REPARATION PAYMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20701, 26 April 1929, Page 11

REPARATION PAYMENTS

COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS. REPORT BEING PREPARED. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copy rig bs.) PARIS, April 23. The Reparations Committee met this morning and issued the following communique:—The committee received am] ordered to be filed last week’s sub-com-mittee’s report, stating that no agreement was reached regarding figures. The committee, in a plenary session, thereupon unanimously decided on the appointment of a sub-committee, to be charged with the work of outlining the chief points to be embodied, in the report. It is anticipated that while this work is proceeding the efforts of all groups alike will be continued in order to arrive at an agreement on the points upon which accord has not yet been reached,—Australian Press Association^—Unfted Service. GERMANY’S VIEWPOINT. THREE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS. LONDON, April 24. (Received April 25, at 7 p.m.) The Daily Telegraph’s Paris correspondent has been furnished with a statement of the German viewpoint of the reparations impasse which gives the opinion that there are three possible solutions, — first, that the Allies reduce their demands; secondly, that Germany must be enabled to increase her capacity for payment; and' thirdly, a provisional agreement pending better times. If none of these is acceptable Germany is prepared to continue the' Dawes plan, but the transfer clauses must operate without delay. Germany is unwilling to continue, payments from borrowed money.—United Servlet. RIGHTS OF DOMINIONS. BRITISH DELEGATES’. FIRM . STAND. LONDON, April 25. (Received April 25, at 7 p.m.) The Paris correspondent of the Financial Times says that the discussion among the experts has been most strained lately. Not only were there verbal battles with the Germans, but Sir Joseph Stamp and Sir Charles Addis were obliged to stand up firmly against the French, Belgian, and Italian delegates for reparations claimed by British dominions. The representatives of the countries named sought strenuously to have the dominions’ claims parcelled out between but the British representatives put" up a strong defence arid won the day.—Australian Press Association. CHANCES OF AGREEMENT. NOW OF THE SMALLEST. , PARIS, April 24. (Received April 25, at 7 p.m.) “Humanly speaking, the Reparations Conference is dead, yet miracles happen; Only an act of God can now save the conference,” said one observer. The idea appears to be that the experts are now at liberty semi-officially to re-examine every point already raised. It is faintly hoped that an agreement may be reached in the process where hitherto there has been none. If Germany and the creditor Powers at the end of drafting the report find the position unaltered there will he no alternative but of informing the Governments that no. result is attainable. The . French are of the opinion that the chances .are now of the smallest. They are concerned not only over the difference in the figures but with Dr Sehacht’s reluctance to effect immediate mobilisation of that part of the debt over and above what the Allies require to pay the United States. Optimists suggest as a basis of agreement low annuities at first, rising steeply later, the idea being that if the Allies accept payments only slightly above the £82,500,000 offered by Dr Schacht the prospect of assistance from the International Bank may induce him to agree to higher figures. Thereafter a stumbling block, however, remains. While Dr Schacht is eager to continue discussions, there is not the slightest indication of his willingness to shift his ground. It is left to the chairman to summon the next plenary session.—Australian Press Association. OPINION IN BRITAIN. CHANGED TO PESSIMISM.,. LONDON, April 24. (Received April 25, at 5.5 p.m.) The Daily- Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says that the opinion in British circles has changed to pessimism following reports from the delegation. It is expected that any breakdown will be euphemistically described as a mere postponement till late summer or autumn. •