ALLIED CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1921, Page 3

ALLIED CONFERENCE

FRENCH DESIRES

ITALY AND BRITAIN CONCILIA TORY.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

(Received This Day at 9.45 a.m )

LONDON, May 1

The Conference sat a few minutes and then adjourned, as the experts had not completed the analysins of the mass of figures involved in various financial propositions, which necessarily require overhauling, in view of the Reparation Commission’s final bill.' It is estimated the latter on the basis of payment in thirty annuities will work out at something like 13-3 hundred million sterling. The Paris agreement meant 113 hundred millions; plus a twelve per cent exports tax, and the Germans latest offer is ten thousand millions over an unfixed period. It is these three groups of figures that the experts are wrestling with.

Italians and Hon. Lloyd George regard the Reparation Commission Bill as fixing Germany's responsibility un der the treaty. France does not gainsay this, but wants to occupy Ruhr first, and discuss the method of payments afterwards. In the absence of a FJranco-Ainerican-Bi'itish military agreement, France feels she must rely

on herself as Germany lias shown nothing can be gained by trying to treat her decently. France therefore insists on fettering the enemy as securely as possible. Her policy is based frankly on the assumption that Germany will fight again as soon as she is capable. Italy is strenuously opposed to the economic destruction of Germany, having regained her lost territories from Austria without ever having much heart mi the war against Germany. She desires to resume trade relations with the latter unhampered by sanctions. France broadly desires to see Germany under a receivership on on lines akin to the Ottoman Debt Commission.

Hon. Lloyd George, as al the peace conference, where he stood between the .extremism of M. Olemenoeau and mild benevolence of Mr Wilson, again stands to-day against extreme measures. He strongly desires a further ultimatum before militarism is exerted.

French newspapers comment with astonishment on Hon. Lloyd George and M. Sforzn? insistence .m an ultimatu.ll and declare the most pacific. Frenchman is fed up with Germany haggling, well knowing it is only carried out at the behest of the big business men and high financiers. The “Matin” is parti * i nrly cynical It says Mr Lloyd George must have among his henchmen, a number who at tended the Salvation rimy and came away with the deep impressions at sue l ’ meetings of old sinners after applications of the perfervid prayers and ragtime hymns, with weird trombone and concertina accompaniments have been suddenly converted, and a similar mb* ac]e is seemingly expected on the part of the Germans, but the “Matin” adds that there is a more sinister role play d by certain city hankers connected with German business houses, " nose interests lie not in a reduction of souls, hut in the conversion of more material things M. Briand declares he will not abate one jot of France’s demands and insist-, on the immediate application of the sanctions or Essen will he .occupied by next weekend, while an important role lias been reserved for the French navy Tt is reported from Berlin that Hen Stinnes has made new proposals em-

bracing a more positive guainutee, The met for an hour and in the afternoon adjourned without coming to a decision. The experts submitted a report which was referred back to flwn for further consideration, preparatory to a meeting of the C'opferpjicc at* eleven to-morrow,