THE OCCUPIED TERRITORY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18625, 5 August 1922, Page 7

THE OCCUPIED TERRITORY.

FRENCH TROOPS TO REMAIN. BERLIN, Angust 3. (Received Angust 4, at 8.30 p.m.) French troops, due to leave the Rhineland for France, have been ordered to remain for the purpose of guaranteeing undisturbed Initiation of the sanctions if imposed. . The exchange rate closed at 4000 marks to the £. —A. and N.Z. Cable. THE NATION’S BURDEN. HOW BRITAIN STANDS, GERMAN REPARATIONS. NEED FOR ADJUSTMENT. LONDON, August 3. (Received Aug. 4, at 10.45 p.m.) In the House of Commons, in moving tlie third reading of the Consolidated Fund Bill, Sir Robert Home reviewed the German reparations payments. Thus far Germany has paid £107,000,000. Apart from the value and offer of the ship’s coal and payments in valued at £160,000,000, Government property in the ceded territories was valued at £125,000,000. The Saar mines were valued at £23,000,000. Of a total of £415,000,000 paid. Great Britain had obtained £56,000,000, practically the whole of which was spent upon the armies in occupation. Personally he had come to the conclusion that Germany could pay very considerable sums in the shape ot reparations, but required some respite in order to put herself in a position to pay. Great Britain recognised her obligations to pay the debt to the United States to the full amount. German capital invested abroad was nothing like what some people supposed it to be. It did not amount to more than £100,000,000. It was essential to adjust reparations to really payable dimensions, both as regards time and the method of payment. The European problem could only be settled in conjunction with the Allies. Sir Robert Horne pointed out that Great Britain’s war debt totalled £7,766,000,000, France’s £6,340,000,000, and America’s £5,147,000,000, the equivalent per capita amount being £lßl,' £162, and £4l, while the taxations per capita worked. out at; Great Britain, £l7 17s; France, £9; America, £B. In those circumstances it was impossible to ask the British taxpayer alone to carry the war debt burden. While recognising our full obligations to America, he regretted that the United States attitude made it im possible for those who fought side by side to regard their financial contributions as subscriptions to a common cause. Mr Asquith said that unless something frere done promptly Germany was heading straight for bankruptcy. He agreed with Sir Robert Home that it was necessary to reduce the reparations to really payable dimensions, and he was glad M. Poincare was coming to discuss the question personally. Mr Asquith, thought they conld write the reparations off 41s not good debts. To remit them was 'not an act of magnanimity, but an act of good business.—A. arid N.Z. Cable.