REPARATIONS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18234, 19 November 1924, Page 9

REPARATIONS.

• <•* BRITISH IMPORT DUTY. GERMANY NOT TO BE CREDITED. (Stdnbi "Sun" Service.) BERLIN, Novomber 17. Widespread misunderstanding resulted from the publication of a letter from Mr S. P. Gilbert, Agent-General of Eeparations, who is an American citizen, regarding payments under the Dawes scheme, informing the German Minister of Finance that he would not credit as reparations any payments Germany made after December Ist under the French and British laws imposing a reparations duty of 26 per cent, on German goods imported. This was interpreted at first that Germany would not get credit for such payments, which Prance and Great Britain had been allowing. Further enquiries suggest that the letter is really an attack on the right of France and Britain to levy the duty. It is hinted that Mr Gilbert regards the duty as an illicit method of raising reparations.

INTERPRETATION DOUBTED. (Stones "Sun' 1 Sebvjce.) LONDON, November 17. Official circles advise caution in accepting the German interpretation of Mr Gilbert's letter. It is pointed out that such interpretation ia contrary to the terms of the Dawes report, and would throw the Allied agreement with Germany thereon into the melting pot.