Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-25
P|TTSF|ELD CHILDREN march To
SAFETY WHEN FIRE BREAKS OUT
Gov. WALTON SEEKS RETENTION
POWER THROUGH COURT ORDER
HEARING ASKED BY
GERMANS CAPACITY
TO PAY PREPARATIONS

Paris, Oct "a (By A. P)-Ger-
many's formal application for hear
ing before the reparation commits
sion on the subject of her capacity
to pay is considered in authoritive
circles as having brought the whole
!, reDaration problem to a new crisis
The German request was contained
in a note presented to The commits
sion this afternoon by DIR. Mayer,
head of the German reparation dele
cation in Paris.
1t is anticipated that it will bring
up an issue between the French
delegates on one side and the Brit
ish, Belgian and Italian representa-
tives on the other, the three latter
being known to favor a hearing for
the Germans. The British and Ital-
I ianS have been inclined in This Gi-
+ rcction for some time. and the Bel
gians are now said to believe that
i the time has come when the Germans
should be allowed to state their case.
Premier Poincare. it is recalled.
| has all along contended that if any
| re- estimate Of Germany'S capacity to
/ pay were made, it should be done by
! the PREPARATION commission, but he
| has hitherto avoided committing
| himself as to whether the commits
| sion might properly take up that
question in the present circumstan-
ces. In his last interview with Herr
| Won Hoesch, the German charge
, d'affaires. he declared he would not
to consideration of any such ques-
| tim by the commission until the pas
sive resistance had entirely ceased.
1t is understood that the French
| will regard the resistance as having
| ceased only when deliveries in kind
| are resumed on the reparation &C
| count. The Germans in their note
| today assume that the resistance
| will he considered as having ceased.
| but the deliveries have not vet been
resumed. and if NJ. POincare clings
| to his previous attitude, the inStruc-
| tons to the French delegation on the
commission will be to oppose con-
sideration of the German request.
! The majority of the commission, it
. is understood. will not insist upon
! considering Germany's request that
! she he heard if France stands out
| against it. though certain members
| have expressed the opinion that the
| gravest crisis has been reached in
/ the PREPARATIONS problem and that it
! may be safely passed if the Germans
! are heard while if their application
/ Is refused CllC result Will llNtIN pt
to plunge Germany into an ineXtri-
cable situation.
In French circles the granting of n
hearing to the Germans on the capa-
city of their country to pay would be
thought tantamOunt to an admission
that the total of reparaion due from
Germany may he furher reduced, ana
its gravely doubted whether the
French premier has reached the
point where he is willing to make
such a concession.
The foreign office had not been Of
! fcially apprised of the German
document at late hour: conse-
qucntly an authoritative view of 1t
could not be obtained. The repara-
ton commission will probably take
up the request at its regular meet
ing Friday, if Sir John Bradbury.
the British representative, returns
from England in time.