REPARATIONS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 178, 16 April 1923, Page 7

REPARATIONS

POINCARE’S PLANS

PRIORITY FOR FRENCH AND BELGIAN CLAIMS

ALLIED DEBTS TO BE PAID IN GERMAN MARKS BY Telegraph.—Press association. —OOPYEIGHT. Paris, April 13. The “Matin” states that M. Poincare is submitting to MM. Theunis and. Jaspar, Belgian Premier and Foreign Minister respectively, a complete reparation plan linked with the Allied debt. , He proposes to surrender to the United States, in payment of the inter-Allied debt, a part of the 82,000 million gold marks included under the German “C” bonds provided for under the London Agreement of 1921. Ho proposes also priority for French and Belgian claims on “A’-’ and “B” bonds, leading England to share in “C” bonds. M. Poincare is suggesting that France and Belgium take the chief share in the 40,000 million gold marks cash which Germany announces that she is willing to pay. Payments must be made within a decade. Payments will be under three heads: (1) To France; (2) to Italy, Jugoslavia, and Rumania; (3) to Belgium. Also France and Belgium will take the first 40,000 million of “A and “B” bonds, England taking the rest, and accepting payment of France’s debt in German “C” bonds. Should the plan he adopted, France will consent to the internationalisation of the Ruhr and Rhineland, under a League of Nations Commission. The “Matin” states that the plan is reinforced by approval from London, and accords with the Belgian views.

“MATIN’S” STATEMENT DENIED ORGANISATION TO BREAK GERMAN RESISTANCE Paris, April 13. The Foreign Office denies the “Matin’s” statement that-the Government is submitting a reparation plan to the conference with the Belgian Ministers. The conference will deal almost entirely with coal deliveries and taxes. If reparations are discussed, it will only be a secondary matter. The, whole purpose of the conference is to tighten up the organisation to break Germany’s resistance. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

FRANCO-BELGIAN CONFERENCE OFFICIAL REPORT (Rec. April 15. 5.5 p.m.) Paris,. April 14. An official communique issued after M. Poincare’s conference with MM. Theunis and Jaspar, states that the French and Belgian Governments, being equally resolved to pursue common action in the Ruhr until Germany decides to make direct proposals for tha payment of reparations, have considered a whole series of fresh measures to increase their pressure, and wi.l continue the same so long as may be necessary. Further, they reached decisions to accelerate the removal of coke and coal, to assure the collection of the coal tax, and improve the working of the railway administration. The conference will resume on Saturday to discuss especially the accounts of the inter-Allied services, the disposal of the proceeds of pledges,, fines, seizures of funds, and deliveries in kind.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

FRENCH SATISFIED WITH RESULTS (Rec. April 16. 0.20 a.tn.) Paris, April 15. The French are satisfied with the results of tho conference, having won the Belgians to the decisions to refuse mediation, but the Belgians still refuse to send more troops to the Ruhr. -—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE TO RUHR POLICY f . POINCARE WANTS DEFINITE STATEMENT London, April 13. The "Daily Express” correspondent at Paris says that when Count St. Aulaire saw Mr. Bonar Law at Downing Street to-day, he presented a Note from M. Poincare, asking definitely and formally whether Britain accepted France’s policy of emaining in the Ruhr till reparations were paid. If Mr. Bonar Law replies in the affirmative, M. Poincare is willing to make concessions in the reparations total; if in the negative, M. Poincare will deliver a striking speech at Dunkirk on Sunday.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

RUHR MINERS TO RESTRICT OUTPUT RESISTANCE POLICY TO CONTINUE Berlin, April 13. The “Vossosche Zeitung's” Essen correspondent states that with the object of preventing the French from obtain ng any coal, apart from that already brought to the . surface, the miners in the Ruhr district have begun further to restrict production, and ntend henceforth to bring up only enough coal for the use of the miners and essential industrial purposes. No fresh supplies will be brought up for storing. A conference of the lending, employers and workmen in all industries and of all shades of political opinion from the occupied territory unanimously decided to continue the policy of passive resistance. It declared that tho starting point of any negotiations must bo a guarantee of complete evacuation, an indemnity for damages, the release of prisoners, and tho return of persons who have been expelled.—Reuter.