Three or four new schemes have been discussed in the
Com- mittees of the French Assembly for the speedy payment of the German indemnity, but none of them are acceptable to Govern- ment. One of them is to raise a loala of £120,000,000 at three per cent. with " drawings " so heavy as to constitute lottery prizes. This it is considered would be taken up at once, but M. Soubeyran does not say how the money is to be paid into the Treasury. It is nearly £20 per house to be subscribed in cash. M. Laurier's scheme is much better. It is to purchase the railways, the reversion of which belongs to. Government, for their value in Rente, and then pay off the Ger- mans in railway bonds, or money raised on the railway security. This operation, if wisely managed, would only forestall a great financial resource of the future ; but we imagine the Govern- ment is not sincerely desirous of hurrying a payment which events might possibly, though improbably, arrest.
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