The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-02-12
GERMANS MAKE,
BANKRUPT PLEA
Sly Scheme to Escape Paying
for Spoliation Of Belgium
and France
FRENCH FINANCER SAYS
GERMANY CAN Pa
Nay Not Be Able to Pay Casl
in Full But Debt Can Be Coz
lected in Installments.

Paris. Feb. (Gy the Associate,
Press)-Cermany is making utmost E.
ct; 20 have t:le allies believe that 81
IS nearing bankruptcy. declared Raou
oeret, chairman Of the budget com
mission Of tae chamber OF deputies
aud former minister Of justice, II
..::.c:ctcsing today the financial prob
lens facing the peace conference
tie first measures Of the conference
i;a to take measure; to prevent Ger
many from declaring herself aa insol
vent debtor or a bankrupt state.
Then Plrct continued. 'wt
.!lcl.!d ilnt:i ,iatc,y lix the amount O.
our &C c,:77.t against Ce:',s2az1.' who.
.s:,,&t he made tc Bay 70 the full limit
| G: her financial aoil:ty without cons!G
| grafton for her feelings 1t will be
time enough taen to decide about tn
method OF payment. : She may pay
c.c:iar m capital imm mcdiately or IL
go i. irsta!:laents.
- Go net believe that Germany
n present taae IS in g position to pa,
:. :arce amount Of c&s:l We must no
Gcman0 from her 2 too heavy oay
nnt TOW. 81 rs not 70 pace ner in
position whore sic might argue tha
we aye atranc;;ne, ;lc:- and killing tn
| 5onse that s TO lay lie golden eggs.
| "Whcthev the ;ns;a;ln?eats We sha,
.'anand frcAl German &c 29,20o,o00.
900. 81. 600 ,090.00 or 10000 10000
! os francs vol. Gaepnds entirely up
! on our decision. after IN inEestiga
| .:on as 20 wi}at amount Germany vii
% abe 20 pa These payment
! would be el.a-2rlt"a<1 y. customs taH
:ffs decided upon at TIE conference
..an.r;ng tcr o,:raelTes ti?e right &
:a:se such tariffs should Gcrr3e NJ f..
70 meet he: ci;':.ga::ons.
This wo::ld act as 3 means CT CO
nrcion. Because DO rot believe tila
y" should occupy Germany with 3
military force until her deSt IS PAID
= IS NY opinion that occa our arn?ie,
af occupation return from Germany
al measures shoD'd hA taken 20 nla'l'
~ cotnat:pn unroccss"!t
;n,;e-.a n no erection cf Q fnac
sol -cc:et- of ra,ic-s HnG that I'll -
narses irc.r"ed by each nat;si
cncufd sr prt n common ard an IL
;l5io::l tsix levied "pon al Ucti
ercI1 c!ehtG arc paid Nc:.trals s;,ou:
he included in this financial society Q:
natio2s especially those neutral NJ
tons who rroited by the wcr. As
matte. Of feet we were fighting &c
the neutrals as we'll as for ours We
for he'd the German par-cerranis!
dream been realized It would not hay.
been long ,:cfore Holland SweaeH
Eorway. Denmark Switzerland an
,-her neut-als would i,ave felt tn
mnich4 Of Cerrnany's iron fist. -
Discussing the question whethe
Ge~lnans- should be permitted to in?
rort raw material 50 as 70 cradle he'
70 res:,i'1a her manufacturing indus
49, n Peret said:
= Go not Relieve that all importa
lions of raw material 70 the Germans
shou1d he forbidden because their IN
,!I,st::-- wo!,,d .han I,e ct a stondsciI
.t:i.7 thnv wouIS hn unable 10 pay
HE.a;t!,er do believe ;i.ai t:2ey should
- permitted to ;mport without Inn
t2ticn >acause with their lower wages
:cneer wcf:;:ne hours and undeDleteG
supplies &C machinery, they would be
ahIc To un6erscu any other countries
cn the market which would be quit
- cot calamity IS being unable
to pay. However. il viii be a ion:
;:ren before any European countrE
can export any raw material and III
question Interests America.
Il would suggest :ilat prefe:entia
treatment bc given the allied coun-
tries. as r'rarcc. Belgium aHd Scrvia |
have suffered tha greatest damage
Raw material from America should !
re sert 70 these th~ee countries first |
the overflow being allowed TO revert tc !
Germany 50 as % enable i,ec 20 kee!2 |
her machine-::, working without en-
abi::2g her to underse!l u.s.
The financial problem is the most
!nomcntous one before the peace con-
ference ard I am greatly surprised
tha. 4 has not l;eca considered before
this. The first thing usually done
when q society is founded is to elect
treasurer. Thus. i: g sccietE- Of ma
tions is formed. 4 treasurer should at
once be appointed by he creation! o.
a financial society CT nations. The
solrtion OF the problem 70 my mind
IS ,i:e foundation OF Il financia! So
c:aiv oc nations Ill which al the cx
rerses OF every hel!igerert opposed to
Germany shall be compiled into onr
sam. An inventory Of Germany's re-
should then be made and she
should be made 20 pay b. c'.e-y mark
e,,c can set togethcr Then there
sho&l(; BE international taxation, in
Guiding the neutrais. to make up the
balance.
A:y CoeS~