Von Simon's Plea

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XI, Issue 63, 2 March 1921, Page 6

Von Simon's Plea

ALLIES UNWAVERING. WHAT, AND WHEN GERMANY CAN PAY. PARIS DECISIONS STAND. (Received 2, 1.35 p-m.) London, March 1. At the Conference Von Simons stated that experts thought it,impossible at the present time to raise more than eight milliards, and then only by special terms, such as freedom from income tax, to which some nations might object, the remaining twentytwo milliards to remain unissued, whereon Germany will pay interest and sinking fund. The term of indemnity should be fixed at thirty years. During the next five years payments would have to be in labour and kind; 1926 would be the year of Germany’s capacity to pay. She would be able then to* - mobilise German industries and arrange a plan of payments. Mr. Lloyd George, at the conclusion of the statement, said that if Von Simons thought it worth while he could put in any documents, but from what he had said he thought the German Government completely misunderstood the realities of the position. The Allies had already agreed that the proposals made could not either be discussed or considered as an alternative to the Paris proposals. The Allies would discuss the situation in the afternoon and meet tho Germans to-morrow morning.—(.A. and N.Z-)