REPARATIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 30 October 1928, Page 5

REPARATIONS

COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright "Times'' Cables.

BERLIN, 28th October

Following on Cabinet's decision, the German Government has taken the initiative of formal negotiations for the formation of a committee of experts to settle reparations. It has already instructed its Ambassadors at Paris, London, Rome, Brussels, and Tokio to suggest the establishment of a Commission and indicate Germany's view regarding its composition and powers. Germany is also informing the United States, which will be told that Germany would welcome an American representative, cither as delegate or observer. The Government believes that the committee should be composed of financial experts of international authority, free from all exterior influence. Disagreeing in this respect with the French newspapers' argument- that Governments constantly control discussions by official-ly-instructed representatives, the Germans point out that the Dawes Agreement was due to the authority of independent financial experts, and the new Commission should be similarly circumstanced.

FRENCH ATTITUDE Australian Press Association. —United Service. PARIS, 29th October. "The next, six months will see some of the greatest post-war problems to the forefront," said M. Poincare, in a speech at Caen. France, he said, would not blindly abandon her claims against Germany or accept a settlement which, while insisting on the payment of her own debts, did not assure a just return from reparations. The experts' committee's task would demand that the French delegates exhibit sustained vigilance besides a. desire to reach an agreement. The Government was never in greater need of a faithful, trusting majority, AMOUNT OF ANNUAL PAYMENT (Received 30th October. 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, 29th October.

The "Daily Telegraph's" diplomatic correspondent, referring to Germany's proposals for convening a Reparations Commission, expresses the belief that Berlin will be insistent on fixing annual payments at a hundred millions sterling.