London, March 7.
Owing to the momentousness of this morning's conference, an enormous crowd collected outside Lancaster House and gave Mr. Lloyd George a tremendous ovation as he arrived, surrounding him and shouting: "Make them pay."
Dr. von Simons' statement at the conference reiterated Germany's inability to accept the Paris proposals and declared that owing to the far-reaching difference of opinion, and the grave difficulties in the way of obtaining a perfect solution of the reparations problem, the Germans were compelled to abandon the idea of presenting a new plan for the total reparation, and had decided to revert to the idea of a provisional arrangement. Germany was prepared to pay the fixed annuities provided for the first five years and was also rea: iy to give the full equivalent for the 12 per cent. export duty which was not. thought practicable.
Such tremendous payments, the Foreign Minister went on, were only possible if a large part of them could be financed by way of a loan. The proposal could only be made if Upper Silesia, by virtue of the plebiscite, remained German and if the restrictions imposed on Germany in the commercial world were abolished.
Both conditions were necessary to enable Germany honourably to promise such high payments. Dr. von Simons continued: "It is entirely for the Allies to decide when ther we submit such a proposal to-day. If you agree, then we shall do our best to ce-operate with your experts with a view to establishing as soon as possible a comprehensive plan of reparations covering 30 years. If, however. you insist on making a fixed total offer we must ask for a delay of a week in order to consult the Berlin cabinet."
Germany's "Good" Intentions.
Dr. von Simons asserted that the difference between the Paris decisions and the German counter-pro-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.