REPARATIONS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 175, 20 April 1929, Page 8

REPARATIONS

CONFERENCE OF EXPERTS IN PARIS LITTLE HOPE OF AGREEMENT GAP BETWEEN GERMAN AND ALLIED PROPOSALS (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Australian Press Association. (Rec. April 19, 9.5 p.m.) Paris, April 19. Reports that the Reparations Conference had resulted in a deadlock spread rapidly, but that scarcely represented the actual facts, though the situation is critical. What happened was that the sub-committee which was appointed in an endeavour to bridge the gap between the German and Allied proposals, failed after five hours’ strenuous work, to agree. Dr. Schacht was courteous but firm, and did not budge one inch. The Sub-Committee will report the failure to-day to a plenary session of the experts, who are faced with the responsibility of making a grave decision. If there is no hope of agreement it will probably wind up the ten weeks’ wotk of the finest financial brains in Europe with majority and minority reports. The German offer is at present about equivalent to two-thirds of the sum required to meet the Allies’ reduced demands. It is stated that Herr Schacht refused to raise the offer one pfennig. The Press reveals that Dr. Schacht at the eleventh hour Introduced a political element by making an offer of £82,500,000 a year for thirty-seven years.