THE PEACE TREATY

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14597, 22 February 1921, Page 7

THE PEACE TREATY

DIFFICULT AND DARK PROBLEMS. WAR CRIMINALS AND INDEMNITIES (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, February 19. In the House of Commons Mr Lloyd George, replying lo Mr A. .Boltomley'S amendment to the Address-in-reply expressing disappointment that no opportunity had been afforded for discussing tlie peace treaties and the Minister's policy on Indemnities and war criminals, said that he looked for some enlightenment on u matter difficult and dark from the speeches on Mr Bottomiey's amendment, but he had never heard such inadequate speeches on so great a problem. He still adhered to the pledge that Germany must pay to the limit of her capacity, but the. whole point was Germany's capacity to pay. If Mr Bojtomley went to Germany he might Perhaps bring a shipload of paper marks, but of what use would they be. The Premier declared that Mr Bottomley had paid no attention to the practical difficulties of extracting indemnities. The very best experts had found that if we pressed for impossibilities we would get nothing. In regard to the criminals, France felt stronffly, as we do, that it was not worth risking a war with Holland to get the Kaiser. The trial of other criminals would t>e pressed to the end, and the German delegates would be so informed. He had a strong suspicion that, the Germans were coming to the conference in ragged clothes, in an endeavour to secure a reduction of payment. The amendment was negatived by 181 votes to 40.