The Washington herald., 1921-02-06

| BIRMINGHAM, England, Feb: s.
Germany is not making a real ef-
fort to pay her war debt, Premier
Lloyd George charged in a speech
here tonight.
"ermany is a strong and powerful
nation, and should pay" he said. Il
am going to tell Foreign Minister
Won Simons when 1 meet him in
London shortly that Germany is not
making a real effort to pay for the
war"
| Lloyd George was making his Sec
ond speech of the day. this one at
dinner of the Jewellers and Silver
smiths Association.
| Speaking on the industrial situa-
tion the Premier deplored the de-
preston in commerce, but declared
! he had no doubt of the nations
ability to weather the storm.
England is going through inevi-
table difficulties following a war, ne
said. Following the conflict he said
trade collapsed with such appalling
suddenness that every nation Is suf-
fering. Foreign exchange must De
stabilized before the situation can
De TeHneuleu, ne ueCiaiCN' theH auN
ed:
Declares Attempt Mt Evasion.
Il have an idea that Germany is
not trying to stabilize hers. Ger
many is a strong and powerful ma
tion and should pay the reparations
demanded.
Great Britain has seen darker
days than the present, he said.
But the same determination and
spirit which carried us through the
war will triumph now"
The premier appealed for an un-
derstanding between workers and
employers, declaring this is no time
to try pulling both ways.
The premier pointed out that the
reparations are framed on ratio OF
German financial conditions, and
added that IF Germany is not pros
porous she cannot pay"
He declared that Germany must
disarm. On this subject he was
positive in hiskItterances and enter
tanned no hint of reservations.
Must Respect Treaty.
Germany must respect the peace
treaty" he said. She still has too
many armed men and too much war
material. The allies have decided
that she must comply with the
treaty of Versailles, especially as
regards disarmament.
THE first condition of peace is re-
spect for the treaty. A challenged
treaty means that the war is only
suspended. Germany has made
great progress toward disarmament,
but she must go through with the
entire progam fixed by the teaty.
She must comply with the provision
for surrender of her machiney for
making arms. France has a right
to demand this.
Regarding reparations, 1 laid
down the principle at Paris that
Germany is bound to pay for the
wanton damage she inflicted. But
you can only get from a debtor
what the debtor is capable Of pay
ing. Furthermore, Germany must
cot be allowed to pay in a way that
will do injury to the country re-
ceiving the payment; for. example,
by expectation of cheap goods.
Ability to Pay Considered.
The prospect of Germany as
temporarily bankrup presented a
battling difficulty, when paying out
side her frontiers. With these diff
ficulties in mind, the allies reached
an agreement and presented a bill
framed on a scale of German pros
perity. If Germany is not prosper
Gus she cannot pay. If she is pros
porous she can pay-and must. Once
the German people, get their minds
off the war and on to peace they
will soon be prosperous again.
'I advise Germany to accept the
bill and not allow herself to be mis-
| led by passion and repeat the folly
| of 1914. Germany has not yet taxed
herself to the level of Great Britain
and France. 1t is intolerable that
the guilty who escaped damage in
! the war should bear a lighter bur-
den of taxation than their victims.
Not an Extravagants Burden.
THE burden imposed upon Ger
| many is not extravagant. The pay
| ments for the first two years do not
equal the pension bills written by
France. 1t is not a question of
imposing economic slavery upon the
German workers. But somebody
| must pay.
Foreign Minister Won Simons has
the right to present alternative pro-
posals. But If they represent a
mere attempt at evasion, the allies
will not tolerate them.
The assumption of power by the
provokers of the war cannot be per-
mitted. The sword must be sheath
ed for all time.
Nothing will harden the allies