Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-11

Houtart. the Belgian finance minister,
was sent to Mr.. Snowden to inquire
whether for the sake of good will the
British chancellor would withdraw the
stronger of the expressions which he
used this morning. Mr. Snowden said
that in English his words bore no sim
lister connotaticn and were not un-
parliamentary, but II in his French h
had conveyed any suggestion OF dis
courtesy he unhcsitatingly withdrew 1t.
Snowden Awaits Secret Meeting.
Despite this concession to socthe the
ruffied feelings of the continental and
Japanese diplomats. Mr.. Snowden to-
night was entirely unrepentant so far
as his general stand was concrrnco and
was said by members OF his encourage
to be looking forward jauntily to the
secret meeting Of the Big Six"
Great Britain, France. Germany,
italy. Belgium and Japan-tomorrow
morning, at which DOUBTLESS a concert
ed effort will be made to impress upon
him the enormity OF his offenSe against
the traditions. both of verbiage and of
procedure, OF continental diplomacy.
II became known tonight that the
Belgian delegation has unofficially as
sumed the role OF mediator, and is Sug-
costing alterations in the distribution Of
the German annuitieS which will go SONG
mands. Mr.. SnoWden. as one OF his Sec
retarieS explained. Is willing 10 listen TO
any propoSalS-"So long as they meet
our position" ThiS-as the would-be
mediators will doubtless understand be-
fore Longs merely another way in
which any British trade unionist might
express his determination TO stand pat.
Positions Are Outlined.
The position tonight stands as fol-
lows:
l. The British remain absolutely I'M
yielding over their three objections to
the present Young plan, demanding APP
plication of the Spa percentages to the
division of the total German annuities,
redistribution Of the unconditional part
Of the snnuities and revision of the
scheme for deliveries in kind.
2. The French show some signs of
giving way on the third point but re-
main equally unyielding on the others
;. The Germans, having observed that
the Franco British breach is much
more serious than they at first thought
il. are simply marking time and won
dering whether they will not eventually
stand to gain more than they lose by
the conflict among the recipients of
their payments.
a. The smaller nations are bewildered
having natural inclination to follow
the British lead IL any advantage is
thereby to be gained, but also diSin-
clined to antagonize France, which has
political and financial claims on many
OF them.
Gradually 1t Is becoming accepted by
the other nations represented here that
in Mr.. Snowden there is embodied q
return to the old British tradition of
taking high hand and concedinR
nothing. The air here is full Of bitter
gibes about Mr.. Snowden. the Socialist
and internationaliSt, being more con-
sentative than the Tories and more
intransigent than the Chauvinists. 1t
Is taking . long time to become realized
that the objections Of the British Labor
party to the Young plan are deep and
fundamental, and that were they
adopted the framework of the plan
would indeed remain much as 1t is. but
fhat It's whole Applicant and effect
would be changed.
ABo~den Altitude BewiIders Harue.
Also there is utter bewilderment over
the little lame Yorkshire mans plain
speaking and his apparent unconscious
assumption OF complete intellectual
superiority over his colleagues around
the conference table.
French, Italians, Beligans and Japa-
nese, who met this afternoon in q con-
clave from which the British were
pointedly excluded will so far collect
themselves as to concoct a concerted
attack on Mr.. Snowden remains to be
seen.
Undess there is the almost impos-
sible vote face by the chancellor, there
Is not the slightest reason to anticipate
that NV
tack. Nor does 1t appear that he will
allow himself to be put off by repeated
delays, as to his uncompromisjng stand
he added today what amounts to a
virtual ultimatum.
Barring concession by the five other
nations to Great Britains point Of
view, it looks tonight as though next
week may see the British delegations
return to London
William Graham, president of the
British Board OF Trade. opened this
mornings proceedings with q long
technical statement OF how deliveries
in kind under the reparations agree
ments adversely affected British trade
and created more unemployment.
Declaring frankly that Great Britain
wished to see these deliveries abolished
or If that was impossible. reduced, Mr..
Graham asserted that much of the dis
tress In the British coal steel, cotton
and shipbuilding industries was due d.
rectly to competition by countries
which were receiving reparations in
goods.
Threatens TO Invoke Treaty.
He added that Great Britain feared
that in case Of default in cash repara-
tionS other nations would elect to en-
large their share Of deliveries in kind,
to which, he said. Great Britain was
in the firmest possible opposition" He
also set forth the British opposition to
the proposal to prolong the period over
which deliveries in kind were to be
made. and predicted that this country
would invoke the Versailles treaty, II
necessary, to protect its interests.
Henri Cheron, the French finance
minister. replied that France was quite
willing to settle the question Of deliv-
cries In kind in a way which would
safeguard British economic interests
without affecting the Young plan
vitality From this he went on to
cover the whole field of the Young re-
port. arguing that France and the
United States had agreed to sacrifices
in the matter Of prior charges under
the Young report. and pointing out that
Great Britain actually was benefited
by the ALLEGATION OF German payments
during the FIRST few years OF the Young
plan. ~
NJ Cheron admitted the British con-
tention that Raymond Poincare. then
premier. had promised Winston
Churchill. then chancellor OF the ex-
cheouer. last october that the Spa per-
centases would be respected; but ne
reminded the British that subsequent
memoranda Of their had not mentioned
this subject.