“Good Old Phil!”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 757, 2 September 1929, Page 9

“Good Old Phil!”

SNOWDEN WELCOMED HOME Crowds Acclaim Chancellor SURGING MASS MANDHANDLES REDS (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) rßecd. 11 a.m. LONDON, Sunday. E fact that Mr. Philip Snowden’s steamer was an hour late in reaching Harwich, only increased the throng’ which welcomed’him, and added to the Chancellor’s embarrassment on his return from The Hague. He looked wan and nervous; but he smiled and raised his hat when the crowd shouted: “G rod old Phil! Well done, Phil.” There was a wonderful demonstration at Liverpool Street Station, where a surging mass manhandled Communists who were distributing leaflets declaring that Mr. Snowden was a war-maker and that the workers will have to pay for his victory.

The singing and cheering startled Mr. Snowden. There were similar scenes at Downing Street. “The withdrawal of the Allied troops from the Rhineland is the greatest political achievement since Locarno,” said Mr. Swowden. “Britain’s influence in international affairs has been re-established. Our relations with the other countries are more cordial now than at any other time since the war.” Mr. Snowden said the reparations settlement would give security and help the economic reconstruction of Europe. “The delegations were a long time in realising that in asserting our claims for fair treatment, we were fighting for the sanctity of international agreements and the restoration of the political and economic sovereignty of Germany.” GREAT BURST OF CHEERING A British Official Wireless message says that despite the early hour of his arrival at London from The Hague this morning, between 3,000 and 4,000 people assembled to grec the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Philip Snowden. As the train steamed into the station, there was a tremendous outburst of cheering, which was renewed when Mr. Snowden appeared at the door of his saloon. An invalid chair had been provided to convey him across the platform to his waiting motorcar; but Mr. Snowden was able to dispense with its use. Lord Thomson-, Secretary for Air, welcomed the Chancellor on behalf of the Government, and the Prime Minister was represented by his son and his private secretary. Mr. Snowden did not make a public speech, but in a short statement to the Press he said that at The Hague they had reached a better understanding with the nations, and had attained the object for which they were fighting, namely, the sanctity of •international peace. The work of the conference had been finished very amicably, and all its members were with one accord well pleased with the results. There was a further great outburst of cheering as the Chancellor drove off to Downing Street. The “News of the World” states that as a result of The Hague agreement, Britain will receive £22,500,000 annually, in addition to £17,500,000 war debts from the Allies. This total* exceeds the payments to America by £4,000,000 which will be devoted to meeting war claims by the Dominions, and also liquidating the £200,000,000 paid to America. In the course of an interview at Paris, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald said agreements which were the foundations of peace must contain the element and objective of fair play. That was the battle Mr. Snowden had to fight at The Hague, and he did not believe it would have to be fought again. The British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Arthur Henderson, in an interview at Geneva, expressed the opinion that the work achieved at The Hague

would greatly assist the Assembly of the League of Nations in its deliberations. For the first time since August, 1914, it could be said in the truest sense of the word that the war had ended. In a speech at Toronto, Mr. J. H. Thomas, another member of the British Cabinet, said Mr. Snowden went to The Hague to restore the prestige of Britain. He had shown to the satisfaction of the world that while Britain was prepared to meet her obligations and to pay 20s in the pound, she was not prepared to be bled white for the purpose of effecting a compromise. A message from The Hague says that., although shorn of some of its importance owing to the departure of the British members for Geneva, the conference ended in mutual goodwill and congratulations. Dr. Gustav Stresemann (Germany), whose turn it was to preside, abdicated in favour of M. Henri Jaspar (Belgium), whose labours have largely contributed to the results. When the formal document had been signed the conference sent birthday greetings to Queen Wilhelmina, in gratitude for the nation’s hospitality. “BETTER THAN EVER” FRANCO-BRITISH RELATIONS NOT DISTURBED STATEMENT BY BRIAND (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) PARIS, Sunday. The British Prime Minister, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, yesterday spent three-quarters of an hour with the Premier, M. Briand, and later M. Briand made a statement to Press representatives. M. Briand said: “We discussed our little affairs with great cordiality. As to the relations of our two countries, I agree with Mr. MacDonald that there is nothing to fear. Our relations are better than ever. Nothing could be better.” SOME GRATIFICATION GERMANS COMFORTED BY RHINE DECISION (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) BERLIN, Sunday. The comments in the neswpapers on The Hague results vary with their party interests. This is especially the case with Fascists and Monarchists, who are committed to demand a referendum on the Young plan. The more moderate j'ournals all find some ground for disappointment, but there is an under-current of gratification that the Rhineland will soon be freed in return for sacrifices that will not be crushing. Undoubtedly Dr. Stresemann’s prestige is regarded as standing much higher.