GERMAN INDEMNITY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160797, 3 November 1920, Page 4

GERMAN INDEMNITY.

The Hon. W. A. Watt, ex-Treasurer of the Commonwealth Government, who has Just returned to Australia after visiting the Old Country on a special mission whose chief object was to arrange matters of finance for his Government, made some remarks in the Federal House of Representatives a week or so ago of interest to New Zealand. In dealing with' the financial situation, he referred to the subject q£ German indemnity payments that concerns this country as much as it does the people of Australia, When be arrived in England .he put Australia’s view about reparation in an uncompromising manner in the Press, "but,” said he, “I was long enough In Britain to have lost faith in any German indemnity worth talking about, for British people, and any man who builds on it, I am afraid, is building on air.” In saying this Mr Watt explained that he did not reflect upon the genius or strength of purpose of Mr Lloyd George. No man could visit Britain and watch him at work upon world problems and note the great influence which his rare and magnetic personality exercises over Continental statesmen and nations, as well as upon the great bulk of the British people, and feel anything but sympathy and admiration for him in his giant task. Mr Watt said he might be wrong, and he devoutly hoped he was, but with the unparalleled decline in Continental currency, the disorders that reign In Europe, the resolute Intent with which Prance is pushing for a large share of an indemnity, and priority in its payment, even straining the Franco-Brltlsh alliance in the attempt, he felt that In the end the British Empire must 'submit to much less reparation thamthe Treaty provides. It was a lamentable thought, but he believed a true one.