Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1922-12-20
FRENCH REJECT
GERMAN IDEAS
FOR PAYMENTS
Complete Outline of Plan
Submitted to u. S.
Told
Germany Wants Payment
Cut by Experts to Be
Named
By A. L. BRADFORD
United Press Staff Correspondent
(Convrioht. 1922. by United PreSS)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-Ger-
many has proposed to the United
States and the allies, the appoint
ment of an expert commission to
fix just separations figure within
her capacity to pay, the United
Press learned today.
France, through Premier Poincare,
has just summarily rejected the
German proposal, according to in
formation reaching highly authora-
tive quarters here direct from Parls.
These important international de-
velopments are clearly indicative of
the difficult task confronting this
government in its efforts to find
a practical way to solve the criti-
cal European situation and in some
measure explain why the United
States is guarding its moves with
secrecy and acting with extreme
caution.
Following is a complete outline
of the German proposal, which has
been communicated to Secretary of
State Hughes by Ambassador WED
feldt, the German envoy here, and
to the capitals of the principal allied
powers:
Wants American Commission
1.-Germany suggests a commits
sion of financial and economical eX-
perts to study and determine a just
reparations sum for the war which
is within Germany's capacity to
pay. The present separations figure
is more than $4,000 100000 III
American money.
Germany would prefer that
this commission be made up entirely
of appontces by the United States
which would constitute American
mediation but understands that the
allies powers concerned with the
separations problem would not agree
to this. She, therefore, proposes that
the commission be participated i'll
by the United States and the allies.
Germany is prepared to offer
every facility to this commission in
arriving at its decision as to what
Germany should and could pay,
throwing open the books dealing
with the administration of her in
ternal affairs and so forth.
4.-German hesitates to name a
reparations figure now herself that
she is ready to pay, on the ground
that France and the. other allies
would find it unacceptable.
Germany feels that if the al
lied armies of occupation were with
drawn from her territory she could
pay double the amount of repara-
tions she otherwise could meet, or
at least much larger sum.
Would Answer Flatly
Germany would undertake to
give categorical answer-'yes y
or "no las to whether she would
accept and agree to pay the figure
that the expert commission decided
ON.
Information here is that Premier
Poincarc in rejecting the proposal.
takes the attitude that France in
sists upon the London ultimatum
which requires that Germany pay
1872, 700, 100000 gold marks or more
than $30,000,000,000.
This sum is generally regarded in
the United States as impossible.
Poincare is said to have declared
that if moratorium is necessary
for Germany after January 10,
when the next separations pay
ments are due, France will exact
sanctions of guarantees from Ger
many to insure her interests in the
reparations payments. He does not
take kindly to the proposal for a
commission of experts especially, it
is said, if such a conference is to be
held in Washington.
The present revelation by the
United Press of this Germany pro
posal has excited the greatest inter
est in Washington, especially since
the plan was undoubtedly and pri-
marily an appeal to the United
States.
What answer Secretary Hughes
has given Ambassador Wiedfcldt on
the German proposal is not known.
NEW MEXICO MAN HONORED
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-Presi-