Evening star., 1929-01-03
FRANCE WELCOMES
G|LBERT'S REPORT
Press Is JubiIant Over Find.
ina That Germany Can
Pay Her Debts.
BY LELAND STOWE.

BY Gable TO The Star.
PARIS, January 3.-The annual
report of S. Parker Gilbert, agent
general for reparation payments,
made public in Berlin, is acclaimed
highly on virtually all sides and by
all sections of public opinion in
France.
1t is accepted not only as irrefu-
table documentary proof of Germany's
economic recovery and the remark
able practicability Of the Dawes
plan, but also as the most important
point of departure in the efforts Of
the rapidly approaching experts con-
ference to AK reparation definitely.
Told bluntly, in French eyes Mr..
Gilbert's report means more than all
else, one thing: Germany can pay"
The immediate reaction from the
press demonstrates this belief thor
oughly. With almost undisguised
pleasure Partisan newspapers assert
that now the highest authority has
established the truth of the conten-
ton that the French people have held
all along.
Debt to U. S. Bobs Up Again.
Mingled with this sentiment there
is unrestrained praise Of Mr.. Gilbert's
overseership of reparations and the
unouestioned authority with which
he speaks There is also recurrence
of the familiar note that now more
than ever must debts and reparations
be finally linked, and that Germany's
period of payment cannot be reduced
to 80 or 3S years unless some eQuiva-
lent time reduction is made by the
United States in allied debts.
But above all else, the latest Gill
bert report promises to become the
French reparations Bible, to which
the French government will de-
terminedly pin the assertion that
Germany can afford and ought to
continue paying the present full an
nuity of 2.500, 100000 marks (about
s595, ,000, ,000).
Il appears that 1t will require the
hardest bargaining and the most
tempting assurance of acceleration
in the Reichs payments to pry the
French, British and Belgians from
this position, particularly after Mr..
Gilberts findings.
German Intentions Questioned.
Perhaps the most significant re-
mark in any French newspaper yes
terday was that in LIE Figaro, which
SAYS in connection with the report:
"The fate of the experts negotiations
depends much less on the material
state of Germany than on her political
intentions the first is known and salts
factory, while the latter are uncer-'
TAIN
In its resume last night the semi-of-
fetal Temps says: Mr.. Gilberts re-
port comes to aid the thesis of those
dition to fulfill her obligations and
therefore that she should acquit herself
In full measure In equity to demands.
1T would be veritable defiance to all
good sense and all elementary justice
II one would impose new sacrifices on
the nations. which were unfortunate
victims of the war, while those who
were responsible would obtain favorable
treatment which the normal needs OF
their national economy do not justify.
IF Germany. as now appears evident,
can pay the full Dawes plan annuities
without compromising her own means
of existence and paralyzing the develop
men: of her prosperity, there Is no rea-
son for not demanding Of her that she
Loyalty. satisfy her obligations.
Sees No Excuse for Default.
"In any case, our thesis demanding
settlement to cover. the debts we con-
tracted during the war must be MAIN
tanned with greatest ffrniness. Mr.. Gill
bert's conclusions are sufficient to con-
vince every impartial mind that the
Dawes plan takes full account of Ger
many's capacity to pay and that In de-
fault of a complete definite settlement,
Germany will have no excuse If she
should fail deliberately to fulfill this
plan as 1t now exists"
Jacques Bainville, the monarchiSt
historian, states in the Fascist Liberte
that the experts in order to determine
Cermany's capacity to pay need only
to take the statistics and facts which
Mr.. Gilbert presents in his report and
after that simply deside the length OF
time of Germany's payments.
He adds: Whether one likes it or
not, 1t is necessary to adapt the repara-
tions debt to war debts. Germany wants
reparations payments to last no longer
than 80 years, and the United States
demands go annuities of the allies-30
years on one side and 60 on the other
the difficulty is there.
U. S. Attitude Criticized.
"It is necessary to put together all
debts, and it is necessary for the United
States to depart from its irreconcilable
attitude. otherwise the Americans force
the allies-Great Britain just as much
as France and Belgium-to what one
calls in French paying themselves
however they can This is not the way
to advance the peace of the world nor
the liquidation OF the war"
lie Journal des Debats, while lauding
Mr.. Gilbert's good news" and his i'm
partiality, f. ds President Won Hinden-
burg's speech on the unfortunate de-
ception" and the Germans in regard to
Rhineland evacuation and the other
German demands as lacking any trace
of good will toward Germany's creditors.
Everything, declares this newspaper,
depends upon Germany's attitude dur
ing the coming experts discussions,
since Mr. Gilbert has supplied the facts
upon which reparations' fixation can be
achieved.
Copyright, 1927
GERMANY CHARGES BETRAYAL.
Gilbert Declared Political Partisan and
Agent Of Allies