Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-18
Turkish Treaty and German
Affairs Among Main Sub
iects of Discussion.
ALL OF FRANCE PUZZLED
BY ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN
Russian Affairs Also to Be Dis
cussed With Spirit by
Nitti.
BY PERTINAx.
Henri Geraud, Editor of L'Echo dc Paris.) J

BY PERTINAx.
Henri Geraud, Editor Of L'Echo de Paris.)
(By cable to The Star. Copyright. 1820.)
PARIS. April 17.-On the eve Of the
San Reno conference, for which the
statesmen now are gathering, the sky
is still full Of clouds. One hundred
years ago the Congress of Vienna was
followed by succession Of minor
conferences at Letbach. Tropp and
Verona, each intrusted with carrying
out some detail of the decisions ar
rived at the bigger meeting. The pro-
cedure is repeated now.
Following upon the Versailles con-
ference. We went to London, and next
Saturday we shall be in San Reno.
The great difference between that
time and this is that as we all start
for San Reno clouds of failure seem
to dim the prospects far more darkly
than they dimmed the prospects Of
the negotiators of last century. The
Turkish treaty will loom largely
among the problems of the San Reno
conference. Russian affairs will 10
discussed. and possibly with consider
able spirit, as Nitti. the Italian pre-
mier. is said to have come to the con-
clusion tina. official relationships
should be resumed with that great
country. despite its soviet rule.
Problems for Solutioa.
Who shall say what this discussion
will give rise to? The Adriatic prob
lem. with its many. ramincations.
each possibly explosive. will not b
overlooked. of course, despite the
fact that Trumbitch. head Of the
Jugoslav delegation. having failed 70
take the minimum pledge required By
the italian government, has not been
invited to attend. But the main ais-
cussion will center upon German AZ
fairs. They have lost no part Of their
position in the center OF the stage.
Notwithstanding the fortunate set
tlement Of the Franco British differ
ences to which I referred At length
last week in my cables to this news
paper. the French and British pointe
Of view today appear to be more and
more in opposition to each other.
The British representatives in Ger
many. Gen. Malcolm Bingham Mas
terman at Berlin. Reginald Tower In
Dantzig and Rennie in Allenstein.
maintain their advocacy Of such .
kindly enforcement Of the Versailles
treaty as would be tantamount to ies
revision upon the basis Of the security
of nations idea. All France 10 pus-
zled by the British attitude. which
is explained either by their well
known repugnance to another resort
to militaristic force, or in less pleas
ant way by the traditional view that
the balance of power must be main
tanned upon the>continent and that
French power must not be allowed TO
develop beyond certain limits.
Origin OF Franco-British Clash.
The Franco-British controversy Of
the last ten days arose as the result
of the unavoidable clash OF such q
policy with the requirements Of French
national safety. No one knows az
actly what the end will be. Having
given strong expression to their sense
Of irritation against Millerand. the
British statesmen today. II certain
Indications are to be taken seriously,
are trying to soothe French feeling.
This morning there arrived without
announcement British proposal TO
the effect that a Joint statement be
made to Germany in order to impress
her with the necessity for carrying
out the treaty terms. It suggests
that If German attention Is attracted
to the fact that no international loan1
and no supplies Of raw material will
be granted to her as long as she main
treaty terms, she may readjust her
plans.
Moreover, Winston Churchill re-
Gently went very far. indeed. when in
conference with Foch about the best
means of compelling Germany to dis
band her army and destroy her war
material But definite assurance that
England will unhesitatingly contrib
ute II necessary to the military CO.
ercion of Germany remains lacking.
This is rendered most unfortunate by
the increasing realization among the
members of the French government
of the fact that short of such a dem
onstration the treaty signed last year
must remain a dead letter.
The feeling is general in France
that every endeavor to find a middle
way upon which the British govern
ment seems to be bent will result only
in its gradual further destruction.
Herein will lie the greatest difficulty
which will confront the San Reno
conferees.
Nitti. the Italian premier. may be
trusted to do everything in his power
to promote any measure likely to ad:
vance the recovery of Germany. It
now develops that II he had been lis.
tened to in London during the last
fortnight England would have sent an
to France in the endeavor
to compel her to withdraw from
Frankfort within forty-eight hours.
He is reported to have gone even
to the length Of advocating the early
dissolution Of the interallied military
now in control of Ger-
manys disarmament. It 10 announce
ed that he is sending to Berlin -
designate ambasaador-which means
=