REPARATIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16366, 3 March 1921, Page 5

REPARATIONS.

ALLIES CONSULTING. Bv Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON. March 1. The heads of the Allied delegations considered the action proposed in consequence of the German counter-proposals regarding reparations, and it was decided to consult the military and judicial advisers to-morrow, with a view to informing Germany on Thursday what measures the Allies proposed to take. I GERMANS DISAPPOINTED WITH RECEPTION. LONDON. March 1. Tlic “Pall Mall Gazette” states that the members of the German delegation are very disappointed with their reception at to-day’s conference They insist that the proposals made represent the utmost Germany can do, and say that if the Allied Conference persists there, is no other course open but for the delegation to go straight home. AN IMPUDENT SPEECH. ALLIED DELEGATES AMUSED VXD INDIGNANT. LONDON, March I. The “ Daily Telegraph’s ” diplomatic correspondent says :—lt seems that from the first Dr von Simons’s proposals were utterly inacceptable. At the close all the leading delegates gave vent to mingled feelings of amazement, amusement and indignation. One said: “It is either a case of incredible ignorance, impudence or stupiditv.” During the first few minutes of the sitting it seemed that Dr von Simons was attempting to propound a reasonable scheme, but when he argued that the total amount under the Paris agreement was not four milliards sterling but in reality two milliards, his hearers were puzzled. Later they found that the reason was that von Simons himself was TMittmg forward an offer of two and a halt milliards, but this was inclusive of tile milliard delivered in specie and goods by the first of Mav under the \ersailles Treaty. Thus the German offer was reduced to what is equivalent to only one and a half milliards, of which von Simons invited the Allies to subscribe the first four hundred mil lions. This means a loan. In fact, Dr von Simons wishes the Allies fo accept annual payments of £50,000.000, instead of annuities amounting to five or six times as muchAbout one o’clock Mr Lloyd George sent n note to his colleagues, asking ■whether the time had .not come to invite Herr von Simons to conclude his unedifying address. Von Simons, scenting trouble, hastened to cut short his speech. At another time Mr Lloyd George whispered to M. Briand : “If Dr von. Simons goes on another + en minutes the Allies will bo obliged to pay an indemnity to Germany. THE NEXT STEP. NEWSPAPER DISCUSSION i FRANCE READY TO ACT. I LONDON, March 2. The newspapers unanimously dismiss the German proposals as summarily as the Conference itself. Even the “ Daily News ” blames +he Germans for playing into French Hands. Speculation chiefly centres on Germany’s reasons for making such an inadequate offer. Opinion is divided wnether it is due to sheer impudence or stupidity in failing to grasp realities. Already the newspapers put the German proposition behind them and discuss the next step. The “ Daily News ” believes that when the Supreme Council receives the military and judicial reports it will present an ultimatum to

French circles emphasise that the time has arrived for decisive action. The patience of the French public is quite exhausted. M. Doumer, French Finance Minister, states that the whole world will know before the week-ena how France proposes to make Germany pay. Germany will find for once that might is right. Apparently one judicial point calling for decision is whether the Allies may act coercively before May 1. Quarters where hope lingers longest discern a j possibility of a fresh turn in events in i the interval, should the conference not I be completely disrupted, j German conference circles profess to I believe that the proceedings will be j brought to a deadlock. They reiterate that their offer represents the absolute practical maximum. They are not proj fessing to return home, as the delega- ' lion is not plenipotentiary and must await the Government’s instructions, ; but they describe themselves as gloomy I and unhopeful. One diplomatic corresi pondent thinks that their reception by the Conference may result in another sleepless night preparing a speech, which will possibly disclose a greater effort to approach the Allies’ ideas. It transpires that Dr von Simons omitted to state that Germany’s offer depends on the grant of certain concessions, the principal of which is the retention of Upper Silesia and Germany’s freedom from all commercial restrictions.

DUTCH APPEAL FOR LENIENCY. MR LLOYD GEORGE’S SHARP REPLY. LONDON, March 1. Mr Lloyd George telegraphed a sharp reply to the Netherlands Federation of Trade Unions, which urged that the conditions of German reparations should not foster fresh hatred amongst the nations or impose year-long slavery upon millions of working people. The Premier replied that lie was surprised to receive a telegram of protest from Netherlands trade unions. “I do not recollect,” he said, “ during the war, when the Imperialist German Government, endeavouring to deprive the working classes of France and Belgium of their liberties, that the trade unions in Holland made any protest. I do not recollect that they protested against the deportation of Belgian and French workmen to slave labour in Germany.” So far as T can make out, your preI sent protest is only calculated to leave upon the working classes, especially in France and Belgium, not merely the costs of war, but the immense burden of repairing war-damage done by the Germans. Surely it is just that the authors of the war should bear a fair share of. the cost of restoring the rav- . aged countries.”