GERMANY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18512, 24 March 1922, Page 5

GERMANY.

REPARATION OBLIGATIONS. THE ALLIES? DEMANDS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright BERLIN, March 23. (Received March 25, at 7.45 p.m.) The Reparations Commission has handed Germany a Note demanding £36,000,000 in cash and £72,500,000 in kind. Germany is also required to raise £46,000,000 by new taxation and to inaugurate a drastic scheme of reduction in Government expenditure, which must be submitted to the Entente by April 1. The Note, which is practically a time-limited ultimatum, also insists that Germany shall raise internal and foreign loans in default of which the commission will put into process a levy on German capital.— A. and N.Z. Cable. THE OCCUPIED TERRITORY. BELGIAN SHOOTS GERMAN. BRUSSELS, March 23. (Received March 23, at 8.30 p.m.) A Belgian soldier shot a German officer in the occupied territory who was bearing arms contrary to orders. A Belgian pointed out the fact, and the German knocked him down. Another Belgian came to his comrade's assistance and shot the German with a revolver. —A. and N.Z. Cable. ARMIES OF OCCUPATION. AMERICA’S CLAIM. WASHINGTON, March 22. (Received Mar. 23, at 9.5 p.m.) It is understood that America’s Note to Great Britain, France, Italy, Belgium, and Japan states that the recognition and granting of the United States claim for the cost of occupying Rhine territory was doubly binding on the Allies since it was at the urgent solicitation of the Allies that American troops were kept in Germany; also there was a solemn agreement between the Allies and the Associated Powers that the payment of the cost of the armies of occupation should constitute a first lien on German assets, which understanding always contemplated the payment of American costs. The Not© adds that since Germany has not objected there seems no basis for Allied objections.—A. and N.Z. Cable. The State Department, in a Note to the Allies, points out that they cannot raise technical objections to the United States receiving a share of the cost of the occupation of German territory on the ground that she is not a signatory to the Versailles Treaty, in view of the fact that Germany explicitly consented to priority being given to American costs, notwithstanding that she did not ratify the Versailles Treaty. The Note also points out that the United States will welcome the Allies’ suggestions for a reasonable adjustment of the matter, but pending such considerations the United States hopes that the Allies will refrain from the distribution of funds to the exclusion of the United States.—A. and N.Z. Cable.