New-York tribune., 1921-03-08
many's war guilt and her failure to
acknowledge this obligation. by saying:
Il have deliberately avoided sneak

difficult to reach"
Later, after referring to the Treaty
Of Frankfort. he said: "I have always
heen FAR from wishing to absolve She
German government of any responsi-
hNity for the war, but whether single
nation can be made exclusively guilty
OF this terrible war and whether this
nation would be the German people
was not decided finally by the signing
az che Tre<ty of Versailles"
sSimons then attempted to defend the
system of taxation in Germany, assert
ing, that it was self-evident that the
Impoverished countries would only be
able to bear lower quota per head
than the wealthy countries. Zone must
rather compare the burden Of taxation
per head with the income per head"
he said.
After making his proposals Simons
said that they we're offered on .he con
d5tions that Upper Silesia remained
German and that German commerce
was unrestricted by imposts other than
those placed on other nations. All
Through his speech Simons laid stress
on Germany's desire to meet the Allied
demands in spirit of cooperation.
There was marked change in the gen
sral tone Of his speech from the one Of
last week, which moved Lloyd George
to declare it waste of time to make.
AT the close of DR.. Simons's long
speech Lloyd George said the Allies
we're confronted with grave decision
and must have time to make their de-
ciSion. He said there seemed only one
answer to make, but that should be
reasoned out. He proposed an imme-
diate adjournment until later in the
day. The Germans returned to their
hotel to get into communication with
DA-l u. - TO~..
Count Sforza hurried away together.
Honar Law made the first public an
nouncement OF the Allies attitude when
ne announced in luncheon speech at
thes Constitutional Club: "The posi-
ton is very unsatisfactory. In fact. it
S serious
When the delegates met again after
lunch, the British Premier addressed
the. Germans at length. He pointed
out that if Germany lost Upper Silesia
she would still have a population larger
Germany this year carried out the
Paris agreements for the payment of
$4,000 900, this amount would only
be onefourth of Brtain'S annual war
debt Interest and pensions charged and
one-ninth of what France must find to
pay on her war charges.
Counter Proposals Analysed
The Premier then proceeded to
analyze the Simons counter proposals.
1T is essential to the peace of the
world that there should be definite
settlement of the outstanding ques-
tions between US and Germany" he
said. ut was perfectly true that ex-
perts, failing to come to an agreement,
made some suggestion about trying to
agree for FIVE years. but that is not
the plan adopted at any conference Of
statesmen of either country. What is
the Simons proposal? There is an
appearance of accepting the Paris pro-
posals for five years only.
"But the feasibility of the German
proposals is apparent, not real. They
are subject to q condition which makes
them uncertain if it did not actually
terminate their course in the next few
weeks. | refer to the pleblscite in
Upper Silesia. If that is adverse to
Germany DR.. Simons would be per-
fectly justified in coming here and
saying: The situation has changed.
Germany has been deprived of the ter
ritory on which she depended to pay
those annuities. Therefore, the Lon
don arrangements are at an end
"It is not a proposal for five years.
It is q proposal for five weeks. 1t is
subject to other conditions-proposals
in regard to guarantees, German trade,
for instance. There is nothing whereon
the Allies could raise one paper franc,
let alone a gold mark. 1t is proposed
even that Germany should pay part
OF the FIVE years proposals. not out OF
current revenue, bat by means OF
loan she is to negotiate.
"By borrowing she mortgages her
future. She will borrow with the
Nrsor,<v fnr those Uhn
lend her, even over the reparatons.
After five years Germany will mort
rage her income for the years that
come after in order to pay the first
five annuities. There is only one GER
tainty, and that is that it will be
inadequate"
"These proposals show that Germany
has not yet realized the essential facts
OF the situation" he continued. ~ am
difficulty of paying beyond the from
tiers. That is question of currency
that can easily be overcome by any
we'll thought out arrangement.
Another significant part of DR..
;simons's speech is the refusal to ac-
cept on behalf of Germany RESPONSE
bility for the war, which is the basis
does he refuse to accept that basis
but he appealed TO history for revi-
sion of the main sentence. When does
history begin? There is an uneasy
feeling in my mind that there is an
inclination in Germany to consider the
possibility Of history beginning five
years hence and an appeal for a revi-
sion of sentence being one Of the con-
siderations then to be examined.
War Blame Fundamental
'The Allies cannot possibly enter
into any discussion on that basis. Tht
responsibility of the German people fol
the war is fundamental with them
Unless Germany is prepared to act OF
this basis then no arrangement cal
give good will between the parties ant
restore that tmosphere of neighborly
good will which is essential to tn,
peace of Europe. We are willing &
discuss with Germany the length O
the period in which annuities are to b,
paid. We are willing to discuss an,
method of adjusting the amount of tn
annuities to German prosperity. Blu
we must insist on settlement now
frst, on the amount of the payment
or factors determining those amount
automatically according to the pros
perity of Germany, and, second, tn
method of payment. Mere paper agree
ments promising payments are unsatis
factory and insufficient 1t means end
less dispute. We have plenty of pape
money in our various countries, and W
do not wish to further dilute our cul
rency with paper promises"
tn nr