GERMAN REPARATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLI, Issue 9430, 29 January 1921, Page 5

GERMAN REPARATION.

4 THE HjJftT&AT ISSUE. 'l&OYD GEORGE EXPLAINS ; ' -iii/,iw' !1 ■■'>IL--i. '■ ■•• -_; ; ' tP^r P^eiß Assotjiation Copyright.) ' .:':-' : H f ;'T! '' PARIS, January 28. The inofning sitting of the Conference w^s devoted to attempts to smooth out divergent, points revealed m consequence of M. Doumer's speech on Wednesday,' which came as a surprise, particularly when he advocated the immediate fixing of the indemnity at about a hundred milliards of gold marks, which is about double the amount proposed at the Boulogne conference. At a meeting this afternoon Mr Lloyd George denned Britain's reparation, policy. He said it was useless for the Allies to try to extract more than Germany could pay, nevertheless it \was to the interest of Britain, '' Belgium and France alike to extract the utmost farthing. Though France had suffered most m human loss and suffering, Britain carried the largest financial burden, her war cosjts aggregating ten thousand million sterling. "The real difficulty," he said, "arises m determining how to compel Germany to pay. She easily can pay m marks, Jbut paper money is of little value outside Germany. The only way she can pay the indemnity is by exports, yet some of her best customers are unable to buy. It also is true that if Germany exports • too much to the. Allies it will ruin Allied industries. Nevertheless there is a real margin within which Germany can pay. Experts have studied the problem fpr months, and I am -willing .that- ..their-, proposals be criticised and approved, but a mere adjournment would only mean a setback. I hope that the French .Go vernment ' will accept the Boulogne agreement as the basis ,of settlement." < Continuing, Mr Lloyd George said that M. Doumer's figures were morally justifiable, but he did not believe that experts would find thetn practicable. The Allies rriUst use all authority under the Treaty to make Germany put herself m a position to pay. She was not doing this at present. Her financial affairs wece chaotic. Her revenues did not approach expenditure. '"Her. citizens were not even taxed to the Bame\amount as those of Allied countries. No doubt this was done to improve her bargaining position. The Allies must see that Germany imposed on her people burdens at least as heavy as those borne by the Allies. The German people must make some economies. • ' > . The Belgian and Italian delegates supported Mr Lloyd George that the Allies must not depart frpin the Boulogne and -Brussels agreenients.