New-York tribune., 1921-03-06
BIZ Wireless to Tho Tribune

Copyright. 1921. New York Tribune Inc.
BERLIN, March 5.--German busi-
ness men are united in supporting the
governments refusal to submit to the
Allied rcparatons demands. In tnan-
prevails that DR.. Simons represented
the true feeling of the German people
when he rejected the Paris terms and
made it plain that punitive measures
which the Allies may take will not
shake Germany's determination to
agree to nothing which she cannot
fulfill.
In support of the governments re-
fusal German business men already are
making plans to block efforts of the
Allied powers to collect the war bill.
Of Berlin and other German cities who
carry balances in banks in England
and France have begun their general
withdrawal to escape the levy on these
resources threatened by Premier Lloyd
George. In some cases the accounts
have been transferred to firms in neU-
trail countries and will be carried here
after in this indirect way.
Another movement spreading over
the country to defeat the Allied at
tempts to collect is proposal to break
y
ain and France. This suggestion, Ger
man business men say. would prevent
what they call extortion through II
per cent tax on all exports, prof
by the Allied powers. But it is de-
signed principally for use in case the
Allies fulfill their threat to put levy
on all German made goods sold abroad
and to turn this into the reparations
fund.
See Reaction on French
German business men feel that a
threatened stoppage of German exports
would have powerful reaction on the
French people and make them recon-
slider the advisability Of dcpriving
themselves of German trade on which
they have counted so much because of
the favorableness of exchange rates.
1t is suggested, however, that ii Ger
man merchants did decide to block
Allied attempts to collect an export tax
by stopping all trade with Allied coun-
tries they could still keep up their
countries. All shipments would 70
direct into Denmark, Holland or Switz-
erland, where agents Of the German
houses would resell to other nations.
On such shipments the Allied govern
ments could not collect an export tax,
Germans say.
The National Association of German
Industry, the National Committee on
Agriculture and the Central Associa-
ton Of German Wholesalers Joined to-
day in cablegra:n to DR.. Simons in
London, assuring him that the nations
industry, trade and agriculture expect
him to be absolutely firm in rejecting
the Entente ultimatum, and that they
are willing to bear the full conse
quences of such refusal.
Reds Call Mass Meetings
Fifty-six German business assoca-
tions in Switzerland telegraphed the
Foreign Minister urging him to stand
firm in his refusal to bow to impossible
terms.
The Communist party, in a call fol.
six mass meetings tomorrow to protest
against the Entente ultimatum, ex-
presses its attitude in the first sen.
tence of the proclamation. 1t says:
"ln London the imperialist robbers,
who transformed the world into a sen
of blood and a scene of misery. are
haggling over the sweat and blood of
the German proletariat9
HAMBURG, March Shipping and
commercial ci3cles have been requested
by the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce
to study the following questions:
Are German merchants obliged to
1uiflll contracts, knowing they will re-
ceive only portion of the invoice
prices?
Are new contracts with Allied coun-
tries advisable?
Are existing assets endangered, or