Friday, 29 November 1929

Berlin:  

Foreign Minister Julius Curtius takes the Reichstag floor to assail the Liberty Law* measure, saying the Young Plan (which the Liberty Law would refute) is Germany’s best hope of paying off war debt.  Curtius accuses the measure’s main supporter, nationalist politician Alfred Hugenberg, of “calculated tricks” in his attempts to get the German public to support the Liberty Law.  The Young Plan “is to bring an important amelioration of the burdens on Germany,” Curtius says.  Under German law, the Reichstag has no choice but to take up the Liberty Law measure, because 10% of German voters signed petitions asking for it (see November 2). 

“It is nonsense to determine by a plebiscite that a people doesn’t want to pay,” Curtius says.  “Of course it doesn’t want to pay.  The only question is whether it must pay or not.  A plebiscite on this question is sheer nonsense.  In comparison with the Dawes Plan, the Young Plan on a new political basis is to bring an important amelioration of the burdens on Germany.  German economy and the German people will be benefited by it.”

Nanking:  

The government of China finally agrees to peace terms with the Soviet Union (though practically speaking, it’s not clear it even matters anymore – Manchuria has unilaterally taken the lead).  Russian military actions in Manchuria are limited now to only a few air raids by bombers on selected sites in western Manchuria.  Russian troop withdrawals continue.  The United States and the other world powers, that were said to be contemplating some form of joint action against Russia, are now said to no longer see the need.