EXPERTS’ COMMITTEE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 30, 30 October 1928, Page 11

EXPERTS’ COMMITTEE

TO SE .LE REPARATIONS

GERMANY TAKES INITIATIVE IN NEGOTIATIONS

VIEWS REGARDING COMPOSITION

The German Government haa taken the initiative in formal negotiations for tlie formation of a committee of experts to settle reparations, and has instructed its ambassadors to indicate to the Allied Governments its view regarding the composition and powers of the committee. . I (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) ("Times” Cables.) Berlin, October 28. Following on Cabinet’s decision, the German Government has taken the initiative in formal negotiations for the formation of a committee of experts to settle reparations. It has already instructed its Ambassadors at Paris, London, Rome, Brussels, and Tokio to suggest the establishment of a commission and indicate Germany’s view regarding its composition and powers. Germany is also informing the United States, which will be told that Germany would welcome an American representative, either as delegate or observer. The Government believes that the committee should be composed of financial experts of international authority free from all exterior influence. Disagreeing in this respect with the French newspapers’ argument that Governments constantly control discussions by officially-instructed representaitves, the Germans point out that the Dawes Agreement was due to the authority of independent financial experts, and the new commission should be similarly circumstanced. FRANCE’S CLAIMS AGAINST GERMANY JUST RETURN MUST BE ASSURED DECLARATION BY PREMIER (Australian Press Assn.—United Se.rvice.) Paris, October 29. “The next six months will see some of the greatest post-war problems to the forefront,” said M.' Poincare, in a speech at Caen. France, he said, would not blindly abandon her claims against Germany or accept a settlement which, while insisting on the payment of her own debts, did not assure a just return from reparations. The experts’ committee’s task would demand that the French delegates exhibit sustained vigilance besides a desire to reach an agreement. The Government was never in greater need of a faithful, trusting majority.