Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-16
Berlin NOTE GETS
FR|G|D RECEPTION
French DispIeased at Lack OF
Regret in German Plea
for More Time
INDEMNITY BOARD TO ACT

Paris, Dec. 16.-The Allied heparn :
tions Commission. meeting today to
consider the German notice of inability
to pay the next two installments In fuli
and requesting extension OF time, vir..
tually agreed that the Commission itself
should take definite action on the request
instead of referring the question to the
allied governments. The note was coldly
received by the French press.
1t was announced that the Commits
sion would meet again this afternoon
to discuss the matter further.
DR.. Mayer, German Ambassador. de-
livered to Premier BRAND today copy
of the German Preparations nole. Tue
German Embassy announced that Or;
Mayors visit was limited to this errand
and that there was no truth in the re =
port that he had presented formal de-
mand for delay in the payments or for
a moratorium. The two payments,
900, ,000, 900 gold marks each. are due
January 10 and February 10 of next
year.
The note declared that, even with
the time extension, payment in full
depended upon the success OF efforts
to obtain a foreign loan. Customs re-
ceipts and revenues from other sources
which Germany intended to use in
making the payments had netted only
from 100, 100000 to 200, 900, 900 gold
marks, the note continued.
Note Lacking in Details
Although the note cannot be de-
scribed as curt, it Is regarded in rep
arations circles as remarkable for it's
lack of details or expression of regret
over its failure to live up to the agree
For thaun on1 nthDr
the note has made an unfavorable i'm
preston in French circles.
"Will the Ruhr be occupied this
time?" Germany cannot pay, but
her industry pays so per cent divi-
dends." These are some Of the captions
in the morning newspapers-straws that
show which way the wind of opinion
blows. Says the Figaro:
Germany doesn't want to pay any
thing, and if her debts we're remitted
she would soon be asking for indemni- =
ties"
lie Journal asserts German industrial
magnates have 100000, 900 gold
marks deposited in foreign banks, but
that they demanded such outrageous
terms in return for aid to the Govern
ment that Chancellor Wirth was
obliged to refuse. lacking the courage
or strength to require Of them more dis.
interested aid.
Whether the reparation commission
action will take the form of another
note to Germany or the immediate
transmission to the allied Powers of {
statement of the facts, together will
implied recommendations has not beer
determined. but in rcparation circles |
is believed the latter course will be fol
lowed.
Majority opinion in the commission
IL said to favor submission to the Allie
of an outline OF the only three methods
considered possible by which German!
could meet the forthcoming payments.
The first method, 1t is pointed out
would be for Germany to use the none!
held by German nationals abroad
amounting to about seven billion gol,
marks. To n request of this kind Ger
many could reply that she was unable
to force her nationals to give up thi
money, and the Allies would have no re-
course.
The second method would be the us
Of the gold reserve in the German
Reichsbank of more than one billion
gold marks. Reparation officials sa,
that while this reserve covers only
per cent of the outstanding paper an,
therefore Is valuelcss as u guaranty, th
German people nevertheless derive con
fidence from it, and If the entire re
serve were wipd out financial chaos wit
unlimited potcntiultes for harm nigh
| follow.
Failed to Balance Budget
The third method indicated would b
for Germany TO buy foreign exchang
with her paper marks, which method
in the view Of the experts, would b
even more disastrous than the sccon,