REPARATION PLANS

Gisborne Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 9669, 16 April 1923, Page 5

REPARATION PLANS

REPORTED PROPOSAL BY POINCARE.

PAYMENT WITHIN DECADE

RUHR TO BE INTERNATIONALISED.

(United Press Assooiation—Copyright.) PARIS', April 13. The Matin says M. Poincare is submitting to MM. Theunis and Jaspair a complete reparation plan, linked ; yvitli the Allied debt. Tie proposes to surrender to the United States in payment of inter-AUild debt part of the eighty'-tyvo million gold marks included under the German O bonds, provided for under the London agreement of 1921, also priority for French and Belgians claims on A and B bonds, leaving England a share of C bonds. M. Poincare is suggesting that Belgium and France take the chief share ■of the forty thousand million gold marks cash which Germany announeces she is willing to pay. Payments must be made within a decade and be under three heads: (1) To France; (2) to Italy, Jugo-Slavia and Rumania; and (3) to Belgium. He also suggests that France and Belgium take the first forty thousand million A and B bonds and England the rest, England accepting payment of France’s debt in German C nonds. Should the plan be adopted France yvill consent to the internationalisation of the Ruhr and Rhineland under a- League of Nations Commission. The Matin states the plan is reinforced by 7 approval from London, and is ill accord yvitli Belgian y'ieyvs.-—A. and N.Z.C.A.

(Received April 16, 1 a.m.) PARIS, April 15. The French are satisfied with the results of the conference, hay'ing yvon the Belgians to decisions to refuse mediation, but the Belgians still refuse to send more troops to the Ruhr. —A. and N.Z.C.A.

FOREIGN OFFICE DENIES STATEMENT.

GERMAN RESISTANCE TO BE BROKEN. PARIS, April 13. The Foreign. Office denies the statement that the Government is submitting a reparation plan to a conference of French and Belgian Ministers. The conference yvill deal almost entirely 7 yvith coal deliveries and taxes. If reparations arc discussed it yvill only 7 be a secondary matter. 'The yvliole purpose of the conference is to tighten up the organisation to break Germany’s resistance.—A. and N.Z.C.A.

NOTE TO BRITISH PREMIER

WILL FRANCE’S PRESENT -POLICY BE ACCEPTED : j

IMPORTANCE OF BONAR LAW’S DECISION. •

LONDON, April 13

The Daily 7 Express’ Paris correspondent states that yvhen Count St Aulaire, the French Ambassador, saw Mr. Bonar Law at Downing street today, ho presented a note, from M. Poincare, asking definitely and formally' whether Britain accepted France’s policy 7 .of remaining in Ruhr till reparations yvere paid. _lf Mr. Bonar Law replies in the affirmative, M. Poincare is willing to make concessions in the reparation total; if in the negative, M. Poincare yvill deliy'er a striking speech at Dunkirk on Sunday. M. Poincare confers with M.M. Theunis and Jaspar on Friday. —A. and N.Z.C.A.

v OCCUPATION OF RUHR

STUBBORN GERMANS

RESISTANCE TO BE CONTINUED

BERLIN, April 13

Tho Vossische-Zeitung’s Essen correspondent states: With the object of preventing the French obtaining any' coal, apart from that already 7 brought to the surface, the miners of Ruhr have begun to further restrict production. They intend henceforth to bring up only sufficient coal for the miners' own consumption and essential industrial purposes. No fresh supplies yvill lie brought up for storing. ■ A conference of employers and workmen of all industries and shades of polilical opinion from the occupied territory 7 unanimously decided to continue the policy of passive resistance. They declare the starting point of any negotiations must be guarantee of complete evacuation, indemnity for damages, release of prisoners, return of persons expelled.—A. and N.Z.C.A.

FRANCO-BELGIAN CONFERENCE

COMMON ACTION TO BE PURSUED.

(Received April 15, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, April 14. An official communique issued after M. Poincare’s conference with M. Theunis and M. Jaspar, states that the French and Belgian Governments are both equally resolved to pursue common action in the Ruhr until Germany decides to make direct proposals for the payment of reparations and have considered a whole series of fresh measures to increase their pressure and yvill continue the same so long as may lie 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 yvill resume on Saturday to discuss especially the accounts of the internal services and the disposal of the proceeds of the pledges, fines, seizures of funds and deliveries in kind.—A .and N.Z. C.A.