Evening star., 1920-11-21
premier DEFENDS
INDEMNITY STAND
England Won't Benefit Unless
France Does, Says
Lloyd George.

PARIS. November 20 (by the Asso.
cia:ed Press). s).-Differences between
Great Britain and France do no,
amount to a quarrel. and the view:
| Of these two nations have in no way
iprejudiced the alliance which hello
I them together during the war. sale
Premier Lloyd George Of Great Britain
| in an interview in London yesterday
| with the correspondent Of the Peti,
Parisien. Mr.. Lloyd George declared
| that, regarding reparatfons, England
would stand elbow to elbow" with
France. but he insisted that the
amount Germany will be called upon
to pay should be 6Xed.
There are always some people who
pick qparrels," said the premier. in
reply to- a remark by the iI-~~~~is-ve Ell
that French public opinion was badly
impressed by what France believed
to be the British attitude on questions
vital to this country. There is nc
quarrel, however. and You have just
told me there were no interests in the
world. on either the French or British
side. that can slacken the Franco
British brotherhood. I never thought
otherwise"
Would Fix Amount.
The interviewer told Mr. Lloyd
George the question of reparatfons
France, and that in certain French
circles there was an impression. either
rightly or wrongly held, that the
British premier opposed the viewpoint
Of the French relative to the amount
Germany should pay.
Il would say that this impression is
wrongly held" said Mr.. Lloyd George
Il would say the reparation issue is
also of paramount importance for US.
since 1t is evident that the more France
gets. the more England will receive.
Il will tell you exactly what I think
1t is very simple: Make Germany pay
all she can. Yes. but how much? Have
you figured? l say the amount should
be fixed. Why do I say this? Is il
to please Germany? Oh, who could
think so?
'T was a lawyer before entering
politics, and when 1 confronted a
debtor I had two courses to choose
either to enforce strictly the rights
Of my client. and sell the debtors
house and furniture at the risk OF
or saying to him: You owe so much
How much can you pay at once? How
much in year, or in ten years?' This
latter method l found to be best, and
this l advise following in dealing with
Germany"
Watch for Cheating.
But objected the interviewer
SuPpoSe you knew the debtor who
displayed empty pockets was cheat
ing"
Mr.. Lloyd George smiled as he re-
piled. Would l believe debtor with
out check being placed on his state
ments? No. we must check up, esti-
mate and fix the amount due. 1 al
ways get back to that expression
fix. Let US fix the amount, and
when that is done Great Britain will
be seen close beside France in de-
handing payment"
Il have. I think continued Mr..
Lloyd George. testified by acts and
not only by words. to my friendship
and admiration for the French
democracy. We fought together and
conquered together, and must not re-
nounce in peace the arrangements
that in the past were dear to my
heart. In return. the French people
must not think have become an
enemy because l speak as a business
man and as realist. Friends should
speak truth to each other and defend
the system which seems best to con-
form with their common interests
Once the decision is reached. then
we will stand elbow to elbow" :