GERMANY'S PAYMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10813, 1 February 1921, Page 6

GERMANY'S PAYMENTS

FIXING THE AMOUNT PENALTIES FOR NOX-FULFIL-MENT. BELGIUM’S ATTITUDE. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright Reuter’s Telegram. PARIS, January 30. The Belgian delegates at the Allied Conference helped the Anglo-French rapprochement by offering to largely renuiince Belgium’s priority in the reparation payments in favour of France. for the non-fulfilment of the undertakings include the taking over by the Reparation Commission of the German Customs revenues, and fixing new or increased taxation, while Germany will not ho allowed to contract for a foreign loan without the Allies’ authorisation. After the conference M. Briand paid a tribute to Japan’s coneiliatoriness. Mr Lloyd George expressed his pleasure at the solution, which happily reconciled the immediate fixing of Germany’s debt and the eventual possibilities of her increased capacity to pay. He pointed out that the exports will yield over a million marks, and subsequently 31 ’ milliards in the probable event of Germany’s exports reaching 30 milliards. Mr Lloyd George added that the conference had not wished to humiliate Germany, and had avoided anything likely to offend her; but the Allies had to secure what was owing to them, and at the request of Lord Curzon the moral penalty had been included — namely, the non-admission of Germany to the League of Nations. Britain had promised not to capitalise her share pf the indemnity for five years, in order to avoid competition with French loans. HOW MR LLOYD GEORGE APPLIED THE PRESSURE. ?übUslieU‘ In ‘‘Tbs Tiros* " LONDON. January 29. In connection with the Allied Conference. it is freely rumoured that Mr Dloyd George told M. Briand that unless he disavowed M. Downer's proposals the British delegates would pack up and go home. He -repeatedly declared in the course of Thursday’s proceedings that it was impossible to continue negotiations on the basis of M. Dollnow’s speech, and insisted that the Boulogne agreement must form the foundation of a settlement regarding the reparation. He declined to admit that the new French Cabinet was not bound by • the preceding Cabinet’s engagements.

“ SEVERE, BUT JUST ”

REPARATION AND DISARMAMENT TERMS. obmteration"OF NAVY. (Received Janivry 31, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, January 30. Besides the annuities which Germany must pay there will be a tax on German exports as cabled. _ Conference was unanimous as regards' reparations and also unanimous in approving the proposals of the military, naval, and air experts on measures necessary for enforcing all the engagements to which Germany is bound by the agreements made at Boulogne and Spa. The Allies signed a protocol, which will shortly be sent to Berlin, requesting Germany to complete her legislation for disarming the Reichswehr befoie March 15th, the Reichswehr comprising too many officers and men. Germany is requested to put the matter in order by April 15th. The reduction of the army to 100,000 has not been accompanied by a corresponding surrender of materia], and this must be rectified by February 28th. Concerning Germany’s organisations for self-protection, the Allies request dissolution by June 30th of all fbrceS conetitutecL with that idea. Germany must hand to the Allies before March 15th. the text of all legislation to that end. All heavy arms placed at the disposal of these forces and two-thirds of the portable arms must be destroyed by March 31st, and the remaining third by Jane 30th. The naval clauses provide for the surrender of all documents by February 28th. The ships in reserve must be destroyed by April 30th, and the destructions already started must be completed before July 31st. Warships being constructed must be destroyed immediately and equally with submarines. The articles of the protocol dealing with reparations empower the Reparations Commission to take all measures expedient for controlling German exSorts to allow Germany to discharge er debts before they come due, with discounts varying with the years. They forbid all credit transactions abroad without the Commission’s authority, and provide that Customs and tax on expopta constitute security of agreement. The Allies may raise the Customs duties if they are insufficient. Germany must hand 22,000 tons- of coal monthly to the Allies from January 81st, and arrears of half a million tons within two months. .It is stated that while Conference decided upon ultimate measures in the event of the non-fnlfilment of her Obligations, the Allies, acting in a spirit of courtesy inspired by tne hope that Germany would carry out her obligations of her own free will, deem it unnecessary at present to notify Berlin what these precautions are. The Allies agreed to forgo their claims against Austria for the maintenance of the army of occupation, but no money will be advanced. Every question on the agenda paper received, if not a final solution, at least a direction of policy'. The most important result of the conference, apart from special questions, has been the establishment m sentiment and policy of the Allies’ harmony and union of the closest and most cordial kind. Mr Dloyd George, in an interview, said he had never attended a confer- - enco at which such satisfactory results had been attained. All the Allies were satisfied, and if Germany was not, We were not concerned about that. Our arrangements were equitable, just, and practicable. In any scheme of reparation practicability must be the main i>oint. He added that he did not anticipate any difficulty in obtaining reparation from Germany. If the Germans did not pay ns, we would not hesitate to put into operation the sanctions obtained at this Conference. THE ALLIES’ SHARE (HOW IT WILD BE APPORTIQJfED. (Received January 31, 9.10 p.m.) PARIS, January 30. The Allies’ share of reparations will be:— France. £. r >.376/)00 (W italv, £1 i:jo.cno nr

Belgium, £904,000,000. Portugal, £84,000,000. Japan, £84,000,000. Roumania, Jugoslavia and others, £734,000,000. It will be seen that Britain’s share is not given in the above message. ANGER IN GERMANY ATTEMPT to AROUSE FRENCH SUSPICIONS. (Received January 31, 9.10 p.m.) BERLIN, January 30. Newspaper criticisms on the conference are angry and defiant. Some organa attempt to arouse French suspicions by arguing that the Pans decisions chiefly benefit British finance and trade with Germany for many years. AMERICA’S CLAIM WHAT SEIZED PROPERTY REPRESENTS. (Received January 31, 9.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, January 29. Senator King has introduced a measure providing that enemy alien property seized during the war should be returned to its owners. Strong opposition has developed to the proposal, it being pointed out that America’s chums agains Germany total nearly a billion dollars. Enemy property seized in the United States is valued approximately at • 800,000,000 dollars, I which represents the onlv way‘by i »■- ■ • i,„ f,;,:,] •