The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-02-03
GREEK CLAIMS
PRESENTED TO
PEACE COUNCIL
by vEN|zEL0S
Czech Delegates Also tc Pre-
sent Case Before Supreme
Council Single Financial
Front Proposed Allies.
INTERNATIONAL TAX
(By Associated Press)


PARIS, Feb. 3.-Premier Venizelos
of Greece, was before the supreme
council of the peace conference at it's
session this morning and made state
ment on the claims of Greece. The
appearance of the Greek premier be-
fore the council was announced in the
official statement given out after the
session.
Premier Venizelos will continue his
presentation Of the case Of Greece at
tomorrow mornings session of the
council, it was added The Czecho-
Slovak delegates will again be heard
at tomorrow's session, it was also an
nounced.
Proposals for the establishment of
single financial front for the allies
have been submitted to the entente
ministers here by Signor Crespi, mem
ber of the Italian delegation, accord
ing to statement made by him today.
After saying that the central powers
must compensate the allies for the
damage suffered during the war, Sig
nor Crespi said:
In Proportion to Effort.
"On the other hand, all the allies
have suffered immense losses and
they must all benefit from the indem-
mites which the enemy is to pay.
Each one should receive in proportion
to the effort it has made. Thus small
Ter states that have spent more than
larger ones in comparison to their
wealth ought to receive large indemni-
ties in proportion. Absolute fairness
ought to be preserved in the division
of indemnities.
''The simplest way to carry out the
actual distribution would be to put
the entire fund into a common pool
which could be periodically apportion-
ed among the different nations. The
fund should be augmented by taxes
Of a universal character levied on all
states, enemy, allied or neutral. the
last named having benefited from the
sacrifices made by the allies. Such
taxes might be levied on exports and
imports and also on coal and raw ma
terials. 1t seems to me only fair that
countries which have benefited and
even grown rich, through the suffering
and sacrifice of the allies should be
made to help compensate the allies.
Such a tax would not weigh more
heavily on one state than on another,
since it would be universal. 1t would
uucEcly nave Tie cAcCI VI IdioAu6
prices on some certain particular
products in all countries alike.
'The enemy should be forced to pay
off as soon as possible the allies
debts The international tax would
furnish interest on the rest and
sinking fund for paying it off eventual
ly. In my opinion, the enemy ought to
be allowed to pay, not only in gold,
but in raw materials and finished pro-
ducts Part of their debt might be
covered by bonds, which they would
take up gradually in exchange for
goods delivered to the allies.
Economic Question.
"The supply of raw materials is an
other important questions to be con-
sidered. If they are furnished to en-
emy countries at the same time and
at the same price as to the allies.
the Austrians and Germans, whose in
dustrials plants have not been destroy
ed and who are ready to return to a
peace basis in their production more
rapidly than the allies, would reach
foreign markets quicker and under
better conditions than would be pos
sible for the allies. This we must
avoid at all costs. /, therefore, pro-
pose that distribution of raw mate
rials be internationally controlled in
such a way that allied countries may
be served before enemy countries.
Another important question involv-
ed is that of the length of the working
day A days labor in Germany be-
fore the war was very long. II it
continues SO now, they will be able
to produce more cheaply than we can.
Therefore. international laws on this
question have become essential.
Another problem is that of ex-
change between different nations. To
cite an example, my own country.
when peace is re-established. will have
to import very largely to replenish
depleted stocks. This will have dis
astrous effect on our money unless the
states control exchange. /, therefore.
consider the present state control of
important and export trade must con-
tinue for some time"