New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-16
Financial Experts
Say Huns Can [ ay
3 Billions Yearly
British Federation Industries
Make Out Table to Show
Power of Defeated Lands
to Stand Cost of War
Neao YORK; T7fbu,,

NeW Yorh Tribune
Foreign Press bureau
The Federation of British Industries
mas issued a memorandum on the pay-
ment of the cost of the war by enemy
countries and suggesting a method Of
payment based on an estimated total
annual sum obtainable from onon,v
countries of $4,2oO 100000 made m IS
follows:
Germany should pay an
A, mua:ly ''''....'. SO ,000, 900 600
austria and Hungary. -. 100000 000
~ al Ia '.'............. 155,00000O
AuiheS .......-....... 100000 600
drand annual total $4,000 900 600
FOR the purposes of payment il is
suggested that enemy countries should
be considered to consist of the whole
territories comprised in the enemy
States at the time at which fbav
entered the war. The federation con-
sider that the total cost of the war
should be regarded as a liability Of the
enemy countries irrespective of anv in
vest1gatlon or opinion as to the. cana.
city of those lcount1ses to nav the ffa1
amouhts The 'fstli sum should be
entered in the Treaty of Peace. it
being left to the Allies to cancel in
future any portion of the debt if II is
proved that the enemy countries can
not pay. The belief is expressed that
the paying power Of the enemy conn
ules VIII prove 20 be far greater than
~ anticipated, Gust az the pavjne
power of all the bellgcrent countroa
has proved during the war to be far
greater than could have been anti
cipated" 1t Is suggested that il the
Allies we're prepared to take over cor-
tam potential revenue-producing assets
OF Turkey and develop them in their
own interest, the annual sum Of $40
millions might be considerably. in
cresed.
Germany Can Pay
Dealing with the suggested German
payment of $3,000,00O,00O the memo
randum states:
Part of this could be transferred
by taking raw products in part pay
ment and other valuables such as art
treasures which cannot be manufac-
tured TO- day. The most obvious
tangible asset is raw material, and
Germany could be made to pay in
potash, iron or other mineral re-
sources, and above all in timber
Warning is given, however, against
the danger of undermining our own
raw product industries, and making
ourselves dependent on Germany for
essential raw products Concerning
art treasures, it is pointed out that
Germany has very large number and
their total value, if sold in the open
market, particularly in America, over
period of years, would be enormous.
But the guiding principle should be
laid down that national art treasures
should not be taken. Great cathedrals
and art treasures are the heritage Of
the whole world, rot OF a particular
country, and by damaging them we
should damage not merely Germany
but ourselves as we'll. This does not
apply so strongly in the case Of NOV
able art treasures. sueh as German
pictures, though to a certain extent it
still holds good.
Stole Art Treasures
On the other hand it is pointed out
that Germany has acquired (not always
by purchase) art treasures from all
parts Of the world, to which she has
no further moral claim than the fact
OF possession. Two examples cited are
the Sistine Madonna at Dresden and
the Greek sculptures from Asia Minor
and elsewhere in the Berlin Museum.
These are tangible assets, Immediately
obtainable and easily convertible into
money.
A number of figures are given as
showing some Of the chief possible
sources of German revenue, and Ger
tain taxes are suggested. With regard
to many German financial resources il
IL stated that 'policy of misleading
the outside world was deliberately
adopted" The total receipts of the
German railways, for example, were far
| higher than those officially given, and
The same thing is said in regard to
population.
Suggest Railway Imposts
Among the taxes suggested arc inn
posts on railways, letters and tele-
grams, cheeks, electricity, timber, poul-
try, bees, rubber, and cement. A tax
Of 20 marks head on persons employed
in industry and commerce is estimated
to yield nearly 14M millions. IF II
were made universal and included
domestic servants, agricultursts, il
would produce at least double. If. how
ever, 1T be considered that II would
press unfairly on certain classes, this
cannot be contended In the case OF
industrial establishments, aimee hands
are only employed as II rule in order
that they may produce moro than they
cost. An income tax " ~ per cent on
all incomes would, it Ia estimated, pro.
duce IL 100000,