New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-02-13
Allies to Cut
German Bill
To Minimum,
Final Figures To Be Far
Below Paris Estimate:
One-Fourth of Total
Will Be Paid i'm Cash
BY Ralph Courtney
Speetal Co6!e TO The Tribune


PARIS, Feb. 12.-When the repsra-
tlon commission finally proclaims the
amount Of Germany's indebtedness,
which 1t is expected to do at any early
date, it is understood that the figure
wiz be far less than is generally looked
for.
After many consultations among
members of the commission and be-
tween members of the commission and
their respective governments it is un-
derstood that the Allied bill for dam
ages against Germany has been cur to
a figure much smaller than the ebtR-
mate Of 226,ooo, 100000 marks set by
the Allied premiers at their recent con-
ference in Paris.
The revised figure, Of course. will
represent the minimum rather than
the maximum amount which the rep
aration commission could proclaim, but
in view Of the apparent inability to col
lect vast sums from Germany, every
one is agreed that it is useless to do
aaything but cut down all accounts TO
the minimum. The new estimates will
not include the export tax moneys to
be paid the Allies under the Paris
agreement. There has been no proposal
to abandon this demand.
Method of Payment Fixed
The method Of payments of the In
demnity has been cleared up by Louis
Loucheur, Minister Of Liberated Re-
gions, who says that three-ouarters of
| the fixed annuities will be paid In kind
that is TO say, in coal, wood, nitrates
and other nlaterial--and the other
quarter in cash. Loucheur says that
the French government has refused to
accept the principle of receiving man
ufactured goods from Germany in pay
ment of the war bill. The Germans,
therefore, will have to pay only the
export tax and one-quarter Of the fixed
indemnities in cash.
BERLIN, Feb. 12 (By The Associated
Press).--Gernlany is not going to the
London reparations conference to be
dictated to, Dr. Wirth, the Minister of
Finance, declared in a speech to the
Bremen Chamber Of Commerce to-day
Great economic questions could not be
solved in that way, he added.
"We are prepared to accomplish all
we can" continued DR.. Wirth, because
we feel under moral obligation to as
gist in reconstruction, and we will make
reparation proposals Of our own IL
London.
"The newspaper reports on this sub
ject are incorrect. Our offer will not
be a small one. The nation must learn
to realize that what we shall offer can
not be extracted from the national
wealth, but must be produced by work
| And this raises the question whether
in these circumstances all the fruits
Of the revolution can be safeguarded.
| Work will have to be organized on 6
great scale, and what We offer must be
! made good.
American Aid Essential
"America cannot hold aloof," added
| the Finance Minister, when the eco.
nomic forces Of the entire world shall,
ASSEMBLE around one table, and all plans
are mere theories unless the whole eco.
| nomic world is prepared TO cooperate
| Legislation which would prescribe
the manner in which all civilian guards
in Germany should be dissolved is now
being drafted by the Ministry Of the
Interior. After being submitted to the
Cabinet, the measure will be presented
to the Reichstag for approval.
| The action Of the BaVarian Premier
in placing responsibility for disarrna
ment upon the Berlin government has
created situation quite embarrassing
| (CentInued on nsxt gasej