LONDON CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1921, Page 2

LONDON CONFERENCE

CABLE NEWS.

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. AUSTRALIAN AND N,Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. WHAT GERMANY OWES. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.mQ PARIS, Match 3. The Reparations Commission- has notified Germany that contrary to Berlin calculations, the balance Germany will owe before 30th. April, will exceed twelve milliard of gold marks. GERMAN VIEWS.

(Received this day at 8 a.in.) BERLIN, March 2 German ofpcial correspondents in London are emphasising the seriousness of the situation, while they express the opinion that negotiations have not broken down and belieye Hon Lloyd George spoke with intentional sharpness, aa a set off against Von Simon’s rejection of the Paris decisions. The v papers, following the line of correspondents believe the Allies realise they are dwelling in a region of illusions apt! that a second and even a "third conference will be necessary to bring them back to realisation. All declare Simon’s offer represents the ’limits of Germany’s capacity

STRAIGHT TALK THE ALLIED TERMS. . LLOYD GEORGE’S POINTED STATEMENT GERMANS TO REPLY ON MONDAY. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. (Received This Day at 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, March 3. Crowds lined the front of the palace and cheered the arrival of the Allied delegates. After Marshal Focli had delivered a lengthy speech, Hon Lloyd George outlined the Allies views and said having regarded to infractions of the Treaty of Versailles and indications that Germany meant to still defy and explain away the Treaty, the Allies must act on the assumption that the German Government was not merely defaulting, but was deliberately defaulting. Unless the Allies heard by noon on Monday that Germany was either prepared to accept the Paris decisions .or submit proposals which in other ways would be equally satisfactory, the Allies had agreed to take the follow-

ing measures: — First.—The occupation of Duisberg, Ruhort and Dusseldorf.

Secondly.—The Allies would obtain^powers from their respective Parliaments requiring their nationals to pav a certain proportion of, all payments due to Germany on goods purchased in Allied countries, to the several Governments, which would be retained on the

reparation accqunt. * Thirdly The amount of duties collected by German custom houses on the external frontiers of the occupied territories would be paid the Reparations Commission.

These would continue to be levied in accordance with the German tariff. Also, that a line of customhouses he temporarily established on the Rhine and at the boundaries of Tetes de Ponts occupied by the allies troops, tlie tariff levied on the occupied territories to he fixed by the Allied Rhine Commission. which would apply to goods both on entry and export. Hon Lloyd George said Von Simons might prefer to examine his statement before replying. Von Simons said he , would like to answer now.- He added: The German delegation is going to examine the speech and documents which Hon'Lloyd George would transmit to us with the care due to their import- —v auce, and would give an answer before noon on Monday.”

He thought Hon Lloyd George misunderstood the German attitude, but he believed here would be no occasion for the imposing of the measures outlined.

VERY STRAIGHT TALK

DENOUNCED AS DEFAULTERS

(Received This Day at 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, March 3

Hon Lloyd George addressing the Germans, said Germany was a defaulter, notably in respect to the trial of war criminals, disarmament and payment in cash or kind of twenty milliards of gold marks. The Allies had displayed no harsh insistence upon the letter of their bond. They extend, ed the time and even a modification of the character of their demands, but each time the German Government had failed them. Military organisations,, some of them, clandestine, had been allowed to spring up all over Germany, equipped with arms, which ought to have been surrendered. Tile Allies were reluctantly convinced that the German Government does not intend to carry out its obligations, or lias not strength enough to- insist upon the necessurv sacrifices being made. t

LLOYD GEORGE’S THREAT V LONDON, March 3. Hon Lloyd George addressing the Germans, said any modification permittable by an immediate acceptance of the proposals, will be abandoned if force is necessary. Germany must accept the responsibility for war rfnd interpret their obligations accordingly. Von Simons intimated that Lloyd George’s statement on Tuesday was not fully appreciated, owing to the language difficulty. An adjournment was granted till .Monday to enable the Germans to communicate with Berlin.