Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1923-08-22
FRANCE IS FIRM
ON PREPARATIONS
Note to England Says Evacu-
alton of Ruhr Rests Only
on Payments
FRANCE MAKES OFFER
To Allies on Debts to Make
Way Easier for the Berlin
Government
FRANCE MAKES OFFER

PARIS, Aug. % (By The Asso-
ciated Press) can obtain
evacuation of the Ruhr only by pay
ing reparations. She can assure at
tenuation of the rigors of the occu-
patton by ceasing passive resistance
and 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
lCurzon's reparations note of recent
date. The French government also
expresses its belief that the Allies
can agree on methods of bringing
about the execution of the treaty by
continuing courteous negotiations.
The British proposals for re-
estimate of Germanys capacity for
payment, and Lord Curzon's suggest
ion that question of the legality of
the occupation of the Ruhr be re-
ferred to the Hague. are rejected,
and the French position is reaffirmed
as remaining unchanged.
Official opinion of the reply, as set
forth in the English summary given
out this morning at the foreign
office, is that the note contains the
elements of a practical solution of
the reparations problem, but care
iful reading of the communication
shows that in the opinion of M.
Poincare the only practical solution
/ is for Great Britain to accept the
French thesis in every detail.
/ The occupation of the Ruhr was
made obligatory in Premier Poin-
!, lie ha
deliberate debasement of Germany's
finances with the avowed intention
of escaping payment of reparations.
Premier Poincare cites previous
decisions of the Allies to prove that
the occupation of the Ruhr is legal.
He mentions the rapid recovery of
Austria as proof that Germany could
have put her finances in order had
she wished to do so.
The French program. the premier
says, is Simple" for she asks from
the first two series of bonds twenty
six billions in addition to enough
from the bonds to pay the Allied
war debts"
He repeats the determination of
France not to give UP the pledges
she holds Until after complete pay
ment of reparations has been made.
Referring to the proposed re-es-
innate of Germany's capacity to pay
the reply says:
I'VE confess we are unable to un-
derstand what the British govern
ment means by capacity of payment
and present capacity of payment.
| Germany is equal to nothing, by
will of the empire itself.
Premier Poincare replies very
pointedly to Lord Curzon's intima-
tion that Great Britain may soon
be obliged to ask France to pay her
war debt. He says:
France has never repudiated her
debts and never will. but she is con-
vinced that no British government
will ever apply to an ally the pres
sure that the London cabinet does
not find it possible to apply today to
the former enemies of France
France will not change her atti-
tude on evacuation" the note as
serts. ITO ask her to do otherwise
would be to justify the attitude Of
Germany, and in the words of Lloyd
George before the supreme council
in March, 1921. it would be the vic
tors who would pay the cost of de-
feat and the vanquished who would
harvest the fruits of victory.