Mr, Lloyd George, in addressing the German delegates at the Conference this afternoon, said that the German proposals did not represent such an advance on those first submitted as to justify the Allies in postponing execution of the sanctions, though they all deeply deplored this in the interests of the peace of the world.
Mr. Lloyd George pointed out that the Allies, neutrals and Germany all insistently urged the clamant necessity of reaching a definite settlement of outstanding questions, particularly determination of the total amount of indemnities.
It was sound common sense, in the interests of the peace and prosperity of the world, to realize the futility of endeavouring to reconstruct the future on a rocking foundation, and to discover something, however low, which touched bottom in the paramount interests of the world, including Germany. The German proposals failed completely.
"Until we get from Germany proposals that mean a definite, unchallenged settlement,' the British Premier continued, "there cannot be peace between us." Dr. von Simons' offer appears to accept the Paris proposals for five years, but even this is uncertain because, in the event of the Upper Silesia plebiscite going against Germany, the whole scheme falls through. _"Even assuming that the plebiscite were favourable to Germany and that we were ready to accept the conditions about German trade, what would happen at the end of five years? We have no proposal, not even a minimum figure; not even a precise method of arriving ata figure. Therefore the situation is not only perfectly vague: it is disquieting, since the payments now offered would not be paid from current revenue, but would involve a loan.
"Germany thus mortgages her future, necessitating a lien on"her income for subsequent years in order to pay the annuities for the first five years. We have been seeking some sort of certainty. All we get is the certainty that it will be inadequate."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.