The New York herald., 1922-03-08

Copyright, 1899, by THE New YoRK HFaALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Paris, March z.
A reduction In the allied armies OF oc-
cupation to such an extent as will en-
able Germany to Increase her cash repa-
rations payments is q vital issue to be
considered by the allied Finance Minis
ters at the Quai dorsay tomorrow.
Although the agenda includes other sub
jects: among them the apportioning of
the first billion marks gold, paid last
summer, as we'll as fixing the payments
In kind to be attributed TO each country
during 1922. experts are agreed that no
real progress can be made in the repara-
tions matter until the military burden
now chargeable to Germany has been
brought to a minimum.
The British are reported TO be ready
to propose a complete withdrawal OF
all troops from the Ruhrort and Dus-
seldorf area, with reduction of the
Dridgehead forces to not more than 5000
troops for each allied nation. But the
French are insisting that this Is impos-
sible until Germany has carried out her
financial program. Even then a reduc-
ton to such q limit as 5000 men Is not
considered feasible. owing TO the fact
that the French army has not been
able to bring ehe territory under its
control to such state Of relative paci-
ficism IS has been obtained at CobIenz
by the American contingent or at Co
logne by the British forces.
belgian Position Uncertain.
The French apparently are worried ae
to where Belgium will stand In this dis
cussion. Although hitherto she has as
serted that her idea OF frontier protec-
tion comedies with that of France. the
latest withdrawal of Americans with
out the slightest untoward incident
coupled with the recent British declara-
tion that 1000 men were sufficient for
any bridgchead control has caused a de-
cided change OF opinion by some Bel.
gian military leaders and 1t Is probable
that she will stand out for a reduction
Of at least so per cent. OF her own
forces. with g. pledge to make further
cuts yearly as the provisions of the
treaty are met.
In doing this Belgium also will be ac-
tuated by q desire to see the color
of Germany's reparations money, even
the first billion marks being held up
until the priority problem he's been set
tied. Another billion has been paid by
Germany to cover the cost of occupa-
ton, and It Is evident to most experts
that nothing will be left for actual
reparations as long as the money pay
ments must be credited to military pur-
poses and numerous control commits
sions instead OF being used to stabilize
the Interior financial condition of the
countries receiving the payments.
What Germany Has Paid.
The Preparations commission on the
eve Of this important conference has
issued a statement of payments by Ger
many from the time of the arnistice to
the end OF December last, showing
6,487, $685. 600 marks of gold to be the
total to be apportioned over reparsv
tions. army costs and the repayment Of
French advances arranged at Spa fol
German coal supplies. In gold and
foreign currencies direct payments for
these purposes amount to l,04i. 100000
marks gold, TO which must be added
81, 900. 900 paid by Denmark for the
cession of part OF Schleswig- -Holstein
Al. 900, 900 marks for war material de-
stroyed or sold: $4,000 for sundries
Oh
act representing sums obtained from
German deposits abroad. total O
i,1S4. 100000.
The deliveries in kind supplied to the
Allied and Associated Powers totalec
| 2. .7e0. go. 900 with an additional 39.0co."@
| marks worth OF raw materials sold tc
Luxemburg and the United States Tex
tile Alliance. q total of 2.7s9. $40. 900. This
| makes a grand total OF liquid receipt:
| of 3.9S3. .5li. 900.
| The Reparations Commission has cs'
tirnated the value OF State properties ir
| the territories ceded by Germany al
| :. .504, 900. 900 marks gold. making the tora
| of Germanys payments 6.4s7,S5S. Oo
| marks gold.
The actual payments are to date
slightly under 1000 900 900 gold marks OF
go. 900 600 per year since tho armistics
and 1t is realized that unless a more
efficient system can be worked out
Germany's indebtedness will continue
far longer than tho half century. esti-
mated a year ago by French and Ger
man optimists like Loucheur and Dr.
HatfIenau.