Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-02-01
GERMANY Cannot
ACCEPT WAR LEVY,
RE|CHSTAG TO HEAR
impossible of FulfiIlment,
Foreign Minister to Say To-
day, Paper Hears.
WOULD MAKE BANKRUPT
OF ALL CENTRAL EUROPE
Banker Hopes England and Amer
lea Will Stay Execution of Su.
preme Council Plan.
Rx the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
BERLIN. February 1.-Dr. Walter
Simons, the German foreign minis
ter, will tell the reichstag at its
session this afternoon. the Boersen
eitung states, that Germany can
not subscribe to the allies, repara-
tions demands on the ground that
they are not possible of fulfillment.
The foreign minister, the news
paper adds. will declare that the in
vltation to Germany TO attend the
conference in London can only
serve a useful purpose and give
promise of success if the negotla-
tions are to deal with the possible
and not with the impossible
1t is rumored negotiations are pro-
ceeding with the ajority socialists
and German nationalists for the pur-
pose of inducing them to enter the
government in the hope of creating a
united front from right to left. In
any event, it appears certain the ma
jority socialists will stand firm be-
hind the government in it's opposi-
tion to the entente demands even If
they cannot bring themselves actual
ly to enter the government.
Germany regards the terms de-
cided upon by the supreme allied
council in Paris last week as fantas-
tic and impossible of execution. The
cabinet. which received the text of
the allied note yesterday, was IN
night. and the note was not re-
leased for publication until too late
for editorial comment.
Is .Madnesx," Say Leaders.
Madness is the term leaders of the
reichStag used in discussing the rep
RrationS conditions.
Foreign Minister Simons declared
the execution of the terms would
produce chaos. not only in Germany.
, but throughout central Europe. as the
bankruptcy of Germany would also
bankrupt part of Germany's war cred
itors. among whom is France"
1T is greatly to be deplored," he
, continued. that the great American
nation was only bystander during
the negotiations concerning repara-
tions at Paris. The settlement of this
question determines the fate of the
worlds economics and of world cul-
ture."
: Herbert Guttmann of the Dresdener
Bank said:
i The reparations figures are absurd.
lutely beyond understanding. The lat
ter would kill Germany's export busi-
ness How does the entente expect
Germany to pay IL she cannot export
her products? 1t is inconceivable that
America and England will permit
germany. their best customer. to be
ruined by the enforcement of such
terms"
The German mark showed sharp
decline toward the close of yester-
days session of the bourse when the
terms became generally known.
"Eyewash,'' Says British Leader.
LONDON, February lit will be
impossible for Germany to pay the
amounts fixed for her reparation debt
to the allies by the supreme allied
council at Paris last week. says Prof.
John Maynard Keynes. principal rep
s.. resentative of the British treasury at
j the Versailles peace conference. He
argues that Germany. to have surplus
exports worth f200. 100000 must have
total exports worth at least 100000
, 900. Twelve per cent of this amount
would be fS4,000.000, and. therefore,
he says that, with f700. 100000 of ex-
. ports yearly against f500.000.000 in
imports. she could just pay a mixed
total of f200,0O0.000.
That is to say" he continues trade,
to pay the minimum annuity plus the
export percentage. If the Paris pro-
; posals are more than wind, they mean
a complete reorganization OF the
channels of international trade. II
anything remotely like them should
action on British trade and industry
would be incalculable. 1t is an out
rage that the allied leaders should
have dealt with each other by using
the methods Of a poker party"
Norman Angel, author. lecturer and
peace advocate, is quoted by the
Daily Herald, organ of labor, as har-
ing characterized the reparation de-
mands on Germany as "eyewash, pure
bunkum and fantastic rubbish"
'Of course" the interview continues,
there will be a hitch the first year.
and the second, and the third. until
the map of Europe is entirely altered
and alliances are rearranged.
Paris Thinks Berlin willing.
PARIS. February 1.-The fact that
the German delegates to the Brussels
conference of financial and economic
experts are remaining in Paris and
continuing their consultations is
taken in political quarters here to
mean that Germany is willing to ac-
cept the decisions of the allies re-
garding reparations as a basis for dis
cussion. notwithstanding the COM
ment which is coming from Berlin.
giving the idea that the disposition
there Is to reject the plan.
1t is pointed out. in official circles
that the conference of experts will
be able to accomplish a great deal in
paving the way to the establishment
Of economic relations beneficial both
10 the allies and their former enemies
although il is considered that the
reparations plan, for the study of
which the expert conferees were
originally called together. has been
definitely decided upon by the Paris
conference.
For one thing, the experts have yet
10 consider the demand of Germany
that she be allowed to retain 100000
tons of shipping, while the reduction
of the expenses of the allied military
occupation of the Rhineland remains
also to be definitely passed upon. The
German demand for reduction in the
amount of coal deliveries to the allies
is regarded as one of the possible
points which the allies will be willing
TO discuss, although the Paris con-
ference Cancelled the concessions made
at the Spa conference.
France Is Determined.
One OF the most important questions
TO be settled. relates 10 the sorts of
articles and products the al .es will be
willing to take for German repara-
tions payments in kind.
The French viewpoint of the COM
ing conference with the Germans in
London, decided upon by the supreme
council. is that the allies will listen
at this conference to any objections
made by the Germans to the repara-
tions provisions as they did at Spa,
and then take such objections under
consideration among themselves and
decide whether any can be taken into
account. The French delegation. it
l. forecast viii resist any further
EkanSes in the plan of payments.