Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-04-15
BRITISH and
French SEEK
PAY.
Would Leave but Is Per
Cent of Indemnity to
Smaller Nations.

Paris, April 15.-CBy the Asso-
ciated Press. THE problem of
reparations settlements still has
troublous time before it in connec-
ton with the question of the dis
tribution of the indemnity to be
paid by Germany. Smaller powers
which suffered under German IN
vasion and devastation are still to
be heard relative to their shares OF
the reparation fund, particularly
Belgium, the claims of which are
entitled to first consideration un-
der various pre-conference pledges.
Two Nations Want Sd Pet.
The tentative scheme of distribu-
ton which Great Britain and France
have advanced, portions between
seventy and ninety percent, proo-
ably IS, of the total sum is to be
realized by these big powers. leav-
ing. perhaps. Is per cent to satisfy
the demands of Belgium, Italy,
Serbia, Rumania, Russai and 9TH
ers. This is a smaller proportion
than these secondary powers ex-
pected and they are almost sure to
be dissatisfied with it. 1t has been
suggested among the experts on the
reparations through the acquisition
of territory but this reasoning Will
scarcely appeal to Belgium.
A share of the reparations fund
will, according to the present un-
derstanding be assigned to Russia
for damage to invaded Russian terri
torie but probably viii be turned
over to Great Britain and France to
apply on advances made to the old
Russian government during the
war.
First Payment for Expenses.
Although the contributions pay
able by Germany are characterized
as reparations a very considerable !
part of the first $1,000, 100000 will !
not be available for reparation !
purposes, since it has been assign /
ed to the payment of the expenses /
of the armies of occupation and !
such food supplies as must be fur
niSf1ed Germany. Since the occu- 7
patton of the left bank of the Rhine !
will continue during the entire two I
years covered by this first payment, /
the expenses. particularly of the I
French occupation army Will eat !
deeply into the S5,000.0O0, 900.
No announcement has as yet been /
made regarding the precise defni- |
ton of the various 'categories" of /
reparationS. In other words there 1
is no definition of the classes of /
damages for which Germany is re-
Quired to pay. 1t can be stated, |
however, that the five Categories
adopted comprise reparatiOn for
actual damage to life and property; (
pensions for crippled and families
OF slain soldiers; compensation for
enforced labor exacted of inhabi-
tants of occupied regions. includ-
ing work done by deported. Bel
gians; remuneration for Illegally
exacted labor by prisoners of war
and payments for German requisi-
tions in occupied territories.
No Pay for Prisoners Keep.
1t is understood that no Offset
has been allowed Germany for the
of prisoners of war
in Germany during the war. the as
Sociated governments holding that
The prisoners we're chiefly sup
ported at their own expense
through food parcels by which
alone the prisoners were able to
maintain existence during captiv
ty and that the surplus has been
covered by work the prisoners per
ormed for Germany. fl
Although members of the com |
mission regard the reparatiOn
questions as settled in the main, ]
here are various details to be j
worked out, including a scheme for {
German contribution of labor, raw
Materials and manufactured arti- j
les for the restoration of devaS-
ated districts. Discussions at
meetings of the commission have {
,een marked by shifting tendency I
rom the principle initally advO- 5
ated by the French. of leaving the I
xact sums to be paid indefinite
or future distribution by an inter
llied commission to be definitely !
xed The change of attitude on l
he part of the French was un- {
inspired by pressure !
rom parliament which demanded
GunlLe h4O"1CuSG VI " HeAL Neto " =
e received from Germany.
Must Settle Allied Debts.
. Another financial question re- h
uiring settlement between the al [
es is that of payment of advances b
lade by Great Britain and Amer {
"a to the associated powers. a il
was appointed to
onsider this question but the Brit
n and American representatives
ave thus far not participated in q
S deliberations. This has been t.
pparently in anticipation of dis &
Issions which might deal with thei r.
egative aspect of delaying or miti-i
a:ing payments than actual con- !.
Iteration of repayments.