TO SQUEEZE GERMANY

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1921, Page 2

TO SQUEEZE GERMANY

FRENCH CABINET’S. AIM. UNITED SERVICE TELEGRAMS. LONDON, January 19. A vigorous effort to make Germany pay, is the keynote of M. Briand’s policy. The whole of France backs hinr confident it will not be through want of a clever man at the head of French affairs if. the policy is not enforced Louchehr ts given charge of the Ministry ’of Repatriation. He is a strange figure. A few years ago he was poverty stricken and now lie is one of the wealthiest men in France. He made enormous sums as contractor during the war, and attained great political powjer. Ho is now regarded as the mystery millionaire, whoso hand is in everything. Louchehr hints that Germany is under-taxed and is avoiding payment by assenting to a state of bankruptcy. His policy is that the Allies shall accept her word and assume control of lier taxing and spending departments. He proposes to take steps to give the German mark a positive value, and also to increase railway and other public service charges, control the German budget, and tax German taxpayers at least equal to French collect the taxes in the form of an indemnity ,and collect eight milliard marks yearly in coal, also two milliards in chemicals, timber and customs duties.