The Washington times., 1921-02-04
WILL
SIT AT PARLEY
Indemnity Conference in London
February % to Hear Pro-
tests From Berlin.
By FRANK E. MASON,

BERLIN, Feb. Germany has
decided to participate in the in
demnity conference, which will open
in London on February % to enable
the German Government to submit
suggestions as to the method of pay
ments, it was learned from semi
official source today.
HAS COUNTER PROPOSALS.
Despite press reports from London
and Paris that the allies will refuse
to open the question of the amount
Germany is to pay, having fixed IL at
226, ,OOO. 100000 gold marks, German
industrial experts are busy preparing
counter proposals. DIR. Walter SfmOns
the foreign minister, announced TINT
Germany will accept these counter
proposals ms the only basis Of solu-
tlon.
From former Cabinet member 1t
was learned that the proposals which
were prepared for the Spa conference
but which were not published, be-
cause the allies refused to accept
them as a basis of deliberations, are
being broadened and will be present
ed by. thS Germans at London as the
groundwoyk for further discussions.
Undersecretary OF State Charles
the
in Paris. who has returned to Berlin,
is cooperating with the Industrial
experts in the expansion of the Spa
proposals. As word has been received
here that the economic conference,
which was to have been resumed at
Brussels next Monday, has been post
poned, the Germans will have time
TO concen mt rate all their attention upon
the suggestions which will be put
forward at London.
A warning that revolutionary dis
turbances may break out in Germany
IL the allies insist in imposing the
sum of indemnity agreed upon by the
Supreme Council at Paris was sound
ed by Minister of Labor Heinrich
Brauns.
"The allies are playing into the
hands of the communists" declared
Herr Brauns. "As exhausted as we
are by war and surrounded by politi-
cal dangers from the extremists, we
have not the resistance to withstand
much of an increase in umemploy-
ment. And 1t Is certain that the IL
per cent export tax proposed by the
allies would increase German unem-
ployment.
"Perhaps the unemployment of p
OO0, 900 men in the United states is
not felt much. but our reserve is
worn out. Unemployment Is the chief
weapon OF the Communists. Food
costs have increased ten and eleven
times, whereas wages have increased
only six or seven times. I do not
hesitate to say that IL an attempt is
made 20 fulfII the Paris terms II will
result In revolutionary disturbances"
Reports have been received here
that there is much military activity
on Belgian soil along the German
frontier. Many railroad trains were re-
ported to be held for immediate use,
indicating readiness on the part of
the allies to mobilize in the event
of a decision to extend military oc-
cupation of German territory as a
means of compelling Germany to sub
NIT to the indemnity terms. Belgium
had previously informed France. that
she would cooperate IL II was decided
to extend the zone OF allied military
occupation in western Germany.
Ex-Chancelor Philip Scheidemann,
majority Socialist leader, in an inter
view with the International News
Service. attacked the indemnity terms,
saying that they would precipitate a
crisis.
"The statesmen responsible for the
decisions proved their inability to
comprehend and solve problems of an
International character because they
were actuated entirely by local poll
tics" said Herr Scheidemann.