AN INDEMNITY FOR FRANCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1731, 28 June 1917, Page 2

AN INDEMNITY FOR FRANCE.

THE report of the Finance Committee of the Chamber of Deputies on the new Income Tax Dill, presented last month, shows that the war has caused a comparatively small increase of (axes in Prance, and introduces the extremely interesting question of the possible effect of a peace settlement: which will impose on Germany the chief Imydon of meeting the enormous expenditure resulting from the war. The report shows that (axes increased in Britain during the war from !)5 francs per head to 205 francs, whereas the increase in France is only from !)() to .103 francs. The report adds: —Finally, let us remember that we must impose upon our enemy a considerable pari of the burden of (his terrible conliict, which was provoked by them alone. We must have a peace that pays. Reintegral ion into our country of the territories wrenched from us in the war of 1870 will help us in repairing many of the ruins. We would know also lo what extent the Central Powers can render us in money the imleumitlea which they will he compelled to pay to us and our allies. It will be necessary to have compensation in kind, such as the mines of Sarre, in German Lorraine, and guarantees such as the financial control of Customs, poifs, forests, railroads, mines, and other national resources of the enemy, which will serve as pledges for the annual obligations which we should require in case insufficient indemnities are paid in cash. Finally, as reparation for the damage done in the invaded districts, we shall require from Germany immediate restitution of kind, of machines and slocks of merchandise, lumber, and material .of all kinds which (he invaders have stolen from our unfortunate people, demanding also (hat the towns and villages destroyed by the criminal rage of the barbarians shall be rebuilt by German hands, and insisting besides that ships of the German Heel shall be handed over lo replace those sunk by the pirates.