On This Day, 29 November 1918

Birmingham Mail

Friday 29 November 1918

HOW WILL GERMANY PAY?

CHAMBERLAIN ON INDEMNITY QUESTION

WHAT WE OUGHT TO DEMAND

Mr. Austen Chamberlain, at his second meeting in West Birmingham, held at Camden Street Council School last evening, devoted his attention mainly to the Ex-Kaiser (a subject dealt with elsewhere) and the question of the payment of an indemnity by Germany. There was, he declared, no indemnity that Germany could pay as great as she ought to pay. “There is no indemnity,” he added, “you can ask you could not ask in justice, but an indemnity must be paid, and how is it to be paid? It may be paid, as far as that goes, in gold, but that will go no way at all as reparation for the actual wanton damage they have done. It may be paid to some extent in securities, but, again, that source would be insufficient. It may be paid by the surrender of shipping, but take all those items together, and they are insufficient to pay the bill which Germany owes to the nations which she has outraged. (Hear, hear.)

“Beyond that there is no means of paying except by exports of goods, and that raises a very different question. Then we have to consider whether we desire to make Germany a greater exporter of goods, a great competitor in our markets here, or a competitor with in markets elsewhere.

The measure of what we should ask of Germany is to be found in the point at which it would be injurious to us and to our Allies to press her for more. Up to that point we are entitled and bound to press her. (Applause.)

As to territorial arrangements, which specially concern the British Empire, Mr. Chamberlain added:

“There the opinion of his Majesty’s Government has been plainly expressed. No German colony shall go back to Germany be used again as a menace to the peace and security of the ocean highways and commerce of the world. (Applause.) And as regards those German colonies which were conquered by Australia and New Zealand or by South Africa, the British Government stands shoulder to shoulder with those Dominions, and cannot waive their rights.

The further peace terms must be the subject of consultation with the representatives of the Dominions and then with our Allies.” (Applause.)

Mr. Austen Chamberlain, who will deliver the third of his addresses the Smith Street Council School to-night, will to-morrow return to London in connection with the visit of the French Premier, M. Clemenceau. Mr. Chamberlain will not return to Birmingham until nomination day. In the event of a contest he will address a series of meetings in West Birmingham.