REPARATIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17031, 3 May 1923, Page 8

REPARATIONS.

GERMANY’S NEW NOTE. CONDEMNED IN ADVANCE. By Telegraph—Preas A3feociction—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received May 3, 10.-5 a.m.) PARKS. May 2. The newspapers generally condemn in advance Germany »s new Reparation Note, which they regard as merely an effort to improve Germany's position in the. eyes of America and Britain. " Le Journal ” declares that France and Belgium require but one thing from Germany—that is, the acceptance of the debt payments fixed in May, 1921. GERMANY’S OFFER. By Telegraph—Pres* Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. Received May 3, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, May 2. I’ho Berlin correspondent of the “ Daily Telegraph ” understands that the German Note, in substance, reverts to tiie Bergmann plan. It will offer a fixed preliminary payment of twenty milliards to be raised by loan. Germany proposes to pay the interest on the whole of this amount, even though only portion should be subscribed. She asks for a moratorium of four years, and that she should, be allowed to retain, from the proceeds of the loan, sufficient to pay the interest oil the whole amount during this period, the remainder being handed to the Reparations Commission. With regard to further payments, three alternative proposals are put forward:— (1) That two additional sums of five milliards each should be forthcoming according to the Bergmann scheme. (2) That a scheme of variable payments should be drafted by an International Commission composed as Mr Bonar Law suggested. (3) That the matter shall fee referred to an International Commission of some other composition. Germany undertakes to provide legislative aud administrative measures to enforce any guarantee of private finance, industry or agriculture. It is pointed out that as the whole, of the Government’s property is already pledged as a guarantee under the Peace Treaty, it follows that the railway revenue could not be offered as a security to a banking consortium without the permission of the signatories to the Treaty. Alternatives were also offered in regard to France’s security against attack as'follows:— Firstly—Germany’s original proposal communicated through America with, however, the elimination of the Mutual Pledge Treaty and the plebiscite. Secondly—That France and Germany should arrange a treaty governing the point. Th ird 1 y—A n Arb i t ration Treaty should be arranged similar to the Anglo-American Treaty. Finally—lf none of these are acceptable, it is suggested that the safety of the frontiers should be entrusted to an international body such as the Rhine Commission.. Germany demands the evacuation of the Ruhr (though this is not put forward as a basis of negotiation) and also that all persons arrested or in exile should be released and restored to their homes.