News of the Week
'The Hague Conference THE second session of the Hague Conference on Reparations, which began on Friday, January 3rd, ought to dispose of the bulk of disputed questions without difficulty if only finance can be kept apart from politics. The delegates of the " Big Six " display an obVious spirit of accommodation. When they are more political :than seems necessary in their presentation of a case it :must be remembered that they are speaking partly to ;their own countrymen. The French and German news- papers are like a Greek chorus, commenting dolefully ,upon the heavy burden of human. fate, and _thus giving ;the; cue of dissent to their representatives. It is probably impossible to get wholly of the vicious circle—respon- sible. Ministers speaking for political effect as well as with a _strict -view to business and the newspapers urging on their champions and holding them to account for what ,is_thought to be any sign of weakness. Mr. Henderson's .;decision not to accompany Mr. Snowden - and- Mi. Graham to The Hague proved that the British Govern- ment at all events wanted to avoid the least pretext for politics being brought into 'the debates.
