but eventually it was realised that Mr Macdonald, like Mr Snowden, meant what he said.

The net result is that the telegram, by clearing the air, relaxed the tension, the Belgian t and Japanese delegates taking the initiative with a view to mediating. The French and Italian delegates, confronted with Macdonald's views, required 48 hours to consider the subject afresh. Knowing this, Mr Snowden readily agreed to an adjournment. Otherwise he would undoubtedly, have insisted that the committee 'should face his demands forthwith.

Meanwhile the political discussions relating to the evacuation of the Rhineland are proceeding apace, but the French Premier (M. Briand) found it necessary to utter a word of warning. He had seen German newspapers asserting that the political questions would be settled quite apart from the financial questions, and he reiteraed the French view. This is ; that the political committee would be unabb to complete its task unless the financial committee did likewise. STRESEMANN'S RETORT. ,

The German Foreign Minister (Dr. Stresemann) replied that' Germain opinion would never sanction the adoption of the Young plan without immediate evacuation. M. Briand alluded to the technical difficulties attending the evacuation. It might bo easy enough to fix a starting date, but practically it would be difficult to fix a date for its completion; for example, > if winter supervened it would be unfair to expose the French troops to the hardships of moving in the depth of winter. Dr. Stresemann drily remarked that Germany was only too willing to spare them such misery. There was still time to finish the job while fine weather reigned. The Paris correspondent •of "The Times," says that Mr Snowden's disclaimer of discourteous intentions has mostly been accepted with the best graced with a notable amelioration of French feeling, but it only amounts to an improvement in the personal aspect. The real problem seems to be no nearer a solution.

Mr Macdjonald's ! tclegram to "Mr Snowden was found to be frankly disappointing. The fact is that French opinion never suspected that there were two sides to the question. It was taken for granted that the Young plan would pass unquestioned. If Mr Snowden chose to torpedo it, he alone was to blame.

' 'PEACE WI'A'H HONOUR.' '

(Sun Special.) LONDON, August 19. If Mr Snowden needed any further assurance that his "no sacrifice" attitude was fully supported by Britain, he Avould read with interest the leading articles in two Conservative journals, which, hitherto, had not spoken. The "Evening Standard" declares that he is the most popular Chancellor of the Exchequer since the war, if not for longer. Even if he fails to carry his point at The Hague, says, he deserves a Avelcome on his return to London not less than that aceorded to Benjamin Disraeli (Earl of Beaconsfield) when he brought back "peace with honour" from Berlin in 1878. "YOU KNOW NOW!"

The "Evening News" says that the uiiole Empire is grateful to Mr Snow den, and adds that it is a pity that his predecessors shirked their painful duty.

According to a newsagency, Mr Snowden, who is notoriously equipped

with a large stock of jokes, unofficially explained his attitude during the week-end to a number of his Allied colleagues. He told a story of a Scotsman who was sent to the nether regions -, because he played football oii| Sundays. He told Satan that he dad not - know that it was sinful, and Satan replied, "Well, you know now." Mr Snowden added: "Gentlemen, you did not know that Britain would reject the Young plan. Well, you know now."

EMPIRE'S VOICE. There is a distinctly more hopeful attitude in British Government circles to-day regarding The Hague Reparations Conference, says the political correspondent of "The Sun." The fact that it was adjourned until Wednesday is regarded as indicating that the negotiations are undergoing a change for the better. However, the suggestion of the possibility of an adjournment find little enthusiasm. It is earnestly hoped that some settlement in connect tion with the Young Plan will be reached before the League of Nations Assembly, otherwise the importance of the latter will undoubtedly be greatly diminished. "MON DIEU, THE LOW CAD!" There seems little remaining to hi said by way of vituperation from Paris. "La Liberte" has just about gone the limit ■olj Parisian politeness by devoting to Mr Snowden a leading article, in which it congratulates him on inaugurating a :new era of diplomatic manners and a new vocabulary for European Chancelleries. "His language is not new," it says, "but it ijs not used in the best circles." This article is entitled, '' Mon Dieu, The Low Cad." The "Journal des Debats" warns the French delegation that it would be useless to employ tact .and politeness in dealing with an adversary like Mr Snowden. "Le Temps" advises Britain, for her own sake, to find another spokesman, and says that Mr Snowden has so compromised European pacification that it is time Mr Macdonald intervened. "Such discourteous language cannot destroy the Entente, but if the Entente loses its influence upon the Continent, Britain, not France, will be the chief sufferer." "Le Matin," however, discovers a political manoeuvre. It recollects Mr Macdonald's well-known pacifism, and say s that Mr Snowden is merely intriguing to bring him doAvn, also thj Labour Government, thus reinstating a Coalition Government, with Mr' Lloyd George as Premier. "La Liberte" pays the finest tribute of all: "Mr Snowden can say 'No.' A Socialist has awakened British Nationalism."