ALLIES' HARD TASK

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 24, 28 January 1921, Page 5

ALLIES' HARD TASK

IN COLLECTING THE BILL

FRANCE WANTS LAST CENT.

CONTERENCE TJ-*._-NI-_IOTJS.

(By Cable—Press Assoclatlor-—Copjngl-t.l

OTteceive- in..".0 a.m.) PARIS, January 27. There was an unofficial conversation to-day between Mr. Lloyd George and French Ministers, and it is understood : that if no agreement be reached at the week-end a further conference of tiie I*remiers will be called after tlie experts have reached conclusions.—(A. and X.Z.) ,: LOXDOX, January 27. ! The Taris correspondent of the "Central News" says the Allies are unanimous on the principle of making Ocrmany pay the uttermost farthing, but opinionare diverging as to the method of payment. France expected Ii',..ViO,UOu.OOU francs from Germany to assist in meet- ' ing the heavy French deficit, and the French Ci-inet dare not increase the taxes while in Ueremany the people are escaping* with a tax of £3 per head. Mr. l-lovd George said the Belgians were j \vil!:r<_ to take half cash and half raw j materials as far as their indemnity is : concerned. The French miners were un- i willing to allow coal to be imported in! view of the fact that the French mines j are already working short time. — i.A. j and X.Z. Cable. 1 !

WHAT FRANCE WANTS.

PARIS, January 20. The inter-Allied Conference discussed tn-tiay the question of German reparation. A statement was made by the French Finance Minister. M. Doumer. but discussion was .postponed pending further details. It is understood that the Minister emphasised the French viewthat the last cent must be extracted from Germany. He suggested that steps should be taken to give the mark a positive value. (iermany. he urged, should be compelled to increase her i postal, telegraph, and railway rates, and thus make good the deficit. The German taxpayer should pay the same I amount as the French taxpayers, and i re<rulnr' taxes should be imposed for the indemnity. The Allies ought to control j ihe German Budirct. M. Doumer ridi-i culed the proposals submitted by Herr Berrrmann. the head of the German drlesnition. j Whereas the Allied experts surest i , thai Germany should nay f liiu.oon.oool in gold annually. Herr Bergmann. in an j interview, proposed that Germany's pay- j j-pent should be -100.000 op/l a year, of | which a quarter shou'd be in gold and j ' the rest in raw material and merehan- ! disc. Herr P.er-rmann added that Geri many hoped to retain Upper Silesia. —(A. land N.Z. Cable.)

LLOYD GEORGE REMINDED.

PARIS. January 26. Paris new-papers apropos of reparations, recall the following passage from a speech made by Mr. Lloyd George at Bristol in the election campaign of 191S: "Those who started the war must pay to the utmost farthing, and we shall search their Dockets for it."' The "Eclair" says that it is reported that Mr. Lloyd George consider* it would be folly to attempt to exact the full amount. The newspaper respectfully reminds the British Prime Minister of his election speech. Arising possibly out of these comments, a portion of the crowd which witnessed Mr. Lloyd George's departure from the Hotel Criilon for the conference, raised the criefc: "Search their Dockets."' and '"'The last farthing."— fA. and N.Z. Cable.)

STILL HAS AN INTEREST. WASHINGTON, January 20. The State Department announces that it is receiving regular reports from the British and French Governments regarding the discussions at the inter-Allied Conference. When the reports are complete, the I'nited States will communicate its attitude to the Allies. Officials explain that the I'nited States is vitally interested in Germany's fulfilment of the armistice terms. The Administration believes that Germany is disarming as rapidly as conditions permit, for which reason it oppo=es *outi-"].- of bard pressure.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)

BALTIC REPUBLICS.

PARIS. January 26. The • Inter-A.llicd Conference is considering Polish nnd Russian questions. Tile conference decided to recrr_-n*se the Baltic State- of Estbonla and Latviahut deferred recocTi'tinn of T.ithuania. until The future of Vilna is settled. —'A. and N.Z. Cable.)