REPARATION PAYMENTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16681, 13 March 1922, Page 2

REPARATION PAYMENTS.

CLAIM BY AMERICA. By Telegraph—Press Association—'Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. WASHINGTON. March 11. Mr Roland Boyden will be the American representative to the Allied Finance Ministers' Conference at Paris. He has been instructed to make a formal demand that the cost of the American army of occupation he taken out of German reparation payments. The United States claims that the cost of maintaining the troops on the Rhine is 241,000,000 dollars. (Mr Roland W. Boyden is a direr!or of numerous financial concerns, including the Beverly National Bank, the First National Bank, Boston and Providence R.R. Corporation, Eastern Manufacturing Company, and Boston Chamber of Commerce. He is president of the Beverly Savings Bank.) FRANCE’S REPLY. PARIS, March 12 France considers that America i* fully entitled to payment, for the maintenance of the American army of occupation but contends, as America % not a. party to the Treaty of Versailles and signed a separate treaty with Germany, she should deal direct wich Germany regarding payment. The Allies’ allotment among themselves of moneys from Germany arises under conventions in accordance with the Treaty of Versailles. The American Note emphasises the fact that she will create no difficulties regarding the prnctical details of the payment provided the Allies give an assurance of payment. FRENCH COMMENT. A DISAGREEABLE SURPRISE. PARIS, March 11. The American reparations claim has caused a disagreeable surprise. “ Le Matin ” says that if the United States insists it will he the end of Belgium’s priority and France’s expectations. Meanwhile Ministers are invited by the Reparations Commission to formulate a detailed plan for an international loan to Germany. The “Echo de Paris” regards such loan as vain and useless. This journal thinks the Allies had better organise a system of reparations in kind and raise- money on German Customs and industrial dividends. UNABLE TO PAY. INTIMATION FROM GERMANY. PARTS. March 11. M Le Matin ” reports that Germany has intimated to the Reparations Commission that, owing to the low value of the mark, she cannot continue the ten-day payments fixed at Cannes. PARIS CONFERENCE. DIVIDING THE PAYMENTS PARTS, March 11. The British, French, Belgian and Italian Finance Ministers have concluded an agreement under which, out of Germany's payments for the armies of occupation until Mnv 1, France re ee i yes 460,000.000 francs, Belgium 102.000,000 francs, Brstain ’ £2 ,000.000. Out of Germany's payments in kind in 1922 France receives 65 per centThe signatories approved the Wiesbaden agreement for three years, conditional on deferred payments not ex reeding 350,000,000 marks in 1922 and 750.000,000 marks in 1923 and 1924. i A M ERIC AN 1N SISTE NCE. WASHINGTON, March 11. ! The non-inclusion of the Unity! States in the first allotment of the German occupation payments has brought a statement from a high State Department authority that America will continue stronglv to insist on her share.