FRANCE ALARMED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 499, 31 October 1928, Page 1

FRANCE ALARMED

NO WHITTLING DOWN OF REPARATIONS GERMANY’S PROPOSAL (United PA.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 2.45 p.m. LONDON, Monday. The Paris correspondent of “The Times” says that what especially alarms French public opinion in the German suggestion to reopen the Reparations questions is the idea of appointing independent experts. The idea is considered highly objectionable because the Governments would be responsible for carrying out the experts’ recommendations. These must therefore be under Government control. An additional cause of nervousness consists of the fear that experts might be under German influence., Paris newspapers are seriously alarmed on the ground that a loophole might be provided by which the reparations problem could escape from the control of the Allied Governments. The mere fact that Germany has taken a firm decision to consult such experts, might influence the experts themselves, and thus lead to results favourable to Germany. The opinion, semi-officially expressed, is that Germany is attempting to obtain decisions which she would describe as impartial, but which France would regard as further whittling down the Allied claims. Paris is anxious to make it clear to the world that whatever Berlin or Mr. Parker Gilbert desires, nobody has yet been committed to any particular procedure. Each Government must remain free to defend its own interests. Certainly general conversations have begun in Paris. London and Berlin, but no decisions have been arrived at. The general opinion in France is that reparations and evacuation must be kept separate. If Germany wants an earlier evacuation she must pay for it.