Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-10
HYPOCRISY LURKED
| IN GERMAN OFFERS,
| SAYS LLOYD GEORGE

LONDON. March s. Premier
Lloyd George in his speech an
nouncing that the German proposals
were not acceptable said:
1--WE all deeply deplore having to
come to this decision In the interest
Of the peace Of the world, and, de-
spite the fact that our action Is
liable to a good deal of misapprehen-
sion in our own countries, we have
made an effort to secure better un-
Outstanding, and 1t is not for lack Of
effort and discussion that have now
to announce on behalf Of the allies
this failure to come to anything like
an approximate understanding with
Germany"
Explaining why the latest pro-
posals of DIR. Simons were made
| quate, Mr.. Lloyd George said it was
| essential in the interest of the peace
| of the world that there should be
definite settlement of outstanding
questions between the allies and
| Germany. Germany, the allies and
neutrals urged it.
THAT is an appeal to common
| sense" he continued. at is per-
fectly true that the experts, failing
to come to an agreement, made some
suggestions about trying to agree for
| five years, but that was not plan
| which was adopted by any Golfer
ence of statesmen. We wanted each
of us to know where we stood"
The prime minister pointed out
| that DR.. Simons' acceptance of the
| Paris proposals for five years was
apparent but not real. 1t was sub
ject to conditions which might make
it uncertain, which might terminate
the pIebiscite in Upper Silesia. If
| the plebiscite were adverse to Ger
many she would be justified in say
| ing: Germany is deprived Of ter
ritory upon which she depended to
pay those annuities, and, therefore,
an end
Mr.. Lloyd George continued: 1.-THE
German proposals are perfectly
vague. There is nothing the allies
especially those who want to raise
money for repairing their ravaged
upon, let alone gold mark. The
proposal that Germany should pay
ann uities for five years not out of
revenue, but by means of a loan, is
disquieting. She is thereby mort
gaging her income for the years that
nuities of the first five. There are
CERTAIN significant sentences used by
DR.. Simons, which show that Ger
many has not faced her problem"
I The prime minister spoke about
| the enormous sacrifices it would be
necessary for Germany to make in
order to pay the annuities Of the first
five years, and added: IF upper Sile-
STA is torn entirely from the side of
Germany, the latter will have a popu-
lation which will be ten millions in
excess of Great Britain, including
|
unemployed as direct result of the
war, but we have to find for paying
| our debt, charges and pensions and
disability allowance five hundred mil
lion sterling. If Germany carries
out this year the Paris proposals
| twenty million neutrality-suspicious.
the sum Great Gritain alone has to
find
France, in addition to war charges
and pension list, has to find twelve
billion francs for repairing her de-
vastated area. Germany, therefore
will have to find this year one-ninth
of what France has to find, and we
are told that the effort Germany
puts forth is q colossal sacrifice. 1t
shows that Germany has not yet real
lied the essential facts of the sit
uation."
The allies could not enter into any
discussion upon the basis that Ger
| many was not responsible for the
war, he declared. The responsible
| ity of Germany for the war was, with
them, fundamental. The Paris pro-
posals, the premier said, represented
a considerable abatement of the full
claims of the allies; but that abate-
ment was made in order to secure a
settlement.
1--WE are willing to discuss with
Germany the length of the period of
annuities," he continued, 1--WE are
willing to discuss with, Germany any
other method besides the IL per cent
tax for adjusting the annuity to Ger
man prosperity. DR.. Simons is not
really in a position to negotiate; he
| is returning to report to public opin-
ion, which is not ready to pay this
debit