Britain the Scapegoat

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 658, 9 May 1929, Page 9

Britain the Scapegoat

REPARATIONS SQUARE-UP * -££ American’s Plan Rejected EMPIRE AS CHIEF OR ONLY LOSER (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and K.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Received &.5 a.m. LONDON, AVednesday. WITH dramatic suddenness the reparation experts in Paris have been faced with the possibility of their work terminating with Britain alone standing out. The Paris correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says Air. Owen D. Young’s proposed reparation compromise has been abandoned.

AIR. YOUNG circulated a table of pro* * posed German payments to each country. These involved a revision of the Spa percentage in which Britain was to be made the scapegoat. In other words, in order to give more to other countries, Britain’s Spa share of reparation payments—the total amounting to 23 per cent, with the Dominions —would be considerably reduced. Mr. Young's scheme -would mean that Britain would be the chief, if not the only, loser from the proposed reduction of the German annuities from the present figure of £125,000,000 to £102,500,000. Sir Josiah Stamp has already plainly informed Mr. Young that the British delegates do not accept his distribution plan. Mr. Young’s exact figures have been kept secret. They will nor even be included in the report, agreed to by Sir Josiah and Dr. Schacht when it is presented to the full delegations. It is reliably stated that the Young compromise involves the British Empire in a three per cent, reduction of the Spa percentages, gravely minimising the Australian and New Zealand shares, though not entirely wiping them out. The “Daily Telegraph’s* diplomatic correspondent says the British Government is determined strictly to adhere to the Balfour Note and not expose the British taxpayer to further sacrifices on behalf of other Powers. It is learned from other sources that the British delegation will maintain that the present conference is not concerned with distribution. It was called, to fix German debt revision. It will be argued that the Spa percentages are outside the competence of the experts. Mr. Young’s distribution could not in any case form part of the committee’s report, since Germany is not concerned with the decision of reparations among the Allies. The Paris newspapers are unanimous in commiserating with Britain in her loss under the Young proposals; but there is a certain acidity in their comments. Thus the “Echo de Paris”: “No doubt it is absurd that the British Treasury should thus be despoiled; but why did not the British delegation send Dr. Schacht back -with the Davies system on April 19?”

Similarly, “Le Journal” says: “No one has done more than Sir Josiah Stamp to reach agreement.” But it adds: “Evidently the electoral advertisement required in Britain now finds the Bill somewhat heavy.” “Le Journal” estimates that with the American plan to deduct £150,000,000 from the capital reparations and £7,500,000 from each annual payment, Britain, which claimed £150,000,000 on behalf of her Dominions and for moneys payable to the United States, will only receive £32,500,000. SURPRISE IN BRITAIN GIVE-AND-GIVE POLICY SOUGHT REVISION OF SPA PLAN British Official Wireless Reed. 10.20 a.m. RUGBY, Tuesday. The Committee of Experts on German Reparations met in a formal session at Paris to-day. It was expected, that its deliberations would throw further light on the suggestions for a reparations settlement, which, according to reports in London, would operate unfavourably for Britain, the experts having met primarily to determine the amount that Germany can pay in reparations. Much surprise is expressed at these reports, which state that the proposals for a settlement involve revision of the Spa scheme of percentages on which reparations should be allotted, and that the suggested variations should be made almost entirely at the expense of Britain. The Britisli Press strongly emphasises the view that whatever reduction is allowed to Germany should he borne proportionately by all parties in receipt of German reparations. The whole question being still under examination and discussion, hopes are entertained that an agreement will eventually be reached which will safeguard the principle of the Balfour Note and will leave undisturbed the percentages agreed to at Spa in 1922.