MR. W. A. WATT

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1920, Page 5

MR. W. A. WATT

REASON FOR RESIGNATION, NO FREEDOM ALLOWED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright, Received June 19, 5.5 p.m. London, June 18. In the course of a statement concerning his recent resignation, Mr. W. A. Watt, until lately Treasurer of the Australian Federal Cabinet, who came to London on a financial mission, said: "I informed Mr. Hughes that 1 could not proceed further with my mission until my position had been defined. The reply was not satisfactory, and Mr. Hughes further indicated that the Cabinet generally did not agree with my attitude. Therefore, after mature consideration, I felt the only course open was to resign. "During an extensive cablegraphie correspondence other matters arose illustrating a divergence of opinion between my colleagues and myself, to one of which Mr. Hughes alluded. I was adtfis-' ed by the Government that I had been appointed plenipotentiary for Australia in connection with the Spa Conference, but at the same time naively directed not to agree to any alterations in certain matters without Mr- Hughes'authority. I replied that I could not assume the garb of plenipotentiary with the powers of a telegraph messenger. Briefly, I found myself in this position: In matters which arose in discussion with the British Ministers, and which were not on the catalogue of njy mission, I was not permitted to do anything." Mr. Watt concluded: "Respecting the problems concerning which I had been sent from Australia to settle, I was to act under directions from Melbourne, an l that status I could not accept, as it was that of an official, not a Minister of the State- In my cables I made it plain that on questions of finance requiring special knowledge and swift decision 1 could not work on a chain 12,000 miles long. There are many things I may say when I return to Australia, but I do not desire at present to indulge in a Press controversy with rtiy late colleagues, if Mr. Hughes considers these remarks inaccurate or unfair, I invite him to lay the cables before Parliament."—Aus • N.Z. Cable Assn.