'JUGGLER'S TRICK.'

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 123, 27 May 1929, Page 7

'JUGGLER'S TRICK.'

REPARATION FORMULA Deadlock Arises Over Young Proposals. IRREDUCIBLE DEMANDS. (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) PARIS, May 2(5. A virtual deadlock has arisen in connection with the reparation conference. The Germans are prepared to reconsider their reservations, if the Allies will return to Mr. Owen Young's basis of £102,500,000, whereas the Allies assert that their demands represent the irreducible minimum. The Allied delegates point out that the rescaling of the payments, which the Germans now call "juggling," is really devised to facilitate Germany's task. It is believed that Mr. Owen Young is disposed to «ide with the Germans in insisting that Belgium's claim to £12,500,000 as compensation for the valueless German war-time currency should not be tacked on to the bill, but should be negotiated for separately and diplomatically.

Some of the closest observers are inclined to think that the German resistance will wilt in the face of the Allies' firmness, especially in view of all that a settlement would mean to Germany in the direction of stability in finance and t,lie evacuation of the Rhineland. A message from Berlin says the term unanimously applied, by the newspapers and in official circles to the new'reparation formula, is "a juggler's trick," instant rejection of which is demanded. The storm centres round the antedating schedule, by which the ordinary Dawes Plan payment and the first Young Plan payment would be payable almost simultaneously. "It is asking Germany to pay £90,000,000 for nothing," say the newspapers. The Radical Press suggests that an ultimatum should be sent, saying the conference must accept Germany's offer, but it admits that the conference has power to determine Germany's fate for generations. Nevertheless, dispassionate commentators decline to admit that a breakdown of tho conference is imminent. Dr. Vogler, while en route to Berlin, admitted that they must welcome the American efforts at a compromise, which favoured Germany.

FATEFUL DAY. HISTORIC DECISION. ("Times" Cables.) LONDON, May 26. The Paris correspondent of the "Times" says that yesterday was expected to be a fateful day at the Reparation Conference, but 110 decision was reached, and probably none will be arrived at to-day. So the great day may be Monday. Many persons think the historic decision will merely be a failure to agree. Another point of view is expressed by a prominent expert, in the words: "The door is not yet closed, but somebody has stolen the handle."