Evening star., 1933-06-12

read his speech slowly and in sonorous
tones. When he had concluded he
bowed to the right and the left and
took a seat in a crimson -brocaded
chair, leaning forward in an expectant
attitude while League of Nations in
terpreter again read the speech.
King Bows to Delegates.
After the translation the whole packed
hall again stood and the King bowed in
slowly to the delegates, who bowed in
turn. He then walked slowly down
the steps, with Prime Minister Mac
Donald escorting him. Thereupon Mr.
Macdonald returned and started his
own address after receiving an ovation
from the delegates.
AS he took the stand the prime
minister pushed a button which rang
big gong and called the World None
tary and Economic Conference into
session.
He spoke In a buoyant, cheerful
strain. The delegates had not stirred
during the Kings speech, but as Mr.
Macdonald started the tension of royal
formalities seemed relieved and ripples
of applause ran across the hall as the
prime minister emphasized his points
He read from a prepared manuscript
without gestures, but with great stress
on the points with which the confer
ence must wrestle. He began his ad-
dress with an expression of gratitude
to the King and then turned to out
line the deplorable condition in which
the world economic situation has fallen.
Mr.. Macdonald described the oc-
eaSion as of the greatest importance
and referred to the conference as the
greatest assemblage in the history of
h. .lg
plight resulting from falling prices,
malalstribution in goods and fall of
national income in some countries
reaching As per cent.
This cannot go on" the prime
minister declared. THE world is be-
ing driven upon a state of things
which may well bring it face to face
once again-for it has happened on
scales of varying extent before now
with time in which life revolts against
hardship, and the gains of the past
are swept away by the forces Of de-
spair"
Refers to War Debts.
Referring to the war debts as an
other subject "in the front rank of
Importance" Mr.. Macdonald said it
was a question which could not be
dealt with at the parley, because OBJ
viously this conference is not constl-
tuted in such a way as to enable 1t to
consider it and settle the matter"
He declared, however. that the debt
problem must be dealt with before
every obstacle to general recovery has
been removed, and it must be taken up
without delay by the nations concerned.
Lausanne has to be completed and this
vexed question settled once for all in
the light of present world conditions"
The prime minister uttered every
word about the war debts slowly and
emphatically. The greatest emphasis
of his speech was placed on the phrase
Lausanne has to be completed"
Secretary of State Hull and his col
leagues of the American delegation
listened attentively, appearing not to
be surprised at Mr.. MacDonalds refer
ence to the debts and his ringing
statement concerning Lausanne.
cat the Lausanne Conference Ger,
man reparations were virtually elm
mated by the European recipients, who
thereupon made 'gentlemen's agree
ment" that their action would not be
effective unless the United States cor
respondingly scale down the war debts)
DaIadier Seems Bored.
This conference" Mr. Macdonald
continued, "is a sequel to the work
done at Lausanne last year. when, by
conditional agreement on how TO
deal with war debts and reparations,
Europe was saved from immediate
financial collapse"
The air of informality continued as
the prime minister spoke Non Eng
lish delegates whispered among them
selves Premier Daladier of France,
not understanding English, seemed
bored and let his eyes range over the
whole hall, surveying first one delega-
ton and then another. Other delegates
made notes on the address and one
continental pulled out brief case
from his desk, extracted q huge dos
sier and appeared in deep study, as If
in his own Office.
THE self-sufficient nationalist In
economics is the death knell of ad-
vancing prosperity" the British prime
minister said.
At another point he asked dra-
matlcally: IF the world is left to
right itself without international ef-
fort and international agreement, how
long is the process of recovery to be?
How dark are the depths of misery
and unSettlement which have still to
be gone through?
No nation can permanently enrich
Itself at the expense of others. Mutuel
enrichment is a condition of individual
enrichment"
AT the conclusion Of his speech Mr..
Macdonald appointed Augusta de As
conCellos Of Portugal, Hafez Afifi Pacha
OF Egypt and DiogeneS Ascalane of
Venezuela to the Committee on Gre
dentlals and the conference recessed
briefly while they examined them.
Thousands of Spectators Gather.
More than an hour before the con-
ference convened, the street ON which
the Geological Museum stands was lined
with thousands of spectators. Almost
all Of them were armed with umbrellas,
although the skies had cleared suffi-
ciently for patches of blue to be seen.
Squads of bObbieS frlnged the side
walks, keeping the crowds to the curb
and holding clear space for the ar
rival of the tOp-hatted delegates.
Through the sidewalk traffic snarls
scores Of vendors piled their trades.
selling flowers, programs and paper
streamers.
The American was the first important
delegation to enter the hall, arriving
nearly an hour before the opening.
Senator Key Pittman was not among
them. 1t had been said earlier that i'll
ness would keep him from attending.
All the Americans were dressed in
formal morning attire. Ralph w. Nor
rison was smoking a big cigar
No Smoking Signs on Desks.
William c. Bullitt, special assistant
to Secretary of State Hull. found the
delegations seats at the left side of the
sixth row in the big assembly hall, and
Mr.. Hull and the others took seats in
small armchairs at a long benchlike
desk
Every desk was plastered with a sign
reading in French and English. DC
not smoke" but Mr. Morrison. busy
viewing the hall, continued to puff his
cigar.
The tall, dark-haired Mrs Hull went
to the chamber for distinguished visit
orS the nf1lv American woman hOnOrAC