LONDON CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1921, Page 3

LONDON CONFERENCE

CABLE NEWS

BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGH' „ AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATE PAY THE PRICE. ALLIED DETER MI NAT lON. LONDON, March 3. Hon Lloyd George addressing tli German delegation, said we had n desire to impose a bondage and wer ' not asking for a penny towards tli costs of the war. We simply insists that Germany should pay reparation for injuries inflicted on Allied coun tries and the people. The German peo pie have no notion of the devastatioi wrought as a result of their Imperia Government’s action in August 1914 When they realise this attitude the! mind will change. Twenty-one tlious and factories were destroyed in France which will take ten years to reestab lisli. The French mines in 1659 com munes were completely destroyed. Ar incredable amount of damage was doni deliberately. Blast furnaces and rolling mills in Belgium were deliberately blown up, in order that the work. 1 should not compete with their German rivals. GERMAN SHIPPING FLEET. GOVERNMENT HELP TO REBUILD BERLIN, March 3 The German Government agreed to pay the German shipping companies 4700 million paper marks as compensation for their vessels lost in the war, in addition to sums already paid. The value of the ships was 7,000,000, 000 marks in gold. '-■? At least ninety per cent of the money must be spent on new const]action. The companies must build ‘2.500,000 tons of shipping inside - ten years. stating THE position. PLAINLY PUT BY LLOYD GEORGE. LONDON, March 3. Mr Lloyd George said that the Allied proposals were tendered in a spirit of concession to induce an amicable settlement with Germany. The counter proposals were a mockery of the tieaty. The Allies came to this conclusion not only from the German counter proposals, but also from a perusal of Dr Simons’ speeches and. th e support they received* in Germany.' For instance, Dr Simons repudiated Germany’s responsibility over the war. The repudiation was acclaimed through ou;t Germany. For the Allies, the German responsibility for the war was fundamental, and if that acknowledgment was abandoned, the Treaty would lx> destroyed. “We regard a free contented Germany,” added Mr Lloyd George, “as essential to civilisation and Regard a discontented, enslaved Germany as a menace and a burden to European civilisation.” Mr Lloyd George continued that un- * less reparation is made by Germany >■ then the war victors will have to pnv the prico of defeat, while those vanquished in war would reap the fruits of victory. What Germany offers was not one-fourth of fhe amount the Allies required to repair damges. The offer was only made on condition that the Allies first found it out of their own pockets in loans on liighlv privilewd terms wh*n they can only with difficulty raise money iu their own markets for their essential work of Government. Such proposals were an offence and exasiperntiom. Germany's failure to bring up her taxation to the level of taxes in Allied countries itself constituted an infringment of the Treaty of Versailles. Until Germany did this she would not 1> P in a position to plead that she is unable to meet the Paris Conference Allied proposals. j