The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-15
SMALL NATIONS
DISSATISFIED
Apportioned Only About Is
Per Cent of the IN
demnity
BRITAIN AND FRANCE
CLAIM ALMOST ALL
Claims Of Belgium Have Got
to Be Settled
Now

Paris, April Is (By the Associated
Press THE problem Of reparation set
Elements still has troublous times before
it in connection with the question Of the
distribution of the indemnity to be paid
by Germany. Smaller powers which SUI i,
fered under German invasion and devas
tation arc still to be heard relative to
their shares Of the reparation fund, par
ticularly Belgium, the claims of which
are entitled to first consideration under
various pre- conference pledges.
The tentative scheme of distribution
which Great Britain and France have
advanced apportions between so and 90
per cent, probably So, of the total sum
realized to the three big powers, leaving,
perhaps, Is per cent to satisfy the de-
mands OF Belgium, Italy, Serbia, Ru-
mania, Russia and others. This is a
smaller proportion than the secondary
powers expected and they are almost
sure to be dissatisfied with it, 1t has
been suggested among the experts on the
reparation commission that Rumania,
Serbia and other nations have received
reparations through the acquisition of
territory, but this reasoning will scarcely
appeal to Belgium.
A share of the PREPARATIONS fund WILL
according to the present understanding,
be assigned to Russia for damage to in
npta h,,t
ably be turned over to Great Britain and
France to apply on advances made to the
old Russian government during the war
Although the contributions payable by
Germany are characterized as repara-
tions very considerable part Of the
first 5000000,000 will not be available
for rcparation purposes, since it has been
assigned to the payment of the expenses
OF the armies Of occupation and such
food supplies as must be furnished Ger
many. Since the occupation of the left
bank of the Rhine viii continue during
the entire two years covered by this
first payment, the expenses, particularly
of the French occupational army, will
eat deeply into the $5,000.000 1000
No announcement has yet been made
regarding the precise definition Of the
various "categories" Of PREPARATIONS. In
other words, there is no definition of the
classes of damages for which Germany
is required to pay. 1t can be stated.
however, that the five ''categories'
adopted comprise reparation for actual
damage to life and property pensions for
cripples and the families of soldiers
compensation for enforced labor exaoted
of inhabitants of occupied regions, in.
Guiding work done by deported Belgians !;
remuneration for illegally exacted labor
by prisoners Of war; and payments for
German acquisitions in occupied terri.
tory. 1t is understood that no Offset
has been allowed Germany for the main
tenance of prisoners of war in Germany
during the war, the associated govern
ments holding that the prisoners were
chiefly supported at their own expense
through food parcels, by which alone the
prisoners were able to maintain exist
ence during captivity, and that the sur
plus has been covered by work the pris-
oners performed for Germany.
Although members of the commission
regard the PREPARATIONS question as set
tied, in the main. there are various de-
tails to be worked out, including
scheme for German contributions of la
Dor, raw materials and manufactured
articles for the restoration of devastated
districts. Discussions at meetings of
the commission have been marked by
shifting tendency from the principle mi
italy advocated by the French Of leav-
ing the exact sums to be paid indefinite
for future determination by an inter
allied commission to definite ixation
of all initial contributions. The French
change Of attitude was undoubtedly
brought on by pressure from Parliament
which demanded definite knowledge of
what was to be received from Germany.
Another financial question requiring
settlement between the allies is that of
repayment of advances made by Great
Britain and America to the associated
powers. A sub-commission was appoint
ed to consider this question, but the Brit
ish and American representatives have
thus far not participated in its delibera-
tions. This has been apparently in an
ticipation Of discussions which might
deal more with the negative aspect of
delaying or mitigating payments than
actual consideration of repayments.