South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-12
FEAR GERMANY
MAY REPUDIATE
DEBTS LATER ON
French May Meet COnting-
ency by Offering to Account
for German Labor.

PARIS April 12-while the
members Of the British and French
parliaments are modifying for a
nronosal 10 exact nothing less than
run deuuiticstion or the allies oy
Germany FOR all the costs or me
war. and insisting on Germany
ability 10 paw the fun oil, the Amer
lean representative on the repdra-
tfons commission express consider
able doubt whether even the ac-
count 10 be presented To Germany
under the plan adopted by the coun-
lcI OF four ESTIMATED at about $40
200 600. 600. with the payment spread
over perioc % 20 years. can or
win be collected ia FUN
They assert that they can see the
possibility that the ways and means
~ holding Germany 20 payment viii
,.row weaker.as the years pass amt
that Germany may take advantage
Of some convenient opportunity I'm
later years to repudiate her Obliga-
lions 10 the present allied powers
under Tbs peace treaty. They recall
tho action OF Russia i'm repudiatiug
the restri tive Black sea clauses OF
The treaty imposed a. the conclusion
~ the Crimcan war at moment
when "A new political constellation
iu Europe gave the emperor or
Russia "a fair amount Of certainty
that Russia could do this with inn
punitr
For this reason. the American and
other delegates ON the separations
commission have oppose a new
proposal which the French brought
into specify labor and other requisi-
zion for the restoration Of the dew
sstated French provinces in the first
few years after peace maintaining
that this revived the principle OF
priority as between the various
creditors OF Germany which had
been rejected by the commission
and the council of four.
May Get Too Much.
They argued that France i'm this
way might receive dispropOrtionately
large share OF her claims In the
first year while the ability of the
associated governments 10 enforce
payments was still good and that
other states dependent upon later
payments IN money and materials
might be left holding the bag" II
Germany proved recalcitrant.
The difficulty probably will be met
bv the French offer TO account 10
the other countries for the cash
value OF abOr. materials. cattle and
other things eNacted for the resjora-
ton OF the northern provinces.
Germany although her prisoners
viii be released at the end of the
armistice. probably will be required
IN the peace settlement 10 provide a
part OF the labor needed for re-
building OF devastated regions as
well as labor at home i'm the manu-
faeture or production Of materials
TO be used in restoration work
Important Questions Settled.
The Paris dispatch contains the
first report that the important ques.
tions OF the Rhine and Polish from
tiers had been settled by the peace
conference. Agreement on repara.
tions and indemnities was an
nounced earlier in the week.
The Rhine question includes tht
future not only OF the river itself
out also OF the German TERRITORY
west Of the Rhine from Lorraine
noyth 10 the border Of Holland II
Also affects the eastern bank OF the
Rhine and its use for military pur.
poses
The Polish frontiers affect all tht
countries bordering ON the new Pc
land and the proposal 10 give Pc
lard an outlet 90 the Baltic by way
% Danzig
Apparently the question or IN,
Adriatic and italian claims on tn,
eastern shore OF thu sea still is in
elegance The Adriatic problem
does not concern German primariI,
As the territory involved formerly
was included i'm the Austro- Hungar
ian empire.