Germany Must Pay

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 231, 12 September 1922, Page 5

Germany Must Pay

POINCARE'S POSITIVE POLICY. OATH TO OBTAIN JUSTICE. SWORN ON MARNE BATTLEFIELD. [By Cable.-—Press Assoeiation —Copyrignt.] Paris, Sept. 10. M. Poincare, speaking at the anniversary of the battle of the Marne, declared that though France would never be guilty of imperialism she intended that peace should be a reality. It was useless to compare the Allied sacrifices. France never contested the loyalty or bravery of her friends. She did not want to compare expenditures and casualties. It was sufficient to say none of them have the right to arrogate supremacy in victory. During four years France has exhausted herself repairing single-handed her damages in the northern and eastern provinces. Was that just? If Germany avoided Belgium’s legitimate requirements she would put herself in a condition of default. It only remained for France to utilise a liberty which she had not surrendered and with which she will not part. “Before all we intend to recover our credit on Germany. We cannot renounce our claim without ruining France. It is necessary, therefore, that, willingly or perforce. Germany shall fulfil her engagements. We are as jealous as the others about European solidarity, but solidarity requires the safety of France. If not assisted to re-establish ourselves we shall help ourselves. Let us swear on the battlefield of the Marne to obtain justice.”—(A. and N.Z.)

BELGO-CERMAN CONFERENCE. HITCH ON TECHNICAL POINT. London, Sept. 11. The “Daily Telegraph's” Berlin correspondent is of opinion that the hitch leading to the suspension of the conference is merely technical. The Belgian delegates personally are favourably disposed towards the German proposal that 270,000,000 gold marks, covered by three sets of bills in equal instalments, be payable on August 15, 1923, February 15, and August 15, 1924, but in view’ of the commission’s decision that bills shall be redeemable in gold six months hence, the acceptance of the proposal is beyond the delegates’ powers. They are expected to recommend it to the Reparations Commission.—(A. and N.Z.)

GERMANY’S AERIAL ACTIVITY. WORKING FOR AIR MASTERY. London, Sept. 11. The “Morning Post’s” Paris correspondent states:—“Germany continues to display amazing initiative in her attempt to secure mastery of the air. A French expert informs me that the Germans’ carefully-devised plan is inspired by the pre-war Imperialist dream to march on Constantinople. The Junkers’, Zeppeljn and Dorniers’ firms are particularly active, and have established great experimental shops and laboratories. The former has designed several new machines, and Dorniers’ firm nine new types of Fokkers. They are purposing to evade the control of the Allied mission and have established factories in the Netherlands, Junkers in Switzerland. Dorniers in Italy, and Zeppelin in Spain. Special aircraft clairs have been established fn German schools, which, in a fewyears, will produce a corps of skilled pilots and engineers.”—(A. and N.Z.)