Evening star., 1922-03-12
.TE[LSWHYFRANCE
PAYMENT
Tardieu Says Reparations
Are Less Than 4 Per Cent
of War Loss Expenses.
REPLIES TO U. S. CRITICS
Declares Germany Still Holds State
Properties Untouched Worth
Billions.
BY ANDRE TARDIEU,
0rmer French High Commissioner I
America.

BY ANDRE TARDIEU,
Former French High Commissioner to
America.
By Gable to The Star.
PARIS. March 1.-THE statement
| Of the reparations commission. made
public this week, should be Of great
| interest to America, for this dry doc
ument shows the reason for that
spirit in France which a part Of the
American press has criticised SO
freely.
What says the commission? With
out counting the restitution Of objects
stolen by the German armies-enu-
merated in article 23S Of the treaty
Germany up to the end of 1921 had
disbursed in cash and kind roughly
$2,SOO, 100000. but this includes about
$500. 100000 as repayments for food
stuffs advanced in Germany after the
armisttce. and $60o.O00,00O represents
buildings as yet unliquidated.
e$625.OOO, 900 for France.
Considering Belgium's priority
claims. when the liquidation Of the
buildings is completed, France will
have received for occupation and rep
arations 100000. But meanwhile
and pensions 10000, 900, 900 francs. or
$16,0O0,O00.OoO reckoning exchange at
par, which is legitimate. since repa-
rations payments are in gold marks.
Thus in two years Germany has
paid France 3.s per cent of what
France spent in Germany's stead.
Certain American papers say we are
never satisfied. I wonder If they
would be in similar circumstances
And 1 wonder something else. You
n I'd
Keynes books showing that Germany
Is incapable OF paying. The forego-
ing ngureS show that Germany can
pay. That is the first point to re-
member. Next to remember is the
fact that Germany made these pay
ments in circumstances which gave
her maximum opportunity to dodge.
Trumphs for Germany.
Whatever ono thinks Of the inter-
allied conferences which filled 1920
and 1921 with their contradictions,
you will grant this constant calling
into question of tho treaty's clauses
put excellent trumps in Germany's
hand. Therefore it Is quite legiti-
mate to suppose that a different
policy would have produced better
results.
This supposition bscomeo a Ger
tainty when you reflect thas during
the last two years the allies did not
treaty which gave them a arm grip
on Germany. For example. the
mortgage on the property and re-
sources of the German states and the
priority of reparatiops over the
German internal debts, the equality
of fiscal charges between Germany
and her conQuerors, the right to
modify German laws and procedure to
assure full reparations payments
Billions in State Properties.
What is the result? There are in
Germany state properties, fixed and
movable, worth billions and from
which reparations have not profited.
Germans, during the last two years.
have invested seven billion gold
marks abroad. all Of which should
have been paid toward reparations.
The German budget heaps indulgence
on the various categorieS of tax
payers.
could cite numerous other
examples But enough has been said
to show why, having recovered less
than per cent Of our expenditures
for reparations, we are not satisfied.
We are dissatisfied with ourselves
for allowing our ministers to follow
g. policy OF weakness; dissatisfied
with our friends and allies for con-
stantly urging this policy on us.
Those who can add two and two must
understand our state of mind
Copyright. 1927