ALLIED CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18158, 1 February 1921, Page 5

ALLIED CONFERENCE

ANGLO-FRENCH RAPPROCHEMENT

JAPAN’S FRIENDLY ATTITUDE.

Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. PARIS, January 30. The Belgian delegates at the Allied Conference helped the Anglo-French rapprochement by. offering largely _to renounce Belgium’s priority in reparation payments in favour of France. The penalties for non-fulfilment of the undertakings include the taking over by the Reparations Commission of the German Customs revenues and the fixing of new or increased taxation, while Germany is not allowed to contract any foreign loan without the Allies authorisation. After the conference M. Briand paid a tribute to Japan’s conciliatory attitude. Mr Lloyd George expressed his pleasure at a solution which happily reconciled the immediate fixing of Germany’s debt and the eventual possibilities of her increased capacity to pay, pointing out that the exports tax at present Will yield over one milliard marks and subsequently three milliards and a-half, 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 a moral penalty had been included—namely, the non-admission of Germany to the League of Nations. Britain promised not to capitalise her share of the indemnity for five years in order to avoid competition with French loans. —Reuter.

GERMANY’S WINGS CLIPPED.

PRECAUTIONS AGAINST DEFAULT,

at.t.TRR IN COMPLETE ACCORD,

MR LLOYD GEORGE EXPRESSES SATISFACTION.

LONDON, January 30. (Received Jan. 31, at 7.45 p.m.) Besides the annuities' which Germany must pay, there will be a tax on German exports as cabled. The Conference was unanimous as regards reparation, and also unanimous in approving of the proposals of the military, naval, and air experts on the measures necessary for enforcing all the engagements to which Germany was bound, by the agreement made at Boulogne and Spa. The Allies have signed the protocol, ■which will shortly be sent to Berlin requesting Germany to complete her legislation for disarming the Reichswehr before March 15, as the Reichswehr comprises too many officers and men. Germany is requested to pftt the matter in order by April 15. The reduction of the army to 100,000 has not been accompanied by a corresponding surrender of material, and this must be accomplished by February 28. Concerning Germany’s organisation for self-protection, the Allies request a dissolution by June 30 of all forces constituted with that idea. Germany must hand to the Allies before March 15 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 31, and the remaining one-third by June 30. The naval clauses provide for the surrender of all documents by February 2C The ships in reserve must be destroyed by April 30, and the destructions already started must be completed before July 31. The warships being constructed must be destroyed immediately, also the submarines.

The articles of the protocol dealing with reparations empower the Reparations Commission to take all measures expedient for controlling German exports, and to allow Germany to discharge her debts before they come' due witfi discounts varying with the years. They forbid all credit transactions abroad without the commission’s authority, and provide that a Customs tax on exports shall constitute the security of the agreement. The Allies may raise the Customs duties if they prove insufficient. Germany must hand 22.000 tons of coal monthly to the Allies from January 31, and the arrears of 500.000 tons within two months.

It is stated that while the Conference has decided upon the ultimate measures in the event of the non-fulfilment of Geimanjr’s obligations, the Allies, acting in a spirit of courtesy' inspired by the hope that Germany will carry out her obligations of her own free will, deem it unnecessary at present to notify Berlin what these precautions are. The Allies have agreed to forgo claims against Austria for the, maintenance of the army of occupation, but no money will be advanced. \

Every question on the agenda paper has received, if not a final solution, at least a direction of policy. The most important result of the Conference, apart from the special questions, has been the establishment in sentiment and policy of the Allies’ harmony and union of the closest and most cordial kind.

Mr Lloyd George, in an interview, said that he had never attended a conference 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, ' and in any scheme of reparation practicability must be the main point. He added that he did not anticipate difficulty in obtaining reparation from Germany, adding: “If the Germans do not pay ns we shall not hesitate to put into operation the sanctions obtained at this Conference.”—A. and N.Z. Cable.

DIVIDING THE SPOILS. PARIS, January 30.' (Received Jan. 31, at 9.10 p.m.) The Allies’ share of the reparations will be;— , France ...£5,376,000,000 Italy ... 1,130,000,000 Belgium ... ... 904,000,000 Portugal and Japan (each) 84,000,000 Rumania, Jugo-Slavia, and others ... 734,000,000 —A. and N.Z. Cable.

GERMAN PRESS CRITICISM.

ANGRY AND DEFIANT.

p BERLIN, January 30. (Received Jan. 31, at 9.10 p.m.) The newspapers criticism on the Conference are angry and defiant. Some organs attempt to rouse French suspicions by arguing that the Paris decisions chiefly benefit British finance and trade with Germany for many years.—A. and N.Z. Cable.