THE REPARATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 April 1921, Page 2

THE REPARATIONS

| AUSTRALIAN and n.z. cable association. ' TO USE FORCE. j FRENCH DETERMINATION. j LONDON, April 19. * Although a full meeting of the Supreme Council is rendered imperative early in May through Germany’s dei fault regarding reparation, certain fac- | tors make it urgently necessary that |M. Briand and Hon. Lloyd George i should confer before, and it is likely j Belgian and Italian representatives will j attend at Hythe if time permits. The i prime factor for the conference is France's attitude. -Men like M. Poincaire and M. Tardieu now that efforts to get from Germany substantial proposals, have failed, are insistent on earry- ; ing out the Versailles Treaty to the letter and object to further parleying 1 over terms. French military authori- ■ ties under Marshal Focli are engaged in a secret conference during the last day or two on military mensuires necessary to enforce German compliance with treaty. ’

GERMANY’S BLUFF. CALLING HER HAND. LONDON, April 19 Germany’s suggestion that she take over the Allies indebtedness to America has not been received with any appreciable favour in Britain or France. These various manoeuvres are taken to mean that Germany is still playing for time. The Repreparations Commission has now definitely informed the German Commission that it has come to the conclusion that the German Government has made up its mind not to accede to the Reparation Commission’s demand to enforce Article 235 of the treaty. Further, in view of this uncompromising attitude of the German Government, the Commission feel bound to take more drastic steps to enforce its rights over the products and resources of the 'Empire and German States. | FRANCE’S DETERMINED ACTION. GETTING TO BEDROCK. LONDON, April 19. The Reparations Committee state there is no evidence that British militarists share the knowledge what was done at these conferences, indicating France’s determination to act alone if need be. M. Briand expected to lay France’s plans before Hon Lloyd George at Hythe, and to secure his acquiescence, and some measure of active assistance in bringing Germany to bod. The Commission from whose decision there is no appeal, definitely estimates Germany has only made surrenders equivalent to eight milliards of marks, and she is now faced seemingly, with an impossible task of finding twelve milliards in as many days. Germany has failed to induce Belgium or Switzerland to mediate with the Allies.

” TIME FOR GERMAN REPLY. LONDON, April 19. ’ The Allied Reparations Commission 1 gives Germany until April 22 to re--1 , ply to its demands. ’ | There is a considerable outcry in Ger- ’ | many over the Commission’s instruc- ’ tion to the German authorities to transfer the Reich Bank’s gold reserve t ; ' ’ occupied territory before May 1. 5 ALLIED TAX ON GERMANY. LONDON, April 19. Although the Allied sanction for imposing a Customs duties is not long enough in operation to enable A'fL opinions as to its possibility, there is ; already an indication both in Britain ! and France of its boomerang-like char- ! acters and that even in the case of J Germany’s exports to the Allied coiinj tries, the. tax will he handed on to the i consumer, who thus will help to pay Germany’s indemnity. NEW GERMAN OFFER. LONDON, April 19 Germany is formulating a fresh offer to the Allies by which she will carry out certain restoration work through a. syndicate of German contractors, the material being supplied from German supplies, and payment for which is assured by bonds which the German Government will hand to the French people involved. Germany has also proposed to pay each year for ten years three milliards of gold marks, plus an annuity equal to 20 per cent of the German exports to the Allied countries. Germany also suggests an international loan of 10 milliards of marks on which she will pay five per cent., to be guaranteed by the revenues of German railways.