The Bennington Evening Banner

ALLIES AND HUNS ALMOST AGREED ON REPARATIONS

Entente Officials Are Gathering In London For Conference

WANT U. S. IN THE CONFAB

Rumored In Washington That Proposals From Germany Are Acceptable.

Berlin, April 26.-Germany "in the event that the United States and Allies so desire is willing, according to the extent of her ability and capacity, to assume the Allied obligations to the United States," says a clause in her counter-proposals it was definitely learned today.

Washington, April 26-Germany in latest reparations note says she will welcome suggestions from the United States for further negotiations or for changes in present reparations proposals.

Paris, April 26.-The possibility of applying penalties to Germany immediately after May 1, despite whatever proposition Germany may make regarding reparations in general, is being considered in Paris, according to well informed French circles.

Such action, it is said, would be because of Germany's refusal to transfer one billion gold marks to the Rhineland or else hand over an equivalent to that sum as was demanded by the reparations commission.

London, April 26.-The allied officials began to gather here today for a conference preparatory to meeting the supreme allied council, Saturday which will discuss finally Germany's latest reparations proposals. The indications are that the allied military experts will be called into consultation Saturday, if Germany's terms prove to be unsatisfactory.

Paris Terms Accepted,

Berlin, April 26.-Germany's new reparations proposals, it was admitted in high official circles here last night, are in a general way an acceptance of the Paris terms of the Allies.

These new proposals, it was reported include an offer of $50,000,000,000 marks gold, principal, which, according to the rates of interest the German delegates quoted in the London reparations conference is tantamount to 200,000,000,000 marks gold, spread over the period then fixed. This does not include the 20,000,000,000 marks gold Germany then claimed to have already paid. Therefore it was figured according to the mathematics of parliamentarians in the Reichstag today that Germany now offers a maximum of 220,000,000,000 marks gold in reparations.

All Depends on Harding

The prime Minister in the house of commons last night made it perfectly clear that the action of the Allies concerning Germany depends absolutely on how President Harding handles Germany's new reparations proposals.

"If the German proposals are not satisfactory,' the prime minister said in response to questions from the floor, "his majesty's government will support France in the forthcoming conference in her proposals for the occupation of the Westphalian (Ruhr) coal fields."

In so far as Great Britain is concerned, it was hinted in well informed quarters her last night that she would not object to the United States entering the allied conference next Saturday for the purpose of bringing all the parties together. But it was insisted that there was no hope of the success of such an object on the part of America unless Germany came so close to the Paris decision by the Allies in the total amount of reparations she offered as to make an agreement nothing more than shading a discount. It was declared that nothing like a concession of a principle would be possible.

Near a Settlement.

Washington, D. C., April 26--Although this government maintains silence as to the terms and character of the new reparations proposals submitted by Germany, the belief is strong in official circles that events are moving swiftly toward final adjustment of the dispute.

Secretary Hughes and Under Secretary Fletcher denied themselves to callers yesterday and withheld comment of any sort from the press. That they are acquainted with the actual character of the terms, informally transmitted from Berlin, is known, the first intimations as to the mind of the German cabinet having arrived here on Saturday. It is said also that the disposition shown by the Germans to make concessions, the report of which came secretly to this government.