New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-07-12
Baldwin Says British
Govt. Invites Sympathy
of All Interest in His
Proposals For Peace
In Europe
Says Occupation Is Failure,
That Debtor Nations Now
Get Less Reparations
Than Previously.

BY The Associated Press.
London, July 12.--Great Brits1u has
informed France and Italy that she
is ready to assume the responsibility
of preparing the draft of q rsply to
the German reparation note.
The reply will be submitted to the
allies with least possible delay IN thu
hope that they will agree to It's terms.
| Announcement to this effect was
made by Premier Baldwin In state
ment to the house of commons to-
day on Great Britain's reparaton
policy. ~.-.s.
Does Not Mention Terms
The British government. he said. an
vites the sympathy of the allies and
of all interested states for the pro-
posal which aims solely at the pacifi-
cation of Europe and the recovery Of
the exhausted world.
Mr.. Baldwin failed to state what the
British proposals will be in the note
the government intends framing nor
did he say anything in regard to an
international commission to examine
into Germany's capacity to pay.
| Premier Baldwin said 1t could not
| be made too clear that the sole
ground of divergence was as to the
best effective means Of realizing the
ends which were vital to all. Those
ends were the payment of reparattons
and the recovery of the security of
Europe. To secure these ends, he
said, the allies have 'grudged moth
irg in the past, nor will they grudge
lanything in the future"
This responsibility" he went on,
lis acknowledged and shared In equal
measure by the allies but devolves
especially on the French and British
nations. We are as interested as any
of our allies thai. Germany shall make
reparations for the damage done In
the great war, to the fullest extent
of her capacity. We have never
wavered on that point. The govern
nlent Is conscious that. as business
nation if we ask Germany to pay In
excess of her capacity we shall not
succeed.
Occupation Fails
I'VE are firmly convinced that
measures which would result In the
ruin of Germany would be fatal to
this country, our allies. and the whole
of Europe. The allies are obtaining
less reparations than before the oc-
cupation of the Ruhr and these have
to be exacted at the price of disloca-
Ition of the German economic system
and probably the future collapse OF
that system.
Europe Is Alarmed
The opinion throughout Europe and
not the least in Great Britain Is be-
coming more sensitive to these condi-
|tions with alarm at their continuance.
The recovery of the world is In dan
ger. Peace is at stake. Peace can
not be secured until three questions
are settled;
1.-The payemnt of reparations.
2-The settlement of the inter-al-
lied debts.
3-The essecurity Of a paciied Eur
ope.
Takes Up Ruhr Probe.
Dealing with the present situation
In the Ruhr, the premier said in
definite occupation by one country of
the territory of another in time of
peace was phenomenon rare and
regrettable to which an honorable end
should be found as soon as possible.
The proposals set forth in the recent
German note were inadequate. he ad-
mitted. but they should be explored
and examined, not ignored.
Must Be Definite
In regard to the position OF the all
lies, Mr.. Baldwin said the exchange
of friendly conversations had not ap-
peared to lead to positive results and
IL was becoming evident that the at
titude of the principal parties must be
more clearly defined. He held that
the debtor should not merely be CALL
ed upon to pay his debt but should be
placed in a position TO do so.
We shall submit reply with the
least possible delay to our allies for
their consideration and remarks" he
"and we shall indulge in
the hope that we may be able 70 ar
rive at agreement with them on the
terms. What the exact nature of the
reply should be, 1t would be prema-
ture to discuss at the present stage.
I'm formulating these views. his
maiesty's government is not without
hope that they will be expressing the
allied sentiments as well our own.
We do not believe that in principle we
are widely separated If at all from
them. Divergence of method should
rot be incapable Of resolution"
Replies to Question
Replying TO questions by Ramsay
Macdonald the opposition leader
Premier Baldwin said the reply 70
Germany would be sent Immediately.
He would say tomorrow whether the
reply was being communicated to the
United States
Commander Kenworthy liberal
member for Hull asked whether the
had approached or had
been approached by the United States
In the matter of reparations. Mr..
Baldwin's reply vss described by the
Continued ON Thirteenth Parel