The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-17
FLAY WAR FIENDS
Confined from Page one,

Il
(Continued from Page one.l
itself that Germany can pay and, re-
port in case Germany does not pay.
Tho commission cannot prescribe or
| enforce taxes or dictate the character
of the German budget, but may ex-
| anime the latter to see II any modi-
fication is desirable, probably in Ger
| manys interests and to be assured
| that German taxation is at least as
| heavy as the heaviest allied taxation.
1t is pointed out that not only are
! the conditions not incompatible with
the creation by Germany of q COM
| mission to represent her in dealing
with the reparation commission and
| for such cooperation as may be nee
essary but It is greatly to be desired
| that she will take exactly that step.
Let Bars Down Later.
The powers are willing that within
four months of the signature of the
treaty Germany may submit any pro-
posals she may choose to make. In
for all or part of her liability. under
take to reconstruct all or part of a
damage district. offer labor, technical
service or material for reconstruction
or, in short suggest any feasible plan
| to simplify the assessment of damage.
| eliminate any question from the scope
of inquiry, promote the performance
of the work or accelerate the defini-
| ton of the ultimate amount to be
paid. Germany must. however, nego-
tiate direct with the powers concerned
before making the proposals, submit
them sin unambiguous form and ac-
| cept the reparation clauses as matters
| beyond dispute. No arguments or APP
peals directed to any alteration will
| be entertained. Within two months
thereafter the allied and associated
powers will answer such proposal and
agree to consider seriously and fairly
any suggestions made. 1t is said the
problem is largely one of statistics of
which the powers have received but
! one side. Germany is invited to, pro-
| duce evidence that will accelerate
final decision.
Made Vague Offers.
The reply says that the Germans
made no definite offer as to repara-
| tions but gave only vague express
sions of willingness to do something"
The sum OF 100, O00,000.000 marks
| ($25, 0,000,O0O), which was men
| toned in the enemy counter proposal,
! is said 10 give the impression of an
extensive offer which upon examina-
/ ton, it proves not to be. Interest was
| not to be paid and until 1928 there
would be no substantial payment,
after which there could be a series of
| underlined installments- running over
nearly half a century.
Declaring the resumption of Ger
| man industry is of interest to the al
lies as well as to Germany, the reply
declares that commercial facilities
will not be withheld from Germany
but they will afford to Germany IA
cilities for food supplies, raw ma
terial and overseas transport under
conditions which cannot be laid
down in advance"
Treaty Must Be Signed" zrr
Meanwhile the treaty must be
signed" the reply declares. 1.-The bur
dens of Germany undoubtedly are
heavy, but they are imposed under
conditions of justice by peoples whose
social well being and economic pros
perity have been gravely impaired by
wrongs which it is beyond the utmost
power of Germany to repair
In the financial section of the reply
it is stipulated that reparatieh must be-
other German public debts with such
exceptions as the commission may APP
prove. Payment for food may also be
first charge and gold may. be export
ed on approval.
Germany must pay the expense of
military occupation as an essential
guarantee of peace and war material
surrendered after the armistiees can |
not be credited against reparation. |
Liberated territories will bear their |
portion Of the pre-war debt but will |
not assume any part of the war debt |
itself
AFTER the events of the war" it is
said, "the powers have the right to |
demand that Germany be no longer in |
timately involved in their financial or |
economic life, or in that of Germany's /
former allies and Russia. AS the
greater part of Germany's foreign Sc
ton of German holders will no longer
justify German participation in inter-
national organization"
May Demand Other Credits. |
The right is reserved to demand of |
Germany also her credits in Austria |
Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey.
In the discussion of the economic |
clauses the reply states that the prin- |
ciples enunciated by President Wilson |
and embodied in the covenant of the |
league of nations as to the equality of
trade conditions will be brought into |
effect when the world returns to nor
mall but in the meantime a transitory
regime Is essential to save certain al |
lied states from 0 position of economic
inferiority because of the damage
done to their territories during the1
war. Reciprocity is impossible at
present and a general and indiscrim-
mate reapphcation of mutilateral and
bilateral treaties cannot be accepted.
Consular relations are not recipro-
cally established owing to the war ac-
tivity Of German consuls. Private
property of Germans abroad may be
justly used to meet PREPARATION charges.
, The property of German institutions
for research and education, it Is held
cannot be immune in the light of
their past activities"
Throw Out Air Clauses.
The German proposals relative to
aerial navigation have not been ac-
cepted.
1t is pointed out that German OBJ
tections to the clauses pertaining to
ports and waterways are too general
to admit of a detailed reply. After
outlining the objections made in the
German counter proposals, the reply
declares that until the transitory
period is passed, the general conven-
tions can be laid down, it has ap-
peared essential that the provisions
of this section of the treaty must be