New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-04
Reconstruction
Great Issue at
Spa Conference
Impossible So Long as In
definite Liability Hangs
Over Central Countries
Is View i'm Great Britain
Uncertainty Casts Shadow
One Belief Is Meeting Will
DO No More Than Estab-
fish ContactWith Germany


LONDON, July 3.-The curious un-
certainty and brooding over the forth
coming conference at Spa cast y
shadow over European affairs. There
Is stli feeling that there is bound
to be some hitch that will make it q
nore protracted affair than was cx-
pected at first. One belief is that it
svlu be purely formal and will do no
pore than to establish contact with
germany for the drst time since the
treaty of Versailles and mark her re-
appearance in international affairs on
gre or less equal footing. This is
S-gmented by the fact that the Allies
Send their ambassadors to Berlin this
week
with full anticipation of the great
est resistance on the part of the Ger
mans to the Allied demands, as we'll as
elaborate counter proposals, plans for
the consideration of notifications in
the Turkish treaty, the attitude toward
Russia and the proportionate liabilities
e. the new states of Poland and
Czecho- Slovakia for the pre-war debt
of the countries from which they were
carved Will be taken up in the interval
when the Allied experts consider the
German proposals.
Reconstruction Great Problem
One great and significant change in
the attitude of all the Allied states
men characterizes the Spa conferences
namely, that the economic recon-
structlon of Europe is one inseparable
problem in all countries; that as long
as an indefinite liability is hanging
over the central countries and a def
mite liability over France and England
economic reconstruction is impoSs Bile.
TINS is the view stated to me by
prominent official of the British Ex-
cheGuer.
Though series of gatherings is
scheduled, the Germans may go back
after three days. The coming fnterna-
tional financial conference, three weeks
hence, and the League of Nations will
be the greatest persuasive factors to
the Germans of the possibility Of world
cooperation in setting them on their
feet. This one factor may save the
situation.
1t is asserted that the British and
French are in accord on dividing the
reparations, even though the priority
OF France be abandoned. Parallel pay
ments of Germany's debts to France
and England have broken down because
of Americas reluctance to admit the
system to her financial relations with
the Allies. The surest method is {.
double series of German instruments,
one fixed and one elastic.
Strongest Men Held at Home
Neither France, Britain nor Italy is
free enough from problems at home TO
send the strongest members of the
government abroad, but they have been
persuaded by q demand for absolute
unity when meeting the Germans face
to face.
Lloyd George has been obliged to
sacrifice Chamberlain because Of Lom-
bar Street, and the British public is
extremely critical of his announced
addition of 973, o00, 900 (normally $500
O00O00) to the former budget estimate
The cruel attack on tire excess profits
tax and the continued criticism of
Chamberlain will be cumulative, many
expect, of coalition cabinet, breaking
first with him. Sir Eric Geddes, brother
of the Ambassador to America, is in
like predcament, his plan OF the rail
ways going back in August to private
control, with the smaller lines absorb
ed by the greater and grouped and