A Sop for Britain

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 741, 14 August 1929, Page 9

A Sop for Britain

£1,500,000 OFFER PROPOSED

Cut Out of Bank Funds (United P.A.—By Tclegrapip—Copyl'ifi/h!) (Australian. and .\‘.Z. Press Association! _ ((JlLitcd Service.) Received 10 a.m. THE HAGUE, Tuesday. WITH the Financial and Political Commissions of the Reparation Conference not Sitting, the French, Belgian and Italian delegates are privately exploring methods for meeting Britain’s Claims for a reduction of the deliveries in kind. A' One of the proposals being discussed is that; 0E offering Britain 3414300900 of the £2,600,000 surplus which, under The Young plan. is allocated to the service of the International B‘ank. France and Belgium are understood to have agreed to this ofi'er, but the Italians have not yet consented.

The London “Daily Herald‘s" correspondent at The Hague says the reason why Mr. Philip Snowden, the British. Chancellor. agreed to an adjournment was because he is convinced that the conversations that are now proceeding between the financial experts provide a. good enough basis for negotiations. and indicate willingness on the part of the French and Italians to waive their claims to certain sums not definitely indicated in the Young Plan. ' In order to restore to Britain the amount she loses under the present distribution of annuities, according to a. French forecast published in the “Daily Telegraph" an effort will be made to increase the British share of the payments from Germany by £2,000.000. The diplomatic correspondent of the “Telegraph” says he is able to state authoritatively .that the British troops will be withdrawn from the Rhineland before the end of the year, irrespective of the decision of The Hague Conference. KINDER FRENCH COMMENT

The Paris newspaper comments on The Hague Conference yesterday revealed a more conciliatory attitude toward Britain’s demands. “Le _Journal” reports an interview with Mrs. Snowden, who said: “You ask how we can surmount the difficulties. The reply is: “Give Britain the feeling that she is no longer unfairly treated. Consider what she asks and what is due to her.”

“Le Matin." while opposing the total recasting of the Young Plan, neverthe—less says it is not hostile to seeking to satisfy Britain within the limits of the plan. “L’Avenil‘,” however. peremptorily asks: “Does Mr. Snowden persist in demanding the revision of the annuities at our expense? If yes, then we remind M. Briand and M. Cheron that there are excellent trains from The Hague.”

SUPPORT FOR SNOWDEN

BRITISH ECONOMIST IN UNITED STATES MINNESOTA PROFESSOR (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (L'zzifcd Serricn) Reed. 0.5 a.m. NEW YORK, Tues. A message from Williamstown, Massachusetts, says that, addressing the Institute of Politics, Professor Herbert Heaton, an economist of the University of Minnesota, and a. native of England, declared that Mr. Snowden was justified in his objections to the desertion of the Spa percentages, and the distribution of unconditional German payments. In his demand for the abolition of payments in kind. however, Professor Heaton believed the British spokesman was “on less firm ground." In making a demand for the Spa restoration, Mr. Snowdon merely wished to get money which would recoup England for the sums already paid to America; as the sums still owing were provided for in the Young report. Professor Heaton declared that the British Chancellor's demand for a larger share of the unconditional annuities was also justifiable, as should Germany be unable to pay her annuities in full in any year, surely all the creditors should suffer equally in that. event. If, on the other hand, Germany Were to pay regularly and in full, France would lose nothing by admitting England’s right to a larger share of the unconditional payments.