Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1921-02-01
COUNCIL AGREES ON
TEUT PREPARATIONS
aCHEME CALLS FOR ANNuITIEe
PAYABLE OVER PERIOD
OF AZ YEARS
WILL FIX INDEMNITY LATEh
Creditors VIII Be Paid According to
the Prosperity of Germany.-Penal-
tles for Defaults Are to He
stipulated in Agreement

Paris, Jan. 2e.-The session of the
committee of experts of the allied SD
prsme council ended at u 30 O'Clock
this morning after having reached a
complete agreement on the system of
annual payments of Preparations by
Germany and annuities on Germany's
foreign trade.
The proposed scheme provides for
the payment of annuities on a slid
ing scale of from 1000, o00, 600 to
1000, 100000 gold marks over a period
Of probably AZ years, and also a 1871
per cent ad yalorem tax on German
exports, SO that her creditors will be
paid according to Germanys increas-
Ing prosperity.
1t now remains only for the plenary
sitting OF the supreme council today
to endorse the agreement, draw up in
structions for the Brussels experts and
fix penalties for defaults by Germany.
Premier BRAND declared as he came
from the meeting early this morning
that the conference of the supreme
council would not break up without
having reached definite decision.
The sudden ironing out of differ
ences came after two days of con-
tinually widening breach that threatens
to break up the conference, il being
virtually suspended except for private
conferences. official French circles
give the Belgian delegation credit for
the success in reconciling the British
and French viewpoints
The project In its final form, when
approved by the council, will be sub
mitted to Germany for acceptance as
hs an agreement outside of Article 283
of the peace treaty. which entrusts the
reparations commission with the task
Of fixing the amount of the indemnity.
Then another conference will be call
ed TO which the Germans will be in
yfted.
The committee Of experts was In SEES
sion at midnight considering the ques-
ton OF shortening the period of pay
msntS to 80 years, for which the treaty
OF Versailles specifically provided.
But Ii Is expected that the period OF
AZ years finally will be adopted,
Conferences between small groups OF
the delegates continued in an effort
10 clear up the tangle. M. BRAND the
French premier, after leaving the Brit
tah premier, Mr.. Lloyd George. con
suited with his colleagues Of the cab
met and later returned for another
talk with Mr.. Lloyd George.
Meantime Mr.. Lloyd George had re-
ceived the British and Belgian repre-
sentativex on the special reparstlons
committee and after some discussion
with Mr.. Lloyd George the members OF
the committee seemed more hopeful
Much of the discussion bore upon an
a6 valorem tax of from 10 to is per
cent that 1t had been proposed Ger
many should place on exports.
Speculation was extant throughout
the day as TO what ultimately would
be the result II an agreement were not
reached. The general opinion seem ed
DO be that, should failure result. M
Boumer, French minister of finance
would be held responsible for raising
distractions to a settlement of the rep
arstaons question and find ii necessary
to resign.
Late in the afternoon the alternative
proposition was submitted to the
Frsnch delegates, providing for fixed
hnnuities for ~ years plus varying an
nuities figured on Germany's foreign
trade. This plan was suggested to
give satisfaction 10 the French view.
point that owing to the impossibility
Of determining now what Germany's
situation will be in the future, no part
Of Frances claim should be abandon
ed. Under this plan the French and
other creditors of Germany would be
paid minimum consisting of fixed an
nufties and an additional sum proper
tionats TO the economic prosperity OF
Germany.