Evening star., 1923-10-13
ENTENTE TACKLES
PREPARATION, USING
BELGIAN PROPOSAL
Powers Agree to Study Whole
Issue in Light of Plan Sug-
gested Last June.
TOTAL INDEMNITY SET TAT
40 BILLION GOLD MARKS
Brussels Plea Shows Desire to Bring
Entente to Joint Action on
Question.
BY the Associa ted Press.

By the Associated Press.
BRUSSELS, October 13-The Bel
gian government has invited the
French. British and Italian govern
ments to refer to the interallied repa-
ration commission the Belgian repa-
ration. plan submitted to the allied
governments on June 6 last, to be
used by the commission as a basis for
q concrete plan of German reparation
in the impending negotiations.
1t is officially stated that the three
allied governments have acceded to
the Belgian proposal and that the
reparation commission will undertake
study of the Belgian suggestions
The Belgian action was made known
in communique made public today by
the Belgian official news agency, read
ing:
The Belgian government has called
the attention of the French. British
and Italian governments to the tech
rical studies of the reparatiOn prob
lem communicated by the Brussels
government to the allied governments.
suggesting the advisability that they
be examined by the reparation com
mission. These technical Investigations
iNuICt1te meIHOuS Dy WHICH Germany
could pay her debt.
May Serve ms Basis.
The Belgian government feels
these reports are destined to serve,
partially at least. as a basis for a
concrete reparation plan. In sub
mitting them to the allies she had
only one purpose. namely. to assist
in bringing about a practical solu-
tton of the reparation problem. The
Belgian government had thought that
when the reich should have aban-
dcned its policy of resistance, fulfill
ing the condition upon which; ac-
cording to the French and Belgian
communique of June s, the question
of resumption of negotiations hung,
it would be extremely desirable for
the allies to be in accord concerning
the solution of the reparation ques-
tion.
Doubtless the cessation Of passive
resistance may not yet be considered
complete. but the Belgian govern
ment takes the view, owing to the
which 1t submitted to the allies that
a preliminary examination should be
made of them by experts, thus facilf-
tating the task of the governments
called upon to study anew the repara-
tion problem.
Three Accept Offer.
"The French, British and Italian
governments have accepted the Bel
gian gQ&sSnment's proposal and the
reparation commission will under
take the work"
1t would appear that Belgium. in
again bringing her reparation plan to
the attention of the allies, is revert
ing 70 her reputed desire. expressed
at the Brussels conference with the
French in June. that all the allies
get together again and frame a repa-
ration settlement with Germany.
The Belgian plan submitted at the
Brussels conference set seven billion
gold marks as the figure Belgium was
prepared to accept for her reparation
share. The text of the plan was not
made public at the time, but it is re-
ported il fixed the total indemnity to
be paid by Germany at 10000, 100000
gold marks. with the payments Sc
cured by German bonds based on rail-
way receipts. industrial monopolies,
etc.
France. it was declared. while ac-
cepting the plan in principle. asked
that time be given for French ex-
perts to examine it, and ultimately'it
appears to have been laid aside with
out any definite action.