THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1923. REPARATION PAYMENTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4511, 5 January 1923, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1923. REPARATION PAYMENTS.

It is. a striking proof of -the uncertainty of human judgments that the measure and extent of the reparation to be made by Germany is still being discussed at a date so long after the Armistice. Those who follow closely the movements of international events will recall that the enormous sum of £6,600,000,000 was the amount in material wealth or gold that was set against the damage inflicted by the warriors of the Fatherland. Time, however, has brought about either a milder approximation of the havoc wrought, or has led to a reconsideration of the sum it is possible to recover from Germany within any useful or reasonable period of time. It is a noticeable thing that since the year which saw the close of the Great War the fabric of nationalism has begun to moulder away, and in the wider view of internationalism it is beepming more evident that all.the races of the world are interdependent. The progress of many peoples will be hindered if one is bearing an impossible burden, and the leaders of the day appear to be realising this fact. Mr Bonar Law, the new Prime Minister of Great Britain, is now expected to press for the reduction of the reparation payment from £6,600,000,000 to £2,500,000,000. During last year the Bankers’ Committee recommended this amount as the total sum which it is possible for Germany to pay ; and the conference which is to meet in Paris this month will be expected to determine finally the amount to be paid. The varied character oi' the Nationals among the Allies, and the influence of location, is revealed in their present attitude on this matter. Great Britain, although she breathes hard, in-

clines to forbearance, even to charity. Belgium and France, on whose soil the major portion of the war was fought, were both early and late sufferers by the depredations of the invading hosts. The temperamental natures of these peoples are such, and the memory of the events and scenes is to them so vivid, that it is not surprising to find that their inclinations' are toward exacting a higher indemnity than will satisfy the Allied Entente. Italy, which has had more than enough of warfare to last her for many a day, now declines to sit around the conference table where sabre-rattling is indulged in, nor will she concur in any policy of violence. It is palpable that Germany cannot pay unless she is allowed to work and trade. There is a burden of reparation that will only.sulk her into a mood of passive resistance —that will provoke a policy of belated payments —that will sour a vast nation that cannot be destroyed —that will encourage subterfuge and chicanery in dealing, and sear a trail of bitterness that will take decades to obliterate. _ In the process of common law time is allowed in which a delinquent may find the money. In the larger question under review time to settle down must be giveh to Germany. Let the Allied Conference determine the amount, nominate the period of time and the proportions of the payment to be met. Having done this, let them look for the regular meeting of their bills. Such considerable reduction as may now be expected to be granted ought surely to be appreciated by an astute nation like Germany, and their obligations honourably met. The sooner these matters are unanimously and finally fixed, so much the better for the peace of distressed Europe and of the whole world.