New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-30
French Debate
Plan to Pool
Costs of War
Society of Ma.
tions'' Would Have U. S.
Bear Part of the Burden

PARlS. Dec. % (By The Associated
Press).-The financial aspect of the
settlement Of the war problems has
been uppermost in the minds of those
concerned in Paris during the last few
days. This is regarded not only bv
the American delegates to the confer
ence, but by the representatives of the
allles who have arrived here. as one
OF the foremost problems reou;rino
settlement.
The debates in the Senate, on the
renewal of the charter of the Bank of
france, and in the Chamber on the
provisional military appropriations
nave disclosed lively interest BY both
Senators and Deputies in the PROMISED
organization Of the "Inter-Allied FL
nanclal Society,"" for the liquidation of
the combined war debt of the Allies
sl.3oo,ooo,ooo for GERMANY
The Socialists. who arc taking 2
prominent part in the discussion. an
pear to prefer the title Financial So
clety Of Nations" which would NOT
preclude the eventual entry of enemy
powers into the association. Thev
suggest that the members of the Ger
manic coalition might be called on pro-
portonately to the other powers to
pay their share-~in round numbers
Germany, 6,50O,oOo,o0O francs (s130O-
ooo,ooO) annually; Austria, $1,000 ,ooo.-
600; Turkey, $4oO,o00oo 600; Bulgaria.
Sloo,oo0,o00, in addition to the interest
on Whatever sum the peace congress
may demand as indemnity for war
damages, which some have put at sew
eral hundred billion francs.
Deputy jacques Stern, author OF the
proposition of an inter-Allied financial
society, estimated the total sun, 70 he
demanded from Germany and her allies
as indemnity at 47OO00 900 900 francs
CS94,000, 0,000) in the Chamber YES
terday.
Hard to Find Basis
The principal difficulties expected
are IN finding working basis for such
a society and in Germany's ability to
bear such an immense burden. NJ. Stern
and other members take the successful
organization of an international com
mission to manage the Turkish public
debt as precedent, indicating the pos
slbility of overcoming all difficulties
OF organization, while ir answer to the
doubts as to whether Germany is able
to pay a large indemnity they cite the
estimates Of the resources of the Ger
man Empire made by DR.. Karl Helf-
ferich, Secretary of the German Treas
ury before the war
They contend that it will be the duty
of the peace delegates to consider what
resources may be found for the pay
ment of the indemnity, and point to
the l0,000,oO00o0 to 10000 900 600
marks that HelFerich estimated were
the annual savings of Germany from
her 10000, 900 marks annual earn
ings.
Would Have United States Paw
The project as now framed seeks to
have the United States pay in the same
proportion as the nations with which il
is associated, notwithstanding that its
participation in the war was much
shorter. This has met with consider
able objection.
The bill proposed by Deputy jacques
Stern establishing among the Allies
an international Financial Union seeks
to distribute the expenses Of he va
between the nations on the pasis o.
populations and power % contribute.
This proposition, according 70 the
Paris reports, is supported by one
hundred Aelecates of all DartioS