The Washington herald., 1920-05-09
FIX INDEMNITY,
ALLIES URGED.
Amount Germany Must Pay
Likely to Be Settled
At Spa.
FRENCH FAVOR STEP
Allotment Of Sums Received
To Be Determined at
Conference.
Cwashinston Herald-Pubiic Ledger
serviee-speeial Cable Dispateh9
By wYTHE WILLIAMS.

ny " M
Paris. May s.-I have Just been
given an official memorandum COW
ering the French attitude at the
coming conference Of the allies and
Germans at Spa. based on Premier
MiIlerand's proposed visit to Pre-.
mier Lloyd George in London next
week. II reads:
THE negotiations at Spa will not
begin until after an understanding
has been reached between France,
England, Belgium and Italy. Amer
lea. for the time, being. is holding
apart from active world politics. II
is to make this accord with Premier
Millerand is going to London next
week. The subject of the negotia-
tions will be. primarily, the question
OF reparations.
1T is known that in 1919 Klotz
and CIemenceau were resolutely op:
posed to any fixing OF the figure of
the German indemnity. They de-
clared that such a definition was
impossible because of the uncertain
ty of prices; our ignorance of exact
extent Of the damages and our ina
bility to estimate the ability of
Germany to pay in view of the trou-
bled conditions through which she
was passing.
Lacked Courage to Act.
However justified these argu-
ments are they were above all pre-
texts; in reality 1t was courage that
was lacking in Klotz and Clemen-
ceau to admit that a considerable
part Of the destruction caused by
Germany must be met by France.
They withdrew from fear of the con-
sequences of disillusionment.
"Courageously. NJ. Millerand has
decided to accept a definite figure of
the German debt and an estimate
. that will permit, on one hand, the
utilization of this credit by France
and further an understanding be-
tween the allies on the financial
policy to adopt toward Germany.
There were certain difficulties in
bringing Poincare' (now chairman
Of the reparation commission) to
this point of view. He, for various
reasons. was at first very hostile
In 1919 the American experts talked
OF hundred and then of a hundred
and fifty billion marks. 1t is around
these figures that the discussion
centers.
Methods of Payment.
As, to the methods OF payment.
two principal systems stand out
one, forfeiture pure and simple,
which consists in determining the
total and then in distributing it
-.
payments of n definite figure; sec
ond. a commission of forfeiture and
of indefinite. payment. where a
minimum would be fixed which
would be paid each year and to
which there would be added a sum
corresponding to the financial ca
pacity of Germany
The minimum could be immedi-
ately utilized and the eventual sup
plement make il possible to take
into account the increase in Ger
man prosperity on the one hand and
on the other to leave to the French
the Illusion that they are to receive
much more. 1t is said this second
system is the one preferred by NJ.
Poincare.
Need Complete UnderstandTns.
Another question will be raised
in London-that of the allotment of
the sums secured from Germany. II
is recognized that these are the CON-
mon property of the allies. OF
these, France should get 55 per cent.
1t is VI. Millerand's intention to Sc
cure for the French reparations
claims priority over all others-ex-
cept those which are destined direct
for rehabilitation of the devastated
regions priority which would be
extended to similar claims of Bel
GUM Such are the delicate prob
lens which are about to be dis
cusSed in London.
The understanding between the
allies must be very complete, be-
cause the Germans are going to try
to divide the allies again. Their
tactics are already indicated. They
will protest their good Intentions
of paying but will add that they
are incapable. thus putting. the al
lies in the alternative of reducing
the claims or else Of modifying the
treaty. In this respect they will find
NJ. Millerand obdurate. France will
have no modification of the treaty
and will permit no important con-
cession on this point"
- (Copyrfkht, 102O, BIZ Public Iadrer "a