PAYMENT DEMANDED

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10852, 18 March 1921, Page 6

PAYMENT DEMANDED

GERMAN REPARATIONS WHAT IS THE AMOUNT THAT IS OWING? THE RAVAGED AREAS. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright Australian aud N.Z. Cnblo Association. PARIS', March 16. The Reparations Commission has notified Germany that she must pay tho outstanding twelve milliards before May Ist, and asks how she intends to pay tho amount. The Germans hayo already asserted that they have (raid more than the 20 milliards fixed by tho Treaty. The Commission contends sho has only paid eight milliards. AMSTERDAM, March 16. German representatives at tho International Trade Union League Conference declared that Germany must do the utmost possible to restore the ravaged areas. ALLIES STAND UNITED FRENCH TRIBUTE TO MR. LLOYD GEORGE. (Received March 17, 10.20 p.m.) PARIS, March. 16. M. Briand (Prime Minister), in tho Chamber, in justifying the London agreement, paid a high tribute to Mr Lloyd George, which had a remarkable reception among the deputies, and raised cheers again and again. M. Briand said that Mr Lloyd George, with great broadness of vision, kept the future in view, and rendered France a signal service. He added: “Germany will lind tho resources to pay when she realises that the Allies are standing firm and united.’ ’ REPARATIONS BILL AMENDMENT DEFEATED IN COMMONS. (Received March 17, 10.55 p.m.) LONDON, March 16. In the House of Commons, in the committee stage of tho Reparations Bill, the Opposition unsuccessfully tried to make the bill not to come into force until every Power signing the Treaty of Versailte's had. carried out the same scheme. Mr Austen Chamberlain pointed out that this was equivalent to saying that the scheme would not bo enforced at all. Lieutenant-Commander 'Kenworthy then moved that importers make no payment until the Legislatures of France, Italy and Belgium agree to a scheme. The amendment was defeated by. 218 to 70. EFFECTS OF BILL BOOMERANG-LIKE SMACK AT GENERAL TRADE. MERCHANTS ALARMED. United Service Telegram. (Received March 18, 1.5 a.m.) LONDON, March 16. The optimism resulting from tho recovery of trade received a decided setback from the early effects of the Reparations Bill. All markets are dull and the iron industry is especially lifeless. Undoubtedly the first effect of the bill was a boomerang-like smack at general trade. Protests are reaching the Government from, merchants throughout the country. Their arguments are that, the German Government will never co-operate in paying 50 per cent., secondly that it is bound to result in increased prices, rebounding on the purchaser, and thirdly that it will drive Germany to seek supplies from English rivals. . labour leaders, whilst admitting' the difficulty of framing an alternative scheme to make Germany pay, roundly condemn the Premier’s proposals as sure to result in a heavy increase in unemployment. Germany’s intention to evade payment is already manifest. Amongst the newest devices disclosed is the intimation sent to British merchants. from Germany that 50 per cent, must be added to the prices quoted, while other communications peremptorily rupture business deals. Meanwhile Mr Austin Chamberlain urges patience to see how the scheme works, declaring that tho Treasury is confident that the payments will be collected on 40 per cent, of Germany’s export trade. The Leipzig fair, which had already re-established its pre-eminence amongst European commercial men, has been brought to a sudden stop owing to the German refusal to ship gooda to Allied countries unless full value is previously paid. Another instance of evasion is quoted. Mr Auquith, in the House of Commons, said that English booksellers had been notified that no further supplies would he shipped unless large accounts were opened in Gerrmany. Yorkshire wool mereßants are dismayed, foreseeing an accentuation of the slump which is already severely affecting textiles. Belgium expects -a diversion of trade from Antwerp, whilst Holland has emphatically pro. tested, fearing that the establishment of xho Allied forces along the German frontier will deflect trade from Amsterdam.

‘‘The Times” says that the scheme thrusts a stick into the complicated mechanism of commerce, and manufacturers, warehousemen,' merchants and banks are eyeing it askance. The opinion is that the scheme at the worst will bring a cessation of German imports, and at best will so hamper imports that the volume will be reduced and prices raised. PROTEBT TO LEAGUE QUESTION OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS. Reuter's Televram. (Received March 17, 5.5 p.m.) BERLIN, March 16. Germany’s protest to tho League of Xjations contends that according to the Treaty tho economic sanction® are indictable only in tho event of noncompliance with tho reparations obligations, whereas there has been no infringement. Tho Government requests tho League to initiate mediation proceodings and see that the Allies’ forcible measures are immediately stopped. SILESIAN PLEBISCITE A GERMAN DEFEAT ANTICIPATED BERLIN, March 16. The Allied authorities, in examining German emigrant® at Ober Glogau, arrested twenty-six women who were in possession of toy olvprs and hand grenades. Fearing tho German, Government’s,

withdrawal of money from "Upper Silesia, the public is withdrawing deposits from tho savings banks, which now limit the amount payable to three hundred marks per head. Merchants in Upper Silesia complain that Berlin and Breslau firms, anticipating a German defeat in tho plebiscite, arc refusing to renew contracts. At Beuthen, in Prussian Silesia, Allied searchers discovered civil guards in several villages who really were ful-ly-equipped military detachments, ready to augment the garrisons.