Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-02-02


! February %, the date of the London
conference.
! In tn. twenty-four hours since the
terms of the Paris conference We're
published in Berlin the more expert
enced political leaders apparently mad
been considering the situation
tthoughtfully and seemed much less
agitated than on Monday In the
reichstag corridors there seemingly
was a disposition to regard IN" ParlS
terms in the. light of an initial offer.
and there was apparent Il growing
feeling that the month intervening
before the London conference might
bring notifications of the allied de-
mands through the medium of counter
proposals.
Or. Simons inveighed against the idea
/ of spreading the PREPARATIONS period over
| forty-two years, which was twelve more
than the treaty allowed. He pointed out
that the treaty provided for reparatons
only to the civilian population suffering
specific damage and that Germany had
the right to be heard III the examination
/ of these claims.
With reference. TO the retention by the
allies of II per cent duty on her exports.
DR.. Simons said this was made without
consideration Of Germany's capacity
and taken together with the other pro-
posals form "A scheme of enSlavement OF
compulsory labor"
On the question of reparations. LIT.
Smons said:
In all We shall have to pay. in
forty-two years. a total of 226.ooo.oeo'-
600 gold marks or more than 1000
600. 600. 900 PAPER. The allieS> econd
demand is that for forty-two years
Germany pay II per cent ad vaiorem
on German exports. Iiere there Were
murmurs throughout the house CD
fyftnsl tod
this way one or two billions can be OBJ
tanned from Germany" n-aughter)
THAT could not have been done in the
most flourishing of pre-war times Inc
whole settlement is obscure W nat
about the securities we already have
handed the allies? Apart from these
obscurities the new program undoupt-
erly contains contradiction of the
peace treaty.
at is Impossible for German eco
nomic life to continue in an unendlng
state of uncertainty. We can only as
sumo that the sum now placed Delore
us is more or less arbitrary Inc
fixed sum of 226, 900, 100000 gold marks.
if calculated in paper, is more imam
the whole fortune of the German
people.
1T would be against common sense
to burden the German people with
such financial obligations at mo-
ment when we believe we have SHOWN
our opponents in what bad condl-
ton our finances are. But then
comes the demand for 226,000, 100000
of marks in installments of forty
two years and the complete economic
enslavement of the German people,
and particularly of the workers.
League Pact Criticized.
The u per cent ad valorem tax
is unconscionably heavy and injurious
both at home and abroad. With
rise in the exchange rate of the mark
these conditions must result IN the
throttiing of the German export in
dustry. (Here there Were cries of
every true.D
Regarding penalties-they have
not been communicated to us. We
cannot be threatened with punish
ment if we do not accept d proposal
Otherwise il is no longer a proposal
but an order. l. therefore, could as
sumo that the penalties will apply
only to disarmament.
The entente will permit me to say
that | regard their threat TO refuse
our entry into the league Of nations
asked for admission (Shouts of
Hear" Hearty ION the contrary. as
far as the league is concerned, the in
ducement to enter it is not at present
SO great as to counteract the terrors
of non-entry.
We have been informed that Ger
man plenipotentiaries would be in
vited to meet allied delegates in Lon
don at the end of February. ] would
point out that the invitation has not
yet been received, but that the Ger
man government must now say, and
| have the authority to say it. that
the arrangement as set forth in the
entente's second note is not regarded
by US as possible ground for further
negotiations. (Here the foreign min
listers words were greeted with cheer
ing) ut will naturally be our duty to
do our utmost. despite formidable
difficulties, to draw up clear counter
proposals. 1t should not be assumed
that even if these demand have been
imposed upon Germany so much can
be gotten out of her as is expected
An appeal must BE- made to German
free Will.