WATT'S RESIGNATION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3511, 24 June 1920, Page 7

WATT'S RESIGNATION.

I CHALLENGE TO MR HUGHES. ! LONDON, June 18. Mr W. A. Watt, ex-Federal Treasurer, challenegs Mr Hughes to lay ail the cables between them on the table ; of the House. j Mr Watt informed the Australian Press'that he had not received the j exact text of 5M Hughes' statement | made in Sydney, and cable messages sent to British newspapers nearly all I varied in seme particulars. I : "As Mr Hughes says my resignation was unjustified. I wish to make 'a brief reply," said Mr Watt. "At the I commencement of my work in London : I \va s seriously embarrassed by negotiation in regard to wool matters, and related finance by Mr Hughes' interI ference. T'ndeterred by difficult! 'thus created I pushed on. but it soon I became plain to the British authorities and to myself that. a s Mr Hughes | wa s cabling direcf to the British Government propositions differing io 'those submitted by me, such Importi ant negotiations could not simultan- ' eously be conducted by telegram with | Mr Hughes in Australia and myself in , person. I informed Mr Hughes that I I could not proceed further with my J mission until :iry position va? lofinod. [The reply was nor satisfactory. :m jMr Hughes further indicated thai 'Cabinet generally did not agree with 'my attitude. Therefore, after ma!use . consideration. I felt the only course

open was to resign. "During extensive cablegraphic correspondence other matters arose, illustrating divergence of opinion between my colleagues and myself. : one or which Mr Hughes alluded. 1 was advised hy the Government that I had been appointed plenipotentiary for Australia in connection with the Spa conference, but at the same time I wa y naively directed not to agree fo 'any alterations in certain matters I without Mr Hughes' authority. I re- ! plied that I could not assume the garb of a plenipotentiary with the power s of a telegraph messenger. Briefly, I found myself in this position in matters which,.arose in discussion with British Ministers, and which were not on the catalogue of my mission. I was not permitted to do anything. "Respecting the problems cf which I was sent from Australia to settle, I wag to act under directions from Melbourne. That status T could not accept, as it was that of an official, 'not a Minister'oFState. In my*cable's

I made it plain that on questions of finance .requiring special knowledge and swift decision I could not work on a chain twelve thousand miles long. " There are many things I may say when I return to Australia. T do not desire at present to indulge in a Prbss controversy with my late, colleagues. If Mr- Hughes considers these remarks inaccurate or unfair I invite him t* lay all cables before Parliament' 7