The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-07
Treaty Debate Reveals a De-
mand for 100000 900, 900
From Foe in 36 Years.
DEPUTIES AsT0NISHED
Blind Faith Shown in Expec-
tation That League Will
Help Financially.
BY LAuRENoE HILLS.
stdS Correspondent Of THE Sun
1919, all rights reserved.

pans Sept. 6.-The estimates of the
vronch Government of the reparation
that Germany will be able to pay in
,h,rty-six years far exceed those of any
o,her nation. This fact was brought out
SHARPLY in the two days debate in the
chamber of Deputies on the financial
clauses Of the peace treaty
7, was revealed also that the French
sill are clinging to the idea that the
League Of Nations is going to their
rescue financially in some way or other.
si,ber BY the scheme for International
bonds or the plan to pool financial re-
sources, although some of the American
sxperts, like Thomas w. Lamont. when
he was here, have taken pains to remove
this Illusion.
The remarkable feature of the financial
debate in the light of what happened in
the Reparation Committee Is the asser-
ton Of NJ. Klotz, the Finance Minister.
that France would receive In round fig
ures 46s 900. 100000 OF francs in thirty
d, years, counting interest (about $685.
100000, OeO). This contrasts with the
figure of $4,000. 900. 900, the sum
which the British, Italian and American
financial members of the commission de-
clded that Germany could pay In all. or
one-third of the amount that NJ Klotz
,old the Chamber that France alone
would get.
CIemenceau Fought Publicity.
When the American and British ex-
perts wanted the total of Preparations
liked in the peace treaty as essential to
a speedy readjustment of world credit,
Premier Clemenceau refused his assent
and the discussion showed that the
French authorities feared that the sum
the experts named would prove so dis
appointing to the French public that the
Government might be overthrown. The
prediction made then by the Americans
that In the treaty discussion the French
Government would hold out for an alb
surd sum seems now to be borne out.
Here is what NJ. Klotz expects from
Germany: For the cost Of the French
occupation of the Rhine, $4,000. 000. 900
francs for pensions. 10000. 900. 600. In
addition to 1000, 600, 900 for the support
ways. $4,000, 0C0, eco; total. 2a9. e0o.-
100000 francs. Adding interest on the
unpaid instruments in thirty-six years.
H. Klotz said this would make a total
Of $4,000, 100000 francs. He declared
II was not in the interest of France to
fix the amount in the treaty.
NJ. Klotz did not disclose how he !
reached these figures, which, t-c.a the
remarks heard, plainly aston iehed many
members of the Chamber of Deputies,
as well as the Americans here Ger
manys capacity to pay, he held, would
result from the excess of its production
over consumption. which WIS at least
10000 000.0 900 marks before the war
100000 000). and because Of the rise
in prices could be estimated now to be
at least 10000. 900. 900 marks. Even this
amount, NJ Klotz thought, would be sur
passed.
Puzzle In Budget PIsns.
The weak point in the Governments
defense. as was predicted by the ex-
perts. appeared when the Government
was Piled with questions as to how, I'M
der the treaty reparat on plan. any in
tegent budget could be framed for
France III the first years sfter the war
facing a budget requirement of TO-
O0Oo0o.00o francs In addition to 100000
O000 francs more in advances to the
devastated regions
1t was In this connection that NJ.
Rotz, and other speakers brought up
the financial section of the League OF
Nations. Asked pointedly II there had
been any agreement on the question of
dividing proportionately among the Al
lies the cost OF the war. the pooling
scheme about which the French ere
talking continually. NJ Klotz was COM
PEELED to answer that that que stion, |
unfortunately. has not been settled yet"
Explaining the financial section of the
league, to which, he insisted. the other
nations had agreed he said:
The financial section will supervise
all financial ma tiers between the rat.ons,
VIII pass upon conflicting claims. upon
delays of reparotion and measures Of
coercion and will facilitate payments
between creditor and debtor States. II
Will hold the evidence Of such ndebted-
ness between nations and win make
advances IN states nv mears Of bond
Who'e maturit'es shall not exceed two
years and which will be guaranteed by
all the membrrs of the League
SO far as known the Americans. in
eluding President Wilson and Cof L. NJ. |
hou'e never agreed to any such plan.
while Lamont, Raruch and others re-
peatedly pronounced it to he impossible
lot America Yet M. KIotz plainly Is
using II now as part OF his defense of
me PREPARATION clauses against the at
JACKS now being made against these
causes by large element In the Cham |
ger OF Deputies. which sees French
finances put into an almost hopeless con-
fusion by the peace treaty.