On Friday, August 22nd, in the Reichstag the German Government
attempted to explain their position -with regard to the London Conference, but were compelled - to postpone the debate owing to the interruptions of the Communists. Dr. Marx made a fresh and successful attempt last Saturday. As the Times correspondent says, the province in the debate allotted to each -of the three members of the London delegation had evidently been mapped out in advance. Dr. Marx, the Chancellor, struck a balance between aim and achievement at the Conference. The Finance Minister, Herr Luther, demon. strated the consequences of refusing to sign the London Pact. Herr Stresemann, the Foreign Minister, defended the action of the delegation -with regard to the Ruhr, on the ground that, though the terms were not good, they were the best that could possibly be obtained. The Chancellor's general summary was to the. effect that though no new point disadvantageous to Germany had been introduced at the Conference, certain points advantageous to Germany had actually been gained. The delegates knew what the Dawes scheme meant-before they went to London, and would have accepted it in any case, and yet they had- returned to Germany with a slightly improved Dawes scheme.
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