Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-03
UNIVERSAL TAX
URGED BY CRESPI
Italian Envoy Proposes All
Nations Help Pay War
4. aa Indemnities
ONE FINANCIAL FRONT

Paris, Feb. "A universal tax, the
proceeds of which would be put into a
common fund. along with the indem-
mites Germany should be made to pay,
is proposed by Senior Crespi, Of the
italian delegation to the Peace Con-
ference. In the proposition he has made
for tho establishment of a 'single finan-
cial front" for the Allies.
The tax would furnish interest on
that portion of the debts of the Allies
which Germany had not paid and pro-
vide a sinking fund for ultimately can
ceiling the debts.
Senior Crespi who said his proposal
for o single Allied financial front had
been well received by Allied ministers,
declared that his great point was that
the Central Empires, as a whole. must
be forced to compensate the Allies for
the war damages they have suffered.
Responsibility was collective, he said,
and all the enemy states would have to
pay infproportion to theirf wealth.
'On the other hand, al the Allies
have suffered immense losses, and they
must all benefit from the indemnities
which the enemy Is to pay. Each one
should receive in proportion to the ef-
fort Il has made Thus smaller States
that have spent more than larger ones
in comparison to their wealth ought
TO receive larger indemnities In proper
tion. Absolute fairness ought to be
preserved in the division of indemni-
ties. S, T.
Urges Common Pool
''The simplest way to carry out the
actual distribution would be to put ths
entire fund into a common pool, which
could be periodically apportloned among
the different nations. The fund should
be augmented by taxes Of a universe
character levied on all States. enemy
allied or neutral, the last named havinI
benefited from the sacrifices made by
the Allies Such taxes might be leviet
on exports and imports and also on Goa
and raw materials.
''It seems to me only fair that coun
tries which have benefited and ever
grown rich through the suffering ant
sacrifice or the Allies. should be mad,
to help compensate the Allies. Such
tax would not weigh more heavily on on,
state than on another. since II woul,
be universal 1t would merely have th
effect Of raising prices on some certaii
particular products in all countries alike
Foe Must Pay Allied Debts
'rrhe enemy should be forced to pa,
of as soon as possible the Allies debts
The international tax would furnish in
terest on the rest and sinking funt
for paying It off eventually. In m!
opinion the enemy ought u be allowe,
to pay, not only In gold, but in raw ma
terials and finished products Part o
~ v,,tU ha hxy a..
which they would take up gradually Il
exchange for goods delivere to tn
Allies.
The supply of raw materials is an
other important question to be consid
cred. If they are furnished to enem.
countries iat the same time and at tn
same prices as to the ALLIES the Aus
trians and Germans. whose industria
plants have not been destroyed and VIII
are ready to return TO a peace basi
in their production more rapidly thai
the Allies. would reach foreign market
quicker and under better conditions thar
would be possible for the Allies. Thf
we must avoid at all costs. I therefore
propose that distribution Of raw ma
terials be internationally controlled 4
such a way that Allied countries ma
be served before enemy countries.
Another important question involve
is that of the length of the workin
day. A days labor in Germany befor
the war was very lang. II it continue
SO now they will be able to produc
more cheapiy than we can. Therefore
International laws on this question hav
become essential. -
Another problem Is that OF exchans
between different nations. To cite a
example, my own country, when peace
re-established. will have to import YER
largely to replenish depleted stocks. Th
will have a disastrous effect on ou
money unless the States control es
change, 1 therefore. consider that tn
, present State control of import and e,
port trade must continue for some time.