REPARATIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10886, 28 April 1921, Page 5

REPARATIONS

GERMANY’S NEW OFFER RECEIPT BY UNITED STATES ANNOUNCED. INTERNATIONAL LOAN. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. VANCOUVER, April 26. The. United Press Agency at Berlin says it is officially stated that Germany’s new reparations offer is 200.00 U million gold marks, payable in annuities. WASHINGTON, April 26. The State Department has announced the receipt of the German reparations Note. President Harding called a Cabinet meeting immediately. BERLIN, April 28. In the Note sent to America on the 24th Germany offered to assume liability for fifty milliard gold marks and to pay this in annuities. This would be dependent on Germany’s capacity of production. The grand total of the payments, however, must not exceed two hundred milliards, which is fifty milliards, with compound interest for 42 years. Germany is immediately issuing an international loan, of which the proceeds will be placed at the disposal pf the Allies. Germany is also willing to co-operate in constructing the devastated areas and to immediately place at the disposal of the Reparations Commission one milliard gold marks, .of which 150 millions wocuild be in gold, and silveT, and 850,000,000 in bills of exchange on the Treasury, which will he paid later in foreign paper money. Germany is prepared to take over the Allies’ debts to the United States. t WHAT DOES IT MEAN ?

THE OFFER ORTTICISiED. VON SIMONS TALK OF ARMED CONFLICT. (Received April 27, 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, April 27. It is not dear whether Germany’s new offer to pay an indemnity of £2,600,000,000 in annuities totalling with interest £10,000,000,000 includes payments already made under the treaty. The general vagueness and lack of essential details suggest that Germany is attempting further procrastination. A similar criticism emanates from Paris, where it is sorni-officially stated that the offer is so far below the Allies’ demands that it is scarcely worth serious examination. Berlin telegrams state that von Symons, in the Reichstag, discussed Germany’s new offer, and referred to Mr Lloyd George’s declaration that fresh delays in the execution of the treaty were liable to create complications that might result in armed conflict. Dr. von Simons concluded: “I agree with those words, for even a conquered people can lose patience a it last.” ONLY UNTIL SATURDAY FRANCE MAY ACT ALONE. Published in "Tho Times.** (Received April 27, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, April 26. The Chamber’s expression of confidence in the Government is taken to mean that France is willing to stay her hand until Saturday, but no longer. No douht remains that if_ satisfaction tea not giv en or the Allies retract, France will act alone. In the present temper of Parliament and the country no Premier willing .to postpone the settlement would last a tingle day. UNITED STATES ATTITUDE WAITING FOR ALLIED DECISIONS (Received April 27, 7.45 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 26. The United States will be guided By the decisions of the Allied'Governments as to whether the new German proposals can he the basis of further negotiations. After the receipt of the proposals to-day the Secretary of State (Mr C. E. Hughes) conferred with each of the Allied diplomatic representatives,' who immediately reported to their Governments. The United States' reply will not be sent to Germany until the outcome of these exchangee is submitted. Meanwhile, the text of the Note is being withheld, but the proposals are understood to follow closely on the press summaries. GERMANY’S MAY DAY ANNOUNCEMENT BY FRENCH PREMIER. PARIS, April 26. M. Briand, French Premier, speaking in the Chamber of Deputies, said he had acquainted Mr Lloyd George with the military and economic penalties which French experts had decided upon. “Though the conversations were not official, they had produced the most satisfactory result. I have too much confidence in the loyalty of the United States ho. suppose that America would do anything against the interests of her Amid load cheers, M. Briand said: “All our arrangements have been taken for May Ist. Everything indicates that Germany does not recognise that she is defeated, and she continues to arm her forces. At the London Conference I will strongly demand that Franco shall he paid.” A vote of confidence in the Government was carried by 425 votes to 29.