Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-20
GUT
URGED; MISSION
To MEET W|RTH
British Party Off for
Berlin; Hope for
Settlement.

Paris, Aug. 19-(By The Associated
Press. The departure of the repara-
tions mission for Berlin Saturday night
marked the beginning of the final effort
of the reparations commission to find
temporary solution Of the German
indemnity problem acceptable to both
French and British public opinion and
thereby prevent the threatened indie
pendent action by France. with a con-
sequent breaking up of the entente.
Sir John Bradbury, British member
OF the commission, and his assistants
Will arrive at Berlin Sunday night. They
have an appointment to see Chancellor
Wirth Monday morning.
Relative to the departure of this
mission, French official circles have re-
newed with increased vigor the French
plan for comprehensive reparation
settlement which Premier Poincare
would have presented at London but
for the refusal of Mr.. Lloyd George to
permit discussion of the allied debts.
The reparations commission is being
unofficially urged to take up the plan,
now that the government themselves
have failed to solve the problem. Brief
ly, the scheme provides for reduction
of the interest bearing reparations to
fifty billion gold marks, including both
cash and merchandise, and the gradual
cancellation of the remainder of the
u, 0OO,OO0,O 900 marks indemnity.
U. S. Claims Held Up
This $4,000, ,OOO,O 900 gold marks would
be cancelled proportionately, as the
fifty billion paid by Germany and as
the inter-ailied debts are cancelled
The plan leaves the United States
claims in allegiance for adjustment lat
er, the point being made that the al
lied debts to the United States cannot
at this time be considered with the
general reparatiOns question. The re-
parations commission would welcome
the opportunity to settle the question
in such a broad way butt is realized
that the governments would have to
proceed with such plans. Both French
and British officials regard some gen
eral settlement such as the French pro-
posal .as inevitable. but impossible at
the present time.
The purpose, therefore, of the COM
mission is to find a temporary COM
promise which would bridge the in
terval between now and November and
December, by which time it is expected
the allies will be ready formally to
consider cancellation of debts and re-
duction of indemnity.
Sir John Bradbury and his associ-
ates left Paris optimistic over the pos
sibilities of arranging a temporary set
tlement. The commission has been in
formed tina. Germany welcomes direct
contact with the mission, and it is
thought not improbable that the Ger
man government may offer new sug-
gestions for meeting the situation.
Guarantees Wanted
German industrial interests have
been exerting considerable pressure on
the government to prevent the intend
ed Independent action of France, which
they say would take the form of i'm
occupation of the Ruhr Great
prefer a settlement in the commission
rather than isolated action by the
French.
Sir John will therefore make a
strong effort to obtain additional guar
British positions, or some temporary
solution. where a moratorium would
not be necessary A loan of f12 600, 900
would make possible the carrying out
of the schedule of cash payments for
the remainder of this year. The Brit
ish member believes that such loan
may be raised if Germany can gather
together sufficient securities
The matter of a loan would be thor
oughly inquired into by the mission
because. with it, payments could be
made until the projected November