FRANCE AND GERMANY

Evening Star, Issue 18253, 18 April 1923, Page 6

FRANCE AND GERMANY

rosenberg in the REICHSTAG.

THE RHINELAND SACRED.

BERGMANN OFFER REVIVED.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright,

BERLIN, .April 17. (Received April 18, at 9.5 a.m.)

Herr Rosenberg, Gorman Foreign Minister, announced in tho Reichstag that Germany had notified the Powers that she believed the world’s future depended on tho acceptance of Mr Hughes's (United States Sccrotaiy of State) proposal for the settlement of tile reparations question and the reconstruction of Europe.

The Bergmann plan was the only solution. l\o German Government would ever permit the neutralisation of the Rhinoland. The plan which Herr Bergmann. vainly tried to submit to tho Allies' Conference at Paris in December provided for a German payment of fifteen hundred millions sterling (£1,500,000,000). That was Germany’s utmost capacity then, and tho Ruhr invasion has since reduced Germany’s economic strength and capacity to pay. Yet Germany was prepared to accept the Bergmann plan as a basis for a new discussion. No Gorman Government) could accept M. Lmicheur's prim for a gradual French retirement as payments were made. Nor could any Gorman Government accept the proposal to make tho left (west) hank of the Rhine a Federal State, demilitarised under tho League oS Nations. It would be the beginning of tho end for Germany.

Replying to At, Poincare’s statements atl Dunkirk, Herr Rosenberg declared that Germany had only 100,000 troops, as the Treaty .of Versailles permitted.—A. and 1 N.Z. 'Cable.