The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-02-12
GERMANY TRIES TO
APPEAR BANKRUPT

Noted Frenchman Advocates Financial
Society of Nations to Collect Debt,
Indemnity Must be What Germany
Can Pay.
Paris, Feb. G.-Dy the Associated
Press) German is making utmost
efforts to have the Allies believe that
Raoul Peret, chairman Of the budget
commission Of the Chamber Of Deputies
and former minister of justice, in dis
cussing today the financial problems
facing the peace conference. The first
measures of the conference along fin
ancial lines, he added, should be to
take measures to prevent Germ
from declaring herself an inSolvcnt
debt or Il bankrupt state.
"'rhcn," Pcrit continued, eve should
immediately fix the amount of our
account against Germany which @nc
must be made to pay to the full limit
Of her financial ability without COnSid-
Grafton for her feelings. 1t will be
time enough then to decide about the
method OF payment. She may pay
either in capital Immediately or in
yearly installmcntS.
Il do not believe that Germany at
the present time is in a position to pay
Il large amount in cash. We must not
demand from her Il too heavy pay
mcnt now, SO as not to place her III Il
position where she might argue that
we arc Strangling her and killing the
goose that is to lay the golden eggs.
Whether the installmcnts we shall
demand from Germany be twenty,
thirty or fifty billions Of francs yearly
depends entirely upon our decision, ;f-
ter an investigation as to what amount
Germany will be able to pay. These
payments would be guaranteed by Gus
tom tariffs decided upon at the confer
cncc, rcsorving for ourselves the right
to raise such tariffs should Germany
fail to meet her obligations.
This would act as means of cocr-
cion because | do not believe that We
should occupy Germany with mill
tary force until her debt is paid. 1t is
my opinion that once our armies Of
occupation return from Germany, all
measures should be taken to make re-
occupation unnecessary.
II believe in the creation of Il fl
nancial society OF nations and that all
expenses insured by each nation
should be put in common and an in
tclnationai tax levied upon a nation
until such debts arc paid. Ncutrals
should be included in this financial
society Of nations, especially those
ncutrals who proritcd by the war
Discussing tho question whether
Germany should be permitted to i'm
port raw materials so as to enable her
to resume her manufacturing industry,
Mr.. Pcrit said: -:
i do not believe that all importa-
tionS of raw material to the Germans
should be forbidden. because their in
duStry would then be at a standStill
and they would be unable 10 pay.
Il would suggest that preferential
treatment be given to the Allies coun-
tries, as France, Belgium and Serbia
have suffered the greatest damage.
Raw material from America should
be sent to these three countries first
the overflow being allowed TO revert
TO Germany so as 10 enable her to keep
her machinery working without on
alling her 10 undcrscll us.
The financial problem is the most
momcntonS one before the peace con.
ference and ! am greatly surprised
that ii has not been considered before
this. The FIRST thing usually done
when It society is founded is TO elect a
treasurer. Thus, if a society of ma
lions is formed. treasurer should al
once be appointed by the creation of q
financial society Of nations The so
IAIon OF The problem, to my mind, is
The foundation Of Il financial society of
nations in which all cXpcnccS Of every
hcIIigCrcnt opposed to Germany shall
ne compiled into one sum An invcn-
tory OF GCrmany'S resources Should
then be made and she should be made
to pay by every mark she can get to-
gcthcr Then there should be interna-
llonal taxation, including the ncutrals