REPARATIONS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 108, 31 January 1921, Page 5

REPARATIONS

ALLIED CONFERENCE

ENDED

SUCCESS GAINED BY MUTUAL CONCESSIONS

GERMAN PAYMENTS FIXED

By Telegraph.—Press Association-Copyright

Paris, January 28.

Tho military experts have furnished their reports to tho Supreme ’ Council. It is understood that they recommend that Germany shall be given, until July to disband and disarm the civil troops, end shall immediately surrender a largo quantity of war material, under serious penalties. Some of the newspapers do not think tliat the French and British views regarding the indemnity are so irreconcilable* as they appear. The “Petit Journal” says: “If our Allies give up the Idea of extracting all they might obtain, and adopt a scheme diminishing France’s share, it will bo legitimate for France to obtain from the Allies a precise assurance that they will immediately help her to restore her financial equilibrium, now disturbed by the uncertainty as to Germany's payments.—Aus.-N.Z. Camo Assn.

BRITISH PREMIER’S VIEW

HOPES FOR SUBSTANTIAL REPARATIONS.

Paris, January 28. Mr. Lloyd George, addressing a gathering of journalists, said he was hopeful of getting substantial reparations before the conference concluded. Definite proposals about Germany’s ability to pay would bo formulated. England was no loss interested than France, because the people of England were the most heavily taxed in the world. The trouble was that everybody wanted gold, which Geirnany had not got, And they would not take German goods. He believed there would he no difficulty about disarmament. It was no use advancing millions to Austria. The fact was that sho was now a small State, unable to bear the cost of such a capital as Vienna. Engkind had already advanced millions to Zistria, and England and France, undei’ Their heavy burdens of taxation, could not supply further millions.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

FRENCH PLANS AMENDED ADOPTION OF NEW FORMULA(Rec. January 30, 5-5 p.m.) Paris, January 29. The situation at the Allied Conference was critical during t'hq afternoon,. All. Lloyd George threatening to leave inline diately for London. Lord d’Abernon, however, intervened and secured certain amendments to the French i>lans, which improved tho situation. The new formula is a series of annuities varying from </ne hundred mlilion to three hundred million pounds for forty-two years, the amount being regulated by the volume of Gorman trade. Great Britain’s share will be 22 per cent. Germany will also pay 121 per cent., on all her exports, but there will ho no fixed sum which Germany shall finally pay. Tho • Supreme Council will meet tomorrow to conclude tho agreement, which will then be sent to Germany without discussion with, the German delegates. Press correspondents claim that this result is a triumph' for Mr. Lloyd George, ns the proposal generally corresponds to the Boulogne agreement.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

TERMS OF THE REPARATIONS. (Rcc. January 30, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, January 29. The Conference , has adopted tho reparations report. It also decided to meet the German representatives at a conference in London on February 28. The terms of the reparations agreement include forty-two annuities, dating from May, 1921. The first two will be of one hundred million pounds each and the next three of one hundred AGI fifty millions each. Then will come three of two hundred millions each, three of two hundred and fifty millions, -and thirtyone of three,hundred mißSjns. Britain’s total share will bo d)2,486,000,000—Au5.N.Z. Cable Assn. CONFERENCE~FIMSiIED ALLIES IN COMPLETE ACCORD. (Rec. January 30, 11 p.m.) Paris, January 29. The. proces verbal (official report or minutes of the conference) was signed at 5 o’clock this evening. The Allies passed a resolution declaring that they were convinced that close union was as necessary to the preservation of peaco as to win the war, and that they were determined to allow nothing to impair it. Sueh union was regarded as tho surest guarantee of the execution of the treaties and fidelity to tho international engagements agreed to in connection therewith was also stressed.

M. Briand expressed on behalf of France his great appreciation of the success of the conference, in which he was pleased and proud to. participate. He realised that great progress had been made, and that tho conference, in helping to carry out the laborious task of solving the problems before them, had rendered a service, besides that to France, to mankind at large. They had succeeded by making mutual concessions. He cordially thanked the members for the assistance given, without which their success would have been nothing like so complete. Mr. Lloyd George, responding, said: “We indeed have good reason to congratulate ourselves. The remarkable achievement is largely due to the admirable way in which M. Briand has presided. Although he assumed office only a fortnight ago, he has shown the greatest knowledge, skill, and ability in guiding the deliberations. It has been my painful duty to criticise what ho said on several occasions, but I did it for his good and because of my affection for him, and with the good results we now see. I thank him most sincerely, also MM. Doumer, I.oueheur, and our other colleagues, who all contributed to the success of the conference, which has been so fruitful of future good for Europe.” The Premiers’ Conference has conduced. The penalties for Germany s nonfulfilment of the disarmament conditions would be Allied occupation of the Ruhr district, extension of the period of occupation of the Rhine area, seizure of Customs revenue, and refusal to allow Germany to join the League of Nations. A further conference will bo held at Trieste shortly, to which tho small nations of Central Europe will be invited, for the purpose of reaching agreement, on Austrian affairs. , o The newspaper "Temps” says: -‘ er " manv needs peace. We hope she will recognise the necessity of fulfilling her obligations voluntarily, and also bay’ courage to grasp, her ’•espons.bihtms Tho "Journal des Debut*” says that the princinal cmi*" of rejoicing nt the results of the conference is tho mnin'anmnee of Allied unity, which no living statesman dare disturb. Tho "Tntrnnsigennt hails to-day ns a good day for Frtuu'e, adding that it is a step forward on the real road to pence. “Liberte " says that ’ir. f.loyd George, with profound political wisdom, brought about concrete decisions, while M. Briand achieved a grand success. —-Ana.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.