Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-07
France and Belgium to
Insist on Full Payment;
No Talk Until Resist
ance Stops in Ruhr
Joint Note Sent to Ger
man Embassy Ger
man Note Criticized
in Detail - Would
Mean Tearing Up of
Versailles Treaty
Defend Occupation
of Ruhr ~

Paris, May G-(By A. P.)-France
and Belgium have categorically re-
fused to consider Germany's recent
offer of thirty billion marks as re-
parations.
The refusal is contained in a Joint
note sent the allies yesterday and de-
livered to the German embassies in
Paris and Brussels this evening.
The note criticizes point by point
the German offer. and in doing so an
nounces the determination of France
and Belgium to be paid in full and
not to consider any proposal until
German resistance in the Ruhr
ceases.
Surprise is expressed, which,. the
note says, would mean tearing up the
Versailles treaty. In the final para
graphs it remarks: THE German
government, if it will only look into
its own heart, will not be astonished
that such a bargain should be re-
fused"
After mentioning number of OBJ
jections to the German proposals, the
note continues:
1.-THE French and Belgian govern
, ments should add that the present
proposition of Germany is altogether
unacceptable from severa: POINTS OF
view. Germany's offer does net repre-
sent even one fourth nf the sum fixed
by the PREPARATIONS commission and
recognized by Germany as the
amount of her debt to the allies.
France and Belgium a'e declared on
several occasions, and they are led to
repeat now, that they cannot accept
reduction of their. own share and.
although they are ready to offset
them with inter- allied debts, they are
| obliged to collect the renal der to re-
pair the terrible disaster the German
| invasion inflicted upon the two coun-
| tries"
1t was first announced that the
note would be delivered last evening
but the British. amba ssador asked for
delay, in line with the British sug-
gcstion that there be consultation
| with the allies before Germany was
answered. France and Belgium COM
plid by giving England one day TO
| think over the note, but with no cx-
pectation that the English would fin
| ally come into "a united 'front.', or
| without any intention of modifying
| the terms of Englands request. as
| France and Belgium consider them
selves alone qualified to answer in
| this case.
The note lays strong emphasis pot
only on the inadequacy of the money
offer. but condemns the vague terms
and rejects the idea of an internal
tiOnal commission replacing the re-
paration committee and he allies as
a final tribunal. 1t also emphasizes
German failure to offer security that
her obligations as enunciated in the
new note would be met. rcmarking
that under the German plan. with all
it's shortcomings. it would amount
only to some words on paper
The note denies the truth OF the
German assertion that France and
I Belgium violated the treaty by en-
tering the Ruhr. but. on the contrary.
asserts that the German offer ia sew
eral essentials is incompatible in with
the treaty. The document sets forth
how the treaty procedure was fol-
lowed in legal way by fixing repair
atoms. which Germany formally ac-
cepted and adds: Since then. she
Continued on Page 10-col. 81