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.
By the Associated 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 basis for
| 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 a communiaue made public today by
the Belgian official news agency, read
| ing:
THE Belgian government has called
i the attention of the French, British
and Italian governments to the tech
nical 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
| indicate methods by which Germany
could pay her debt.
May Serve ms Basis.
1.-THE Belgian government feels
these reports are destined to serve,
partially at least, as a basis for a
concrete reparation plan. In sub
mittfng them to the allies she had
only one purpose, namely. to assist
in bringing about practical solu-
tion of the reparation problem. The
/ Belgian government had thought that
| when. the reich should have aban-
| doned its policy of resistance, fulfill
| ing the condition upon which. ac-
| cording to the French and Belgian
| communiQue Of June 6. the question
of resumption of negotiations hung,
| It would be extremely desirable for
I 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
ment takes the view, owing to the
| technical character of the reports
| which 1t submitted to the allies that
| preliminary examination should be
| made of them by experts, thus facili-
tating the task of the governments
Of the allies when they are again
called upon to study anew the repara-
| tion problem.
Three Accept OFFER.
1.-THE French, British and Italian
governments have accepted the Bel
gian governments proposal and the
reparationH commission will under
take the work"
It would appear that Belgium. in
again bringing her reparation plan to
the attention of the allies, Is revert
| ing to her reputed desire, expressed
at the Brussels conference with the
French in June, that all the allies
get together again and frame 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 1t Is re-
ported it fixed the total indemnity to
be paid by Germany at 40,000,0O0,O0O
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-
terts to- examine IT, and ultimately 1t
/ appears to have been laid aside with
out any definite action.