Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-08
WAR DEBT ISSUE
STILL UNSETTLED
Agreement Seems No Nearer
Than 1t Was Two
Months Ago.
By the Assoclated press.

By the Associated Press.
PARIS, April 8.--The International
reparations experts began the ninth
week Of their deliberations today with
anything but favorable auspices for sue
cess of their labor. In well informed
circles it was said, however, they had
not lost hope of arriving at q satisfac-
tory settlement of the reparations prob
lem.
Whatever the work that has been
done, TIC eitdation remains about as it
did two months ago at the start of the
deliberationS-that is, the tremendous
gap between the French and allied re-
quests and what the Germans are pre-
pared to offer has never been bridged.
The actual negotiations continue shroud-
ed In secrecy.
Press AsSails Allies.
The French newspapers the last two
or three days have assailed owen D.
Young and the other allied delegates
for making a list of the allied claims
and presenting it TO DR.. Schacht, this
criticism apparently being predicated on
knowledge that such had taken place.
AS result, it was claimed the allies
had been put in position Of defending
their claims. Attention was called that
the conference was sought by the Ger
mans. who, nevertheless. through the
negotiations had gained the position Of
listening to offers rather than making
them.
On this assumption, 1t was under
stood today that instead of making def
mite offers, DR.. Schacht has demanded
reductions IN the claims OF the allies,
regarding them simply as claims Tor
reparation of war damages and dlstln-
guished from the interallied debts.
Despite certain allied concessions.
there is said to be still considerable
gap between the positions OF the TWO
groups. Another plenary session. In
view Of the situation, is not expected
for several days.
Holidays Are Limited.
1t now is proposed that hereafter
the committee go ahead at tul steam;
taking no more week end holidays until
a decision is reached on which report
can be drawn. The whole committee
agrees that the work must lag no longer.
Reports that the Germans alone were.
responsible for previous delays are
denied by other committeeman. There
are good reasons to suppose that the
German experts became eager TO talk
business 10 days ago after Chairman
Young laid down the principles calling
for action.
The Germans, it is said, in sparring
for position. found the time coming
when they would have been faced with
the alternative of having to go on
indefinitely under the present Dawes
plan unless a compromise settlement
could be reached.
Hope for Decision This Week.
Mr. Young, having taken the matter
in hand. made known In his now famous
memorandum what was expected IN the
way of further efforts by the experts.
and has since remained the guiding
hand in the private talks as well as
in full sessions of the committee.
Many conversations between the
creditor experts and DR.. HJalmar
Schacht. the chief German delegate,
have taken place in his residence, both
parties seeking his advice and inter-
Vention.
Some of the experts now hope for
decision before the end of the week.
After that several weeks will be re-
quired TO draw up q report.