San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-22
FRANCE SPuRNS
BRITISH TERMS
TO LAST ITEM
Poincare Refuses to Yield
to Curzon in Any
Detail.
POLITE NOTE SENT
Calls London's Threat to
Press Paris for War
Debt.
POLITE NOTE SENT
BY the Associated Press.


tain evacuation of the Ruhr only by
tenua ton of the rigors of the occupa-
tenuattion of the rigors of the occupa-
ton by ceasing passive resistance, ana
she can win no reduction IN the
amount she owes France unless the
allied creditors of France see fit TO
give France credit for equal amounts
on her war debts.
These are the conclusions of Pre-
mier Poincare's reply to Marquis Cur
IONS reparation note of recent date.
The French government also expresses
its belief that the allies can agree on
methods of bringing about the execr-
ton of the treaty By continuing cour-
teous negotia tons.
The British proposals for re-esti-
mate of Germany's capacity for pay
ment, and Lord Curzon's suggestion
that the question of the legality OF
the occupation of the Ruhr be re
ferred to The Hague, are rejected, ana
the French position is reaffirmed as
unchanged.
France holds that a settlement OF
the question of intemllied war debts
shouid wait tipon final payment by
Germany of fifty billion gold marks
in reparations comprised in the A and
y bonds.
Official opinion of the reply, as set
,6crth in the summary III English, sly-
Va out today at the foreign Office, ,s
that the note contains the elements oil
practical solution Of the reparatlons
problem, but careful reading OF the
communication shows that, in the
opinion of Poinedre, the only practical
solution is for Great Britain TO ac-
conf the French thesis in every detail.
Germany Must Pay First.
Premier Poincare stresses the prior
Nv of reparations over other war costs
ms represented. by the inter-aliled
debts.
France never repudiated the debts
she contracted during the war, either
Ia England or TO America, in the in
terests of the common victory, the
note asserts.
France is also the creditor of the
other allies for five or six billion gold
marks, the summary continues. put
there can be no doubt but that IN
the minds of those who drafted the
treaty that damages to persons ana
property were to be granted priority
over war COSTS" -
Therefore, asks the note, is it to be
supposed that "such war costs. which
the allies agreed should rank after
reparations, after pensions and after
the damages stipulated in the treaty,
and which they do not claim from
Germany, are now to be claimed Dy
the allies from each other before
Germany has even begun to pay up,
Referring specifically to the British
demand for the. payment of fourteen
and one-fifth billion gold marks, the
summary continues: /,
1--WE do not suppose that England
intends to claim the sums owing her
nv the allies before reparations are
actually settled. She will certainly
be the first to realize that, in order
TO nay what she owes, France musk
nreyiously have recovered her contri-
butiye power. have repaired her griev-
80, losses. and must be in a position
meet German competition with
saws Policy Not Selfish.
at is, no doubt. TO Englands in
terest that Germany shall recover. IT
certainly cannot be to her interest
that France should be diminished.
The summary begins by describing
the note as "a general and sympa-
thetic statement of the position taken
by France" containing 1.-The elements
Of a practical solution.
The synopsis asserts that France
@never dreamed of pursuing a selfish
policy in the question of reparations
"a question that cannot be solved
without due regard 10 the whole Eu-
ropean interests involved"
Furthermore. she always took into
consideration Great Britain's lament
able and persistent unemployment
The occupation Of the Ruhr was
made obligatory. in Premier Poin-
cares opinion. by what he calls the
deliberate debasement of Germany's
finances with the avowed intention Of
escaping payment of reparations.
Until the end Of 1922" the note
explains, "Germany had not ceased TO
azgravate her financial situation. She
did nothing to balance her budget.
.She maintained railroad rates low
er than anywhere else. She increased
the number of her functionaries and
increased their pay. She RENTED n
large part of the taxes due from The
most powerful manufacturers and even
granted them indemnities and subsid
les. She has reconstructed her merch-
ant fleet. which is now competing with
the British in American waters. she
has undertaken an immense program
of public works such as France was
obliged to postpone.
Mentions Austrian Recovery.
Premier Poineare cites previous de:
.1sions of the allies to prove that the
occupation Of the Ruhr is legal. He