The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-04-27

Peace Resolution.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Despatch to The Reformer.)
Copyright 1921.
WASHINGTON, April 27.-Great
Britain and France will refuse to ac-
cept the new German proposal for the
payment of war indemnity. Although
the United States government has not yet
officially transmitted the German note to
the allies. complete copies of the docu-
ment are in the hands of Prime Minis
ter Lloyd George and NJ. BRAND. Both
the French and British regard the pro-
posal as unacceptable and as simply a
disingenuous way of reopening the entire
treaty of Versailles with the United
States as a party to the transaction.
The new proposal differs from all that
have preceded in that it apparently meets
the sums asked by the allies. but under
| such conditions as to make it impossible
from the allied viewpoint to collect the
amounts promised. The Germans, for
| example, completely wipe the slate clean
| of all propositions previously made and
| approach the subject from Il new angle
| by asking that all occupied armies be
withdrawn and that when the reparatiOn
amount is definitely fixed there shall be
no more sanctions or penalties. This
| would mean the abrOgaton of that clause
of the Versailles treaty, for instance,
which provides for allied occupation of
| the Saar basin for Is years,
| Both the French and British govern
mcnts realize the critical position in
! which the United States government has
| been placed by the attempt of Germany
/ IDf
| The allies feel that in justice TO Amer
| lea they should inform Washington in
advance their views on the German pro-
poSalS so that President Harding will
not fall victim to the German plan OF
ranging America against the allies in the
rcparatiOuS controversy.
Concretcly the Germans admit a liza
! bility TO the allies of $4,000, 100000 gold
marks or approximately Sl2,J00,O00,0 900
! They, of course. cannot pay this sum al
! the present time, 80 they propose de
| ferred payments extending over period
of 40 years. With interest accumulat-
ing. this would make POO 600 100000
gold marks. or approximately S50,OO0,-
| C00,00. To meet this situation the
| Germans propose a world loan.
| Indignant at Restoration Proposals.
Another thing. however. IN the new
proposal which has aroused the indigna-
| ton of the allies is the suggestion that
| German industries be permitted to re
| store the devastated areas of France. un-
| der a contract between those industries
and the German government. In other
words. Germany would at once give her
! business men a huge order which would
mean quick restoration of German in
! dustry and would prevent the restoration
! of French industry. 1t would give the
| Germans promptly revived export
/ trade, which would be a splendid basis
! for her own reconstruction. If there is
| any restoring to be done with German
! money, that money ought in the view
/ point of the French government TO 60 tu
| French firms as a means Of encouraging
French industry.
May Postpone Knox Resolution.
The Germans appeal to Mr.. Harding in
Il way that they believe will also appeal
10 American public opinion when the
text of the note is published. But the al
lies believe the United States cannot act
merely as a means of transmission and
keep from commenting on the proposals
| The French and British would like to see
America express a viewpoint that will
discourage the German theories of fric-
ton between the United States and her
associates in the war 1t would not be
surprising if the change in the situation
did not cause the pOStpOnemCnt of ac-
ton on the Knox resolution.
Briefly, the French and British do not
regard the new German note as a serious
indemnity proposal at all, but a cunning
attempt TO reopen negotiations for u mod
ificatiOn of the terms of the entire Yer
SaillCs treaty.