GERMAN REPARATIONS

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 89, 15 April 1922, Page 7

GERMAN REPARATIONS

ALLIED TAXATION DEMANDS. DR. W-BT-TS REFTTSAX. A SPECTRE AT GENOA. (By Cable. —Press Association.—Copyright) 1 LOKTOK, April 14. The Reparations Commission has replied to the German Chancellor's cotb- . muuication. It declares that the reply of I the German Government, refusing to I impose taxation or pay reparations other than by foreign loan, is tantamount, to a refusal to make any serious effort to provide foreign currencies for reparations. As regards the refusal to accept .' fiscal control, the commission says it sees . nothing in its letter of March 21 to . justify the disquietude of the German Government, lf the attitude adopted in the Chancellor's Note is persisted in fur- . thcr discussion is impossible. If by May . 31 the reforms demanded are not carried cut the necessary sanctions will be con- • sidered. The Genoa correspondent of the "Daily . Mail" states that the conference is already haunted by an unwelcome spectre ; which cannot be driven away, namely, , reparation, which, with disarmament, is supposed to be a forbidden topic Geri many's refusal to comply with the Allied demands to put her house in order has - exasperated Franco and Belgium, who are , firmly resolved on definite military action . at the end of May if the Germans continue their passive resistance. It will not be ; surprising if a meeting of the Supreme Council is called at Genoa to deal with ■ the critical situation.— (United Pervice.) The chief French delegate at Genoa CM. Barthou). addressing British and American journalists, disclaimed any ' desire to block the conference. He hatf : no love for Germany, but bore them no malice if the Germans were present at j i the conference with a whole-souled desire '1 to advance the economic reconstruction 'j of Europe. He admitted that he disliked • M. Tcbitcherin's initial speech, but since meeting him the s_b-c_r__ttee had con- ' j ceived a better impression. France had j no desire to work adversely to her Allies. '' The relations bet-ween England and I France might sometimes be likened to •: those of a husband and wife who snsi pected each other's fidelity. He desired jto impress upon England and America !: that France would do her utmost to help ' | the conference to achieve success. • | The Genoa correspondent of the "Daily 'j Chronicle" states that Mr. Lloyd George intends at the earliest possible moment > to propose a pact tlita no nation shall attack another, thus abolishing the poss?I bility of fighting for a term of years. [ Acceptance of the proposal would make the conference one of the most memorable • j in the world's history. ' I The Australian and >Tew Zealand Press ■ i Association's representative at. Genoa ' states that rumours are current that GerM many is raising reparation questions. A i competent authority declares that the ' I statement is entirely without foundation. - as also is the statement that Mr. Lloyd ' George contemplates moving at to-day's - rneeing of the first sub-committee for a "military holiday. The Britis hview is 'j to allow the committee- to follow along 1 i the lines of the decisions at Cannes, and. • i that if the prpositin that the nations M should guarantee not to attack each other IfT a given period is adopted it is not M necessary to specify a. military holiday. I Australian delegates will act on sub- '! committees as advisers to the British ' I delegates whenever matters affecting the '! Commonwealth are discussed. ~ One of the leading Genoa mercantile papers hints that on the Economic Com- | j mission Italy may raise a question | regarding monopoly in raw materials, ' J renewing- the efforts Signor Ti{toni made lnt the first session of the League of [Nations to have the question reviewed. jlt therefore is necessary that overseas I producers should have their interests ,i closely watched, especially as they possess no direct representation on sub-com-mittees.— fA. and K.Z. Cable. 1