Evening star., 1923-08-22
Answers British Demand.


: Answers British Demand.
Referring specifically to the British
demand for the payment of 14.20o,-
100000 gold marks, the summary
continues:
I'VE do not suppose that England
intends to claim the sums owing her
by the allies before reparations are
actually settled. She will certainly
be the first to realize that, in order
to pay what she owes. France must
previously have recovered her con-
tributive power, have repaired her
grievous losses, and must be in a
position to meet German competition
with equal weapons.
1T is. no doubt, to England's inter-
est that Germany shall recover. 1t
certainly cannot be to her interest
that France should be diminished"
The summary begins by describ
Ing the note as a general and sym
pathetic statement Of the position
taken by France" containing the ell
ements of a practical solution"
Denies Selfish Purpose.
The synopsis asserts that France
never dreamed of pursuing a selfish
policy in the Question of reparations--
a question that cannot be solved with
Interests involved"
Furthermore, she always took into
consideration Great Britain's lament
able and persistent unemployment"
The occupation of the Ruhr was
made obligatory, in Premier Poin-
cares opinion, by what he calls the
deliberate deba sement of Germany 8
finances with the avowed intention
of escaping payment of reparations.
Until the end of 1922" the note ex-
plains. Germany had not ceased to
aggravate her financial situation. She
did nothing to balance her budget.
She maintained railroad rates lower
than anywhere else. She increased the
number. of her functionarieS and In
creased their pay. She RENTED a
large part of the taxes due from the
most powerful manufacturers and
even granted. them indempities and
subsidies. She has reconstructed her
merchant fleet, which is now compet-
ing with the British in American
waters. She has undertaken an i'm
az France was obliged to postpone"
Holds Occupation Legal.
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, he says, is
Simple" for she asks from the first
two series of bonds twenty-six bill
lions, in addition to enough from the
c. bonds to pay the allied war debts.
In the text the premier, replying
to Marquis Curzon, frames his an.
swers in a tone less sharp but no
less categorical, reaffirming the
French resolution, "a hundred times
repeated, not to renounce one Gen.
time of her reparations claim which
is regarded as sacred, and which
does not resemble any other claim.
Full Payment Demanded.
He repeats the determination OF
Franco not to give up the pledges
she holds until after complete pay.
ment of reparat tions has been made.
Referring to the proposed re-esti.
mate of Germany's capacity to pay
the reply says:
"We. confess we are unable to un.
derstand what the British govern.
ment means by capacity of payment
and present capacity Of payment
Germans Is equal to nothing, BY
will of the empire itself, All exper,
calculations are useless"
The note then asks: Does the
British cabinet want to suppress Ger
nlany's debt entirely under the pre-.
text that. her capacity for payr1en,
has been Professionally annihilated? 2
The premier replies pointedly tc
Curzon's intimation that Great Brit.
ain may soon be obliged to ask France
70. pay her war debt He says:
"France has never repudiated hel
debts and meyer will, but. she is con.
vinced that no British government
will ever apply to an ally the pres
sure that the London cabinet doe.
not find 1t possible to apply today
to the former enemies of France"
He repeats the assurance tina
France will attenuate the e.occupatioy
OF the Ruhr if Germany ceases hel
resistance and that she will cvacuatt
the Ruhr in proportion as payment:
are actually made.
France will not change ner .atti-
tade on evacuatio4,"- the note asserts
TO ask her to do otherwise woult
ba to justify the attitude of Ger.
many, and in the. words of Lloyt
George before the supreme council
in March. 1921, 1T would be the vic.
tors who would pay the cost ,2ff de:
feat and the vanquished who wouit
harvest the fruits of victory.