Great Falls daily tribune., 1920-06-06
Wants Permission to
Keep 100000 Soldiers
Until Spa Conference
Over, Is Berlin Report.
Indications Are That 40
Billion Marks Is Consid-
cred All That Country
Can Pay.
BY PARKE BROWN.
Cable to Great Falls Daily Tribun
and Chicago Tribune.
CODVright

Berlin, June 5.-If, as reported here,
the Spa conference is postponed beyond
June u, Germany will ask the supreme
council for extension of it's authority to
maintain an army of 10000 until the
conference meets and passes upon this
matter.
One reason why Germany is not anx-
ious to see the meeting delayed is the
fact that under the present restrictions
1T is not allowed to maintain an army
exceeding 100000 after July 10. One
of the proposals the government has in
tended to present to Lloyd George, Mil
lerand and their associates is a con-
tinuation of the present armed forces on
the ground it is necessary for public or
der. particularly since the Einwohner-
wehr has been ordered dissolved. but
June u is the latest date after which ar
rangementS can be made for halving the
army.
Plans Are Secret.
For obvious reasons the government
is keeping most secret its plans for fl
mancial discussion at Spa. While some
newer statesmen might be willing to
state in advance just what the work of
the big staff of experts has shown con-
cerning the country's ability to pay re
parations, this work is in charge of mem
bers of the old school. who do not intend
to show n single card before it is played
1t is known the Hythe proposal of
$50. 900, 100000 will be opposed by
reams of figures. statistics and argu-
ments. but when it comes TO discussing
their counter figures the officials will
not even admit Germany's ability to
pay 10 per cent of that amount without
substantial changes in the economic pro-
visions of the treaty
The closest thing TO an actual init
nation of Germany's ability to pay came
today from August Mueller, former un
dersecretary of state in the ministry Of
economics, who said the maximum figure
must be the estimate of Professor
Keynes-400 900. 100000 gold marks. in
Hythe.
Cannot Pay II.
Herr Mueller said the proposal by the
German delegation at Versailles for pay
ment of 100000 100000 must now be
ignored as made then only as part of
the general proposals of peace treaty
far different from the one now it is
sought to enforce.
'0The German delegation made its pro-
posals believing the territorial, as well
as the economic conditions would be
such that control of the working capa-
city of Germany would be unimpaired.
1t also must be remembered this propos-
al provided for the first twenty billions
to be paid in 1926. Deliveries of ma
terial were to be credited to a far great
er degree than the treaty of Versailles
finally authorized. The remaining eight
billions were to be paid in yearly INSTALL
ments without interest and until 1926
only one billion annually was suggested
All the delegates calculated upon earn
ings of nationally owned activities. which
now, instead of profits show big de-
ficits"
Need Treaty Changes.
Herr Mueller also pointed out Profess
sor Keynes was willing to deduct from
the 40 billions. 16 billions for delivery of
ships. railroad engines, cars and similar
material and 30 annual payments of only
one billion each and also declared radi-
cal changes in the treaty were necessary
to make even this amount possible
The question, what can the German
representatives at Spa accept as pos
sible of accom- plishment?" is being dis
cussed.
1t is concluded that the 10000. .00O.-
600 once offered cannot be considered -
and at the highest the Keynes proposal
alone can be taken as a starting point.
because while it gives full weight TO
Germany's duty to make reparations, it
keeps within the necessary bounds.