REPARATIONS PROBLEM.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17320, 5 December 1921, Page 7

REPARATIONS PROBLEM.

COMMISSION'S STRONG NOTE TO GERMANY. MORATORIUM QUESTION. (By Cable—Press Association— Copyright.) (Australian X.Z. Cable Association.) (Received December 4th, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, December 2.

The Reparations Commission- to-day sent the German Government a strong reminder of the necessity for finding money for the January-February payments. They urged Germany to make every possible effort to obtain the amount of foreign exchange, either from her own nationals, who, it is notorious, have such foreign exchange at their disposal, or from foreign lenders. The Commission is convinced that Germany's difficulties are financial rather than economic, and are in a great measure due to the fact that the German Government has failed to take timely steps to balance its Budget, and consequently it has been necessary to increase the note issue.

The Paris Press generally opposes any reparation concessions to Germany. The "Petit Journal" points out that the Reichstag has not even begun consideration of the Chancellor's now drastic taxation, which he outlined months ago, and considers that Germany is merely trying again to escape her responsibilities by means of creating disunion among the Allies.

The "Petit Pnrisien" admits that Britain is not actuated by a desire to grant concessions to Germany, and says that Britain is simply facing the problem of raising the value of the mark in order to avoid the,ruin of British commerce.

(Received December 4th, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, December 3.

The "Petit Purisien" says the German Government has decided to formally demand a moratorium. The demand will be made immediately, if the international loan which Germany needs for her January payment is refused. Should the loan be granted, the demand for a moratorium will be made at the end of January.

BERLIN, December 2,

As Dr, Ratlicnau has made his reacceptance of the portfolio of Minister of Reconstruction conditional upon the success of hiß negotiations in London, a favourable agreement ia confidently anticipated.

VALUE OF THE MARK. GERMAN SPECULATORS RUINED. (Received December 4th, 5.5 p.m.) BERLIN, December 3, The far-reaching social consequences of "Black Thursday" are slowly being realised. Reports from Leipzig, Hamburg, Frankfort, and elsewhere indi" oate the wholesale snuffing out of the mushroom hanks founded to satisfy the publio's mania for speculation. Scores of new millionaires are ruined, and the life-earnings of many small investors have disappeared in a night.