THE COUNCIL OF FOUR


owed for reparation. Moreover, if the business world realised that
this was the case the securities on which the payment of reparation
would depend would have no value. If this reasoning was sound
it provided a formidable argument. He only looked towards reach-
ing a peace and in doing so putting Germany in the position to
build up a commerce which would enable her to pay what she ought
to pay in order to make good the robbery and destruction she had
perpetrated. But if the robber was to be in such a position that he
could not pay the penalties would be inoperative. These penalties
ought to be operative and real. We ought to see that Germany
could put herself in a position where she could be punished. At the
present time we were sending food to Germany but she would not be
able to pay for that for more than about two months.
M. CLEMENTEL said he thought there was some misunderstanding.
There was perfect agreement as far as customs clauses were con-
cerned, namely, that they should terminate at the end of five years
or that at the end of four years the League of Nations should consider
whether there was to be any extension. As regards persons it was
not desirable from Germany's point of view that it should be auto-
matically terminated too soon, as if it were, Germans in countries
like France would be exposed to violence. He would be quite satis-
fied if Sir Robert Borden's proposal were adopted. The countries
concerned would then have a right to state before the Commission
set up by the League of Nations whether public opinion would enable
them to terminate the provisions at the end of five years or would
render it desirable to extend the term of their operation. Nothing
would be gained by Germany by unduly shortening the period. In
accepting Sir Robert Borden's proposal France was making a con-
siderable concession when it was remembered that 20 years had been
the period originally proposed.
PRESIDENT WILSON said he did not much like Sir Robert Borden's
proposal and he thought it was a mistake. He thought it would be
quite safe to decide that the provisions should terminate in five years
unless continued by the League of Nations. He would point out that
the term used should either be 'Council of the League' or 'Body of
Delegates'.
MR. LLOYD GEORGE said that this was the case.
PRESIDENT WILSON said that he wanted in every possible case to
yield to the desire of his French colleagues. He realised to the full
the position of the French Government and people and the suffering
which France had undergone. Although it was a serious matter for
the treaty as a whole, therefore, he would accept Sir Robert Borden's
suggestion but he urged that the clauses should be very precisely
drawn.


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