The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-13
RE|CHSTAG GIVES ITS APPROVAL. ID
 ACTION OF S|MONS
Foreign Minister Makes Lengthy Explanation of His Work at Recent Confer
 ence In London
By AssOeiated Press

German governments attitude toward the allied reparation demands was voted by the Reichstag today after Foreign Minister Simons made lengthy explanation of his work at the London conference.
 There was q partisan debate of the resolution over approval which was op posed by the coalition parties, but it was finally adopted by vote of 2sS to 4s. The Nationalists and majority so- cialists voted with the government en bloc.
 A communist resolution demandins the immediate establishment of diplo- matic$rela tions with soviet Russia was decisiSely defeated.
 The house was crowded to hear Simon's statement, in wn1ch he dilated on the extraordinary difficulty on the part Of Germany to ma:Se definite pro- posals under the uncertainty concern ing Upper Silesia and the constant ex- change fluctuations He explained the German experts was impossible or atta ainment for any proposals. hence the German counter proposals were made from political motives on his own personal responsibility.
 After repeating the arguments em- ployed before the London conference, pr. Simons declared that the idea that, because the allies had torn up the treaty, it was therefore void for Ger many was all wrong and that we should not repay wrong with wrong"
 This was greeted with laughter and disorder, but Dr. Si1nons continued;
 MUST FULFILL TREATY
 For Germany there still remains fulfillment of the treaty so far as that is possible, but no farther"
 He then proceeded to advocate the seeking of middle path to the coun- ter proposals on different basis.
 But" he added, 'at the moment we are given such slap in the face we cannot offer our hand and say: we will be friends That is impossible. If we renew negotiations, we must point out that the basis is altered by the imposition of penalties"
 The foreign secretary concluded by asking the house to confirm the del- egation's final decision to reject ta~ allies impossible demands, adding amid applause. Unless the Reichstag does that. It will have to look for some one else to represent the country i'll any further negotiations.~
 Karl Trimbern, in behalf of all the government parties, expressed ap- provai of Dr. SimonS action and also the conviction that the penalties would fail through the inability of the allies to enforce them. Other speakers fol- lowed in similar strain.
 pr. Walter Simons, the foreign min ister, in a statement read before the Reichstag today. recounted the prog ress of the London conference on repa- rations. He then briefly suggested the governments attitude toward future ne- ip hoe aro h raef 7fad
 "The German counter proposals were made for political reason after we had carefully consulted capable experts" pr. Simons said. "They were not ap- proved by the government merely be- cause the experts indorsed them, but the government squarely assumed re- sponsinility for them after took the proposal out of the hands of the ex- perts, carried them into the final ses- sions of the cabinet, and there cham pioned them personally"
 WHITE BOOK MIXED
 The House laughed when pr. Simons explained the delay in the appearance of white book" on the London com ference on the ground that the public printer had accidentally inserted parts of his speech into the reply made by Premier Lloyd George to the German counter proposals. The white book"
 
 tails of significant negotiations carried on outside the officials through the me- diation of persons not actively connect ed with the conference. These proceed lngs he said, were sealed up through a mutual pledge of secrecy and he would not violate the confidence so long as the other side observed it. Hrhe suggestions of a period of pro- visional payments was officially i'm dorsed by England, and if MT. Lloyd George now takes the opposite att.- tude, this is in contradiction to his for mer position" the foreign minister as- serted.
 DENOUNCES INVASION
 The present invasion of the unoccu- pied areas of Germany, he branded as the worst sort of an attack. that pos sibly can be made on any state" Di. Simons said he believed the breaking off of relations would not yield Ger many any advantage as the sentiment of the world at large toward her was as yet too unfavorable. He also dis | agreed with those who charged that the entente, through it's present procedure l had nullified the treaty and that it was | no longer in force for Germany. Full l fillment of the Versailles treaty still remains, and We mast definitely strive | to carry out this obligation to the full extent of our ability. but no farther" Dr. Simons told the Reichstag.
 Discussing the prospects of further negotiations. the foreign minister said: |
 MOST FATAL BLOW
 Does the present situation permit us to carry on further negotiations? l. | for my part, have not barricaded the path nor pledged Germany to definite course. In the opinion of the govern ment it now deyolves on us to exhaust |
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