The Washington times., 1920-05-17
SAYS GERMANY IS
UNABLE T0SETTlE
Leading Berlin Financier As
serts Country Without Means
To Pay lndemnities.

BERLIN. May iT.--Germsny can
not pay 100 billion marks In indemni-
ties to the allies; she cannot even, pay
so billions. director Franz Urbig OF
the Diskonto GeseIischsft. a leading
Berlin bank, declared in an exclusive
interview here today.
"Germsny's situation" he said, rs
much like that OF a crippled man.
You tell him to dance. lie can say
IN try but he really cannot dance
until his limbs are strengthened IL
is the same way with Germany. She
must have some assistance II she Is
going to dance"
Others share View.
Urbig's interview. granted while
Prime Minister Lloyd George and
Premier Millerand were In conference
at Hythe. England. to discuss the
amount of indemnity Germany must
pay how she shall pay it. and the
Spa conference. at which German
representatives will be informed Of
their country's fate, was of particu-
lar Importance.
The bank director. a leading Ger
man financier. was one OF the Teuton
financial experts at the Versailles
conference. He has been mentioned
as one of the German representatives,
for the Spa meeting.
urbig's views were shared by di-
rector Won Stauss OF the Deutschc
Bank, also a Versailles expert.
Neither of the Teuton financiers
would give an exact estimate OF the
amount they thought Germany would
be able to pay.
1.-THE Spa conference and all SINH
lar meetings will be failures until
Premier Millerand or some other
French statesman is willing to tell
the French nation Germany IL not
going to pay all Frances bills rs the
French people have been told con-
stantly," Urbig declared
Must Regulate Taxes.
He held that France must adjust
herself to this idea and must regu-
late her taxes and economy accord.
inIly.
"Can Germany pay 100. 1000. 900, 300
marks as she offered last year" Urbig
was asked.
No" he replied. When Germany
made that offer 1t was on the supposi-
ton that East Prussia, Upper Silesia
and her commercial fleet were not
going to be confscatcd by the entente.
With these and other elements of our
national industry gone it IL impossible
to undertake such proposition now"
What, then. can Germany pay"
the banker was asked.
He answered with questions: We
must know first what conditions the
| entente intends to impose upon us.
Does 1t intend to keep our commercial
fleet? Must We continue to pay enor-
nous amounts for allied armies OF oc-
cupation, which we are forced to
maintain at a faster cost than Ger
many's whole army before the war?
These and many more problems make
it impossible to set definite figure"
Germany Must Produce.
When pressed for a definite state
ment, Uhrig declared Germany. as
now constituted, in his opinion, could
not pay even 10000. 0O0, 900 marks in
ind IDENTITIES. (This would be less than
one-quarter the very minimum figure
the entente leaders have indicated
they will accept.
unfortunately" Urbg continued.
1.-The German government lives too
much under the influence of entente
control.
"Our government by commission
cannot extend its influence or exert
it's strength, oftentimes because Of
the limitations imposed by the allied
missions here"
Concerning Germany's general eco
nomic situation as II bears on inter-
national problems, Urbig felt the Ger
man nation must produce more.
Wages. he said. are too high and there
Is too little work done.