WAR REPARATIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10717, 11 October 1920, Page 6

WAR REPARATIONS

BRITAIN AND FRANCE “A MOST IMPORTANT NOTE.” Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PARIS, October 8. The ‘‘.Echo do Paris” states that tho Government received on Wednesday a most important Note from the British Cabinet, in reference to reparations. Lord Curzon recalls the decision at .Spa to hold a meeting at Genova on August Bth. In spito of this decision, Franco rejected tho British proposal to open financial discussions on September 21th. Lord Curzon insists on the convocation of a conference of technical experts in accordance with the Spa decision, and suggests that an International Congress should bo held subsequently in order to translate into a. definite convention tho proposals arising from tho conference of experts.

“ A SHARP SURPRISE ” WHAT FRANCE'S REPLY MAY BE. Australian and N ,Z. Cable Association. LONDON, October 9th. The “Daily Chronicle” states; “It Was a sharp surprise for tho British Government to find that M. Millerand had changed his views since tho meeting at Spa, and wished to have a special meeting of the Reparations Commission at Paris instead of a joint Commission between the Allies and the Germans at Geneva. Though Belgium supports France’s view, America strongly supports the British view. Britain might consider the previous meeting of tho Reparations Commission, but only as preliminary to the General Conference. The Paris correspondent of the “Morning Post” states that the French view is that the Germans hope to gain concessions at Geneva by inducing tho Allied leaders to consent to modifications of tho Peace Treaty, whereas tho Reparations Commission, being bound by the treaty, is not empowered to grant concessions. “It is understood that the French reply to Lord Curzon will insist on a meeting of tho Reparations Commission, but a compromise may be arranged when M. De la Croix meets Mr Lloyd George shortly.” - KVARYING VIEWS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRITAIN AND FRANCE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received October 10, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. October 9. The difference between Britain and France regarding the Genet a Conference is that Britain favours a meeting of the Allied Council to discuss with German delegates the indemnity proposals, but Franco is unwilling to meet the German delegates on terms of equality. France also desires to limit tho proceedings at Geneva to a meeting of financial experts from the Allied Reparation Commission to draw up a preliminary plan regarding the indemmty, for submission to the respective Allied Governments. The British method would accelerate tho settlement of the indemnity problem. THE GERMAN BUDGET A HUGE DEFICIT SHOWN. (Received October 10th, 5.5 p.m.) BERLIN, October 9th. The German Budget for 1920 shows a deficit 67,700,000,000 marks. Reparation requires 25,000,000,000 —cost ot the army of occupation 15,000,000,000. The deficit on the railways and post office ia 18,000,000,000.