THE COUNCIL OF FOUR


MR. LLoYD GEORGE said that according to Lord Sumner, our view
was that Germany ought to pay within 30 years, but that if she
could not do so, the Commission should have the right to extend the
time of payment.
M. Lo-ucHE1UR said he entirely agreed with Mr. Lloyd George, but
the British Delegation had not taken the same attitude in the dis-
cussions of the experts. The matter was explained clearly by the fol-
lowing example. Supposing the amount that Germany ought to pay
was estimated by the Commission at 50 milliards of dollars, and the
Commission found that Germany was only capable of paying 40 mil-
liards in 30 years, it had been clearly explained that 10 Billiards had
been lost.
LoRD SumNE  said that the difficulty arose out of a misunderstand-
ing of terms. Mr. Montagu had agreed to the insertion of a limit
of 30 years because he had been given to understand Mr. Lloyd George
had agreed to this limitation. (MR. ILoYD GEORGE interjected, that of
course he preferred a period of 30 years if it were practicable to obtain
the sum within that time. Everyone had agreed to this.)
LoRD SIUMNER continuing said that the French Delegates had then
put the question-if the total was not paid in 30 years would the balance
be remitted ? The British Delegates had replied in the negative. He
had then understood Mr. Davis to say that the balance would be imme-
diately payable. Then a further amendment had been introduced,
namely, Clause 4, which was put in to enable the total amount to be
paid by some means. It was by no means the desire, however, of the
British Delegation, that Germany should escape.
MiR. LLoYD GEORGE said that Lord Sumner had presented his view
perfectly correctly.
M. Loucm-uR said if this were the case this meeting would hardly
seem to have been necessary. The French Delegation were quite ready
to accept Mr. Lloyd George's view, but when Article 4 had been drafted
it had not really applied to this but to something else. The hypothesis
had been that the Commission would estimate the total amount that
Germany could pay at 50 milliard dollars, but that the amount which
she could pay in 30 years was only 40 milliard dollars. Supposing,
however, it was found in practice that even the 40 milliard dollars
could not be paid, then it was proposed that the time might be extended
for the payment of even the 40.
MR. DAvis said he was willing to accept this draft which had been
prepared by the British Delegation, but he wished to have no doubt
as to what it meant. The Commission would have to decide: (1) the
total estimate of the amount to be paid; (2) if they considered this
amount in excess of what Germany could pay in 30 years they must
say the amount we estimate she could pay in 30 years is what Germany


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