WAR INDEMNITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6322, 27 February 1922, Page 6

WAR INDEMNITY.

HENS ADEPT SWINDLERS

Asked if business in the Old Country was reviving, Mr AY. J. Napier, of Auckland, on his return from London. said; “Yes, business is slowly .improving, but until conditions in Russia improve British manufacturers will suffer. The Germans also have proved tc, be—what all who knew them never doubted—as great adepts in swindling the Allies as they were masters in atrocities in the war. Though the wealth of the country lias enormously increased since the Armistice and all their factories are. working full time, the German Government pretends it is unable to pay the reparation instalments. France is clear headed, logical and determined, and all insist on the German nation carrying out the Treaty of Versailles irrespective of the Government’s bookkeeping frauds. AYhile saying they cannot pay, the Government lately made a great reduction in the German income tax and has steadfastly refused to adjust the Budget," by taxation. The best-informed opinion in England is solidly behind France. I suggested while in England that the Allies should take real estate in Germany in part payment of the indemnity and let the land to Germans at the full rack rent, devoting the proceeds to payment cf the German debts under the treaty. The Germans arc out to get at least one half knocked off the debt, and the rehabilitation of the mark. If they succeed the ‘international’ financiers ■like the Rothschilds, Stinnes and others stand to make greater profits than the total amount of the reparation.”