REPARATION.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17064, 8 February 1921, Page 7

REPARATION.

THE ALLIED DEMANDS. GERMANY MUST PAY. (By Cab:e—Press Association—Copyright.) (Australian and >~.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, February }lr Lloyd George, who was a guest at the dinner of the Birmingham Jewellers' Association, said that he had an uneasy suspicion that Germany was not trying to stabilise her currency, and was not trying to make her j budget balance. \\ hen he practised as a solicitor, lie used to see men coming into Court in very ragged clothes to answer a judgment summons, expecting the judge to say, "How can you expect a poor fellow like that to pay?'' Germany was adopting similar tactics, hoping that people would say, "They can'.t make both ends meet. How can you expect thorn,to pay tho indemnity P" To this he. would answer : 9 "Gajrmany is a strong, capable, and efficient_ nation. She can and shall pay! She will feel better when the indemnity is fixed and she knows whut she has to deal with." ENTENTE SOLIDARITY. PARIS, February 6. "Le Matin" says that tho spirit of protest is increasing throughout Germany. Herr von Simons is being urged to resist the Allies' proposals. •The French newspapers praise Mr Lloyd George's speech.- They say that it will give great satisfaction to France, and will' prove a bitter disappointment to Germany. It has reaffirmed •FrancoBritish solidarity. SUPPORT FOR SIMONS. COPENHAGEN, February 6. Tho Berlin correspondent of the "Politiken" says .that the German workers understand that the reparation demands mean misery, recognition of which fact is spreading to tho neutrals, and even to tho Allies. Tho German people are behind'Herr von Simons in his resistance. _ Von Simons is not likely to sign his own death sentence. _ BERLIN, February 6. It is officially announced that 200 representatives of workers' unions waited as a deputation on Herr von Simons, and assured him of their unanimous approval of his reparations policy. BREACH IN OPPOSITION. LONDON, February 6. The Berlin correspondent of the "Morning Post" says : Herr von Simons has reserved his reply to the French Ambassador's verbal invitation to the London Conference. In other words, Germany refuses to negotiate on tho basis of tho Paris decisions. A conference of Imperial and_ State Ministers had an all-dav discussion respecting the Allies' demands'. Bavaria is .immovably seeking a refusal en bloo of the reparations, and disarmament demands. . . The Democrats and the Majority Socialists are willing to disband tho irregular troops. Criticism in the Democratic Press against Bavaria's stubborn retention of arms gives no consideration as to the effects in the Ruhr and other States. This provides the first sign_ of a breach of the unanimous opposition to tho Paris demands. RESISTANCE TO CLAIMS. i) (Reutcr'j Telegram*.) BERLIN, February 6. Resistance to Allied claims is being widelv organised. The Premiers of the German States assembled in Berlin and conferred with President Ebert, who agreed to uphold tho standpoint of the Imperial Government. A conference of 200 representatives of Trades "Unions adopted a similar resolution;" ' Meetings wore also held in the provinces, and resolutions were passed protesting against the enslavement of German _ workmen for the benefit of the Allies. GERMAN GOVERNMENT MAY RESIGN. (Received February 7th. 7.35 p.m.) BERLIN, February 7. Herr von Simons, interviewed, said the Government adhered to his view regarding the reparations, 'and were prepared to resign,' if necessary. He thought that any Government must adopt the same attitude. „ CANADA AND THE SHIP MONEY. (pbess association telegram,} WELLINGTON, February 7. Replying to a question to-day, Mr Massey stated that, in his opinion, there was nothing whatever in the cable to the effect * that Canada is to get as reparation part of the money received from the sale of German ships. It was most absurd. It was no use New Zealand applying for a share.