The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-10
WHEN PENALTIES CEASE

London, March 9-The penalties in- posed upon Germany will cease only when satisfactory solution of the questions of reparations armament and war criminals has been accepted by the allies
 This is the decision of the supreme council taken at its meeting tonight, at which time also NJ. Briand declared that the French government had no intention of permanently occupying territory oil the left bank of the Rhine He said that the only object was to obtain execution of the treaty.
 The council agreed to instruct the allied high commission of the Ehinc- land to invite the attendance of ital- ian representatives when 'econontic questions resulting from the appiica- ton of the penalties were under con- sideration
 M. Briand and the heads of the other delegations expressed appreciation or Mr Lloyd Georges conduct of the cons ference and his lucid speech.
 Besides dealing with sanctions, the council decided to draft bill for 90 per cent toll on the sales of German goods. In this connection. 1t was stated that imports to the allied coun- tries through neutral countries will be required to have certificates from the respective chambers of commerce in the neutral countries or in the coun- tries of transhipment showing tho origin of the goods.
 The discussion of the questions re- lating to Turkey and Greece was re- sumed and tomorrow there will bs private conversations with the Greeks and Turks in the hope of arriving at settlement
 NO ANNEXATION
 Premier Lloyd George. alluding be- fore the supreme council to French newspaper comment on the occupa- ton of additional German territers.l asked the French nremier for as- surance that annexation was not con- templa.ed. The French comment in- dicated the belief that the institution of a customs barrier was likely to lead to complete separation between the oc- scupied territories and the rest of Ger many
 Former Premier Clemenceaus repu- dia.ion of permanent occupation was brought into the discussion Mir. Lloyd George said that though he had absolute confidence in NJ Briand and the good sense of the majority of Frenchmen and although ne had received assurances from Former Premiers Clemenceau antl Millerand, who had fought hard against the annexationist policy he would wei come a new ard definite assurance from NJ Briand that France contemplated neither anrexation nor even autonomy of the Rhineland. NJ. Briand eniphat. ioally denied that any such feeling exist I ed "even in the back of the minds or responsible French statesmen. Not five out of lG0 Frenchmen. he asserted. dreamed of such thing.
 MT. Lloyd George. expressed satsfac- tion at this arnonnoer'ent
 COMPARE NOTES
 The members of the council took note the German towns of Duessei- dorf. Duisburg and Rhurfort had been Tuesday without incident, and compared notes regarding the action to be taken on the second penalty. namely, the imposition by each allie1 country of such tax on German inn ports as it may deem fitting,
 Regarding the third penalty, the con- ference noted the report of the inter-l national high commission of the Rhine land to the effect that the commission had decide by ordinance to take under it's orders the customs In the occupied territory and hold the customs receipts or the frontiers of these territories. plac- ing them in special account at the dls- posaI of the separations commission.
 These dues will for the present be lev- jed at the German tariff. The high is studying the estabish-l ment of customs line on the Rhine.l Certain other questions were referred to the experts who held q meeting this afs- ernoon and will present a report to ths conference later.
 The delegates then discussed the pres- ent position of the Greeks and the Turks.
 A bill to give effect to the levying os a certain percentage on German irn- ported goods is under consideration by the allied experts This bill, 1t is ex- pected, will be introduced in Parliament tomorrow and the work of the experts v aimed at formulating plan to be em- bodied in similar measures for introduc- ton in the proclainations of the other ptria