GERMANY MUST PAY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 127, 22 February 1921, Page 5

GERMANY MUST PAY

TO LIMIT OF CAPACITY TRIAL OF WAR CRIMINALS TO BE PRESSED STATEMENT BY MR. LLOYD GEORGE (By Telegraph.-Press Association.-Copyrlght London, February 19. In the House of Commons, Mr. Lloyd George, replying to Mr. Horatio Bottomley’s amendment to the Address-in-Reply expressing disappointment that no opportunity had been afforded for discussing the I’eace Treaties and the Ministers’ policy on indemnities and war criminals, said he looked for some enlightenment on matters difficult and dark from the speeches on Mr. Bottomley’s amendment, but he never henrd 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 tho whole point was Germany’s capacity to pay. If Mr. Bottomley went to Germany he might, perhaps, bring back a shipload of paper marks, but of what use would they be? He declared that Mr. Bottomley had paid no attention to the practical difficulties of extracting tho indemnities. The very best experts found that if we pressed for impossibilities we would' get nothing. With regard to the war criminals, France felt strongly, as wo do, that it is not worth risking war with Holland to get tho Kaiser. The trial of the other criminals would be pressed to the end, and the German delegates would be so informed. He had strong suspicion that the Germans were coming to the London Conference in ragged clothes in an endeavour to secure a reduction of the payments. The amendment was negatived by ISI votes to 40. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BATTLE AGAINsYgERMAN ILL-WILL MAY DECIDE FATE OF FRANCE. Paris, February 20. M. Poincare, in an article in the “Temps,” says: “The battle which M. Briand has gone to London to deliver side by side with our Allies against German ill-will may perhaps decide the fate of France for ever.” M. Poincare supports his argument by documentary proof that Germany is now actually throwing even the responsibility for the wax- upon the Allies, especially France. He adds: "Germany is not presenting herself More tho Allies as a repentant criminal, but as an audacious accuser. Her attitude is more arrogant to-day than a year ago.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FRANCE REAdFfOR ACTION M. BRIAND INTERVIEWED. Paris, February 20. M. Briand, in an interview on the eve of his departure for London, said that France would welcome news that America was resuming her place in the Allied Conference. France had no desire to act independently of the Allies, but she was prepared to carry out herself the clauses of the Versailles Treaty relating to sanctions. France must always remember that the spirit of aggression can still be awakened in Germany. This German attitude may be modified in course of time, but France for the present must remain on guard. Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ENFORCEMENT OF THE PENALTIES GERMANS URGED TO SUPPORT GOVERNMENTS REFUSAL. Berlin, February 20. Dr. von Simons, in conferring with the Hessian Government, emphasised that the failure of the forthcoming London Conference would not mean the immediate enforcement of the penalties against Germany. They could only be enforced when Germany rejected the demands of the Reparations Commission, with which, according to the Peace Treaty, decision lay He urged the Germans to strongly support the Government’s refusal—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. CONFERENCE DELEGATES ASSEMBLING London, February 21. The French and Italian delegations to the Reparations Conference have arrived. There will be a preliminary' discussion at Downing Street to-day—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AMERICA’S ANOMALOUS POSITION respecting execution of TREATY. Washington, February 19. It is understood that President Wilson’s action in withdrawing the American representative from the Reparations Commission is intended to give Mr. Haidin, an entirely free hand in dealing with the peace problem. The withdraws is characterised not bnt as a discontinuance in unofficial discussions. Officials state that Hie position of the United States m respect to the execution of the Treaty has been growing most anomalous for several month... While the present Administration continues the United States should take some part in enforcing the conditions laid down, in the Treaty of Versailles, rince the United States helped to draw up the instrument, but President Wilson ultimately decided, under all circunxrtances that withdrawal would lie wiser. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ITALIANS’ WAR SACRIFICES ■ ECONOMIC CONCESSIONS AS COMPENSATION. Rome, February 20. Several members of the Foreign Affairs Committee advocate the Italians obtaining further compensations for their war sacrifices by economic concessions in the German colonies—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.