Evening star., 1919-11-30
FRANCE ASKSFOR
ALLIES GOOD WILL
Gives Accounting of Actions
for SeIf-HeIp and De-
Sires Confidence.

The following item. dated Paris.
November 8. appeared in the London
Times for November IL:
M. klotz, minister of finance. speak
ing at a luncheon given by the Eco
nomic and Financial Press Associa-
ton. urged his countrymen to give
the national scheme of finance their
confidence and enjoined Great Britain
Frances financial stability and to
proffer her their full financial aid.
The minister. in so doing. optimisti
cally reviewed the general economic
position of France
M. Klotz recalled the difficulties
which France has had to deal with:
Two-thirds of her male population
mobilized. ten departments ravaged,
manufactures and exports stopped.
relations broken with the east. loss
ments. This situation the country had
been able to meet. Never had short
age of resources delayed any effort to
assure victory. 81.
Frances task after the armistice
was no less hard.
added the reconstruction of vast
region. 1t was problem like that
which had been faced by new coun-
tries. which could not be developed
He thereupon produced facts to show
that France is in a worthy position to
demand this foreign aid
Foreign Debt.
The foreign debt was 10000. 900. 900
francs. of which $4,000. 100000 was to
American and British treasures.
Against this he placed more than
l. 900. 100000 lent to allies. over 40.-
900. 100000 of foreign securities sub
scribed before 1914. and. lastly the
indemnity solemnly promised by Ger
many.
improvements in the situation had
not been possible because France had
been obliged to spend nearly another
billion to support her allies in eastern
Europe; no real payment had yet been
received from Germany, and none of
the great financial markets Of the world
had been open to France. Alone France
had been obliged to take up the task
of reconstructing the provinces in the
north and east. Already France had
found by herself for this 10000, 900, 900
francs, Of which three had been found
in the last quarter.
Caused Exchange to Drop,
To really exceptional circumstances.
then, must be deduced the fall in value
OF the franc in dollars and pounds ster-
ling. The essential idea in the re-estab-
lishment OF finance must be to obtain
equilibrium once more. AS signs of
Frances recovery, taxes were increasing
sales of registration stamps showed
that business relations were improving.
Taxation on land transfers showed a
great increase.
Such were the conditions under which
the new loan would be launched by the
next government. 1t would be the duty
OF the new government to consolidate
the floating debt, reduce the paper cur
rency and repay in part the Bank of
France. The budget equilibrium would
permit an appeal to be made for credit.
Improvement in the monetary situation,
increase in the power of production and
expansion would follow
Appeal to Allies
"Our allies have no further need to
delay their financial aid NJ. Klotz ex-
claimed. He appealed to Great Britain
and America. Let them judge. remem-
bering tho reduction of Frances labor
capacity. France did not come as petit
toner. but only asked for solution
or equity, peace of cooperation fol-
lowing cooperation in war