FIXING REPARATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 118, 18 May 1920, Page 5

FIXING REPARATION.

! BRITAIN AND FRANCE AGREE. INTERNATIONAL LIABILITIES. (J3y Cable.—Press Association.— Copyright.) LONDON. -May 17. The Hythe conference between Mr. Lloyd George and M. Millerand has eoneluded. An official statement says, that the French and British Governments recognise, on the one hand, that it is in the general interest that reparation for losses and damage due t;> the war should be secured as soon as possible, and that with thia object nwessary resources should be made available without delay; on the other hand, it is desirable that (iermany should be put in a position to regain financial autonomy by n speedy fulfilment of her obligations! The two Governments, therefore, express the opinion that in order to solve the economic difficulties gravely weighing upon the world, and to mark definitely the beginning of an era of peace, it is important to reach a settlement which shall cover the whole body of international liabilities left as a legacy of the war and which, at the same time, shall ensure a parallel liquidation of the. inter-Allied war debt and the reparation debtfi of the Central Empires. Accordingly, experts will be charged firstly, to prepare immediately for examinntion for their two Governments' proposals to fix a minimum total for the German debt, which shall be capable of acceptance by the Allies, and lit the time compatible with Germany's capacity to pay; secondly, to determine a method of payment and capitalisation of Germany's debt, which shall be best calculated "to assume the realisation of the general views expressed above: thirdly, to establish conditions for division between the Allies of payments by Germany in accordance with agreements which certain Allies have already

reached, and which remain to be definitely settled in the ease of other Allies. (Imperial News, P.A.) HOSTAGES IN FRANKFORT. FRENCH TAKING NO RISKS. (Received 0.P.0 n.ni.l BERLIN, May 17. With a view to preventing repetition of untoward incidents on the occasion of the evaluation of Frankfort, the French have demanded a number of hostages and also the guarantee of a million marks. — (Reuter.)