J. Austen Chamberlain, Chancellor of
the Exchequer, replying in the House of
Commons to-day to an argument tluit
the German reparations bill to be ef
fective must be applied by all the Al
lies, said the bill might operate either
as a penalty or as a means of collec
tion of reparations. Which of these
characters the measure took on, he as
serted. depended upon the action of the
Germs ns.
If the Germans wished to draw pen
alty upon themselves, Mr. Chamberlain
sal'l. they could draw It: but If they
wl.+hed to avoid penalty und pay a por
tion of their debts for reparations the
bill would not act as a punishment, but
as a method of collection. It was not
Improbable that before long the bill
would bt> acting In the second method,
the Chancellor declared.
Even If Great Britain stood alone In
this matter, Mr. Chamberlain said, he
| believed the exclusion of Germany from
British markets would be sufficient to
! compel her to give satisfaction to Brit
ish demands. The proceeds of the bill,
| the Chancellor added, would be applied
to the payment of British claims and
the disposal of any surplus would be
I left over for discussion by the Allies.
ARMED BRITISH SHIPS
VISIT GERMAN HARBORS
Chancellor Urges Passage of
Disarmament Bill.
Hv the Ansoutotrrt Prill.
Bkhlin, March 1*.?The recent entry
of some armed British ships In German
harbors. It was announced In the Itelch
stag to-day, Is seriously eriga*Wig the
attention of the German Government, In
view of the "ffravlty of the principle In
volved."
Chancellor Fehrenbaoh urged the
speedy passage of the disarmament
bill, warning that delay, for which
tielther he nor the Government <?uld
take the responsibility, would entail
danger. A Relchntag committee Is dl?
c'lsslng the measure.
