The New York herald., 1921-02-19
Commons Stands 191 to 40
on Plans of Allies to Com
pei Germany to Meet
Claims of War.
MUST PAY TO LIMIT
Parliament Is Told Repa-
rations Are Based on
Advice of Worlds
Best Experts.
DOUBTS POVERTY OF FOE
Governments Views, as Out
lined by Leader, Defeat Move
of Censure-Vindicati0n
Complete.
DOUBTS POVERTY OF FOE
Special CnbIs to THE New YORK HERALD.
Copuioht, 1921. By THE NEW YORK HERALD

Special CabIs to THE New York HERALD.
Cop11oht. 1921, bv THE New YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
London, Feb. ID.
Lloyd George to-day scored a de-
cisive victory for his policy regarding
the carrying out of the provisions OF
the Versailles Treaty when the House
of Commons after hearing him de-
clare that he stood by his pledge that
Germany must pay to the limit of
her capacity" gave him a vote of con-
fidence, 1S1 to 40. tt4 z
The Premier was in a fine fettle, and
the debate. which was on Horatio Bot
tomley's amendment to the reply to
the speech from the throne, revealed
there was a little political likelihood
Of his weakening on the substance OF
the demands now made on Germany,
although he IS perfectly willing to
listen to proposals regarding modifi-
cation of the form in which the pay
ments by Germany are to be made.
It is true that the agitation con-
tinues among powerful business and
banking men here in favor of ire
vision of the Versailles treaty's eco
nomic clauses" but the utterances of
the Prime Minister'S critics to-day, as
well as his own words, indicate that
such revisions as he believes were
necessary. If any were necessary
we're carried out in the Paris confer
ence and that the reparations terms
shall stand substantially as they are
unless the Germans can show not
only something as yet entirely un-
revealed regarding their fiscal situa-
ton, but something that the closest
first hand inspections have failed to
reveal to allied experts.
While some critics seemed to believe
hat Mr.. Lloyd Georges remarks re-
garding the gravity of enforcing the
punitive sanctions against Germany
II she failed to live up to the repara-
ton payments meant that he would
weaken IL the Germans insisted that
they could not pay the indemnities
demanded. the closest friends Of the
OtHItu lflls, lIldI IL
was merely a manifestation of his
unwilingness to go into any confer
ence after having created bad i'm
preston by brandishing a big stick in
advance.
These friends OF the Premier insist
that IL il comes to q showdown this
time he will be found infiexible that
the sanctions must be enforced. what
ever may be the cost of enforcing them.
Referring TO the suggestion that the
reparations demanded were much less
than what Germany should pay. the
Premier asked what would be the use of
collecting the entire cost OF the war from
Germany II IL must be paid In paper
marks.
Answering a proposal by Mr. Bottom
Icy that allied officials be sent to Ger
many TO investigate Germany's re-
sources and supervise the collection of
indemnities. the Premier drew hu-
morous picture of Bottomley as excise
man and Col Claude Jowther as ticket
collector exacting millions from Ger
many.
i"It would take a ship load OF these
paper marks to pay the sentlemens
fare home," the Premier said.