New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-17
New Alliances
At San Reno
Parley Seen
Reported That France and
Belgium Seek to Bring
Great Britain and Italy In
to Quadruple Agreement
Sidetrack Nations League
Wilson Scheme, 1t Is Be-
lieved, Will Be Used as
Allies Dumping Ground
By Arthur S. Draper

From The Tribune's European Bureau
Copyright. 1920, New York Tribune Inc
LONDON, April 16.s-Some new al
liances are not the least of the highly
important diplomatic developments
which are expected at the San Reno
conference of Allied leaders. The
French and Belgians already have con-
cluded what virtually amounts to a
treaty Of alliance, and it is reported
they are now trying to bring Great
Britain and Italy into quadruple
agreement. If they are successful in
this move, which is regarded here as
highly probable, it is believed the
Anglo-French and Franco-American de-
fensive alliances will be scrapped and
that the. league Of nations will practi-
cally be reduced to league of coun-
tries under the leadership of the
entente cordiale.
European leaders are making agree
ments just as they did in the days
before President Wilson appeared as
an apostle Of the new order, observers
here say. The principal change, they
assert, has been that the leaders of
the Allied governments now have the
additional advantage of using the
league OF nations as dumping ground
for anything they consider too difficult
or too trivial for them to handle.
1t is admitted frankly in high quar-
ters that the league Of nations has
become secondary consideration. The
excuse is offered that nationalist
aims must naturally take first place
as long as the United States remains
isolated.
League Supporters Discouraged
Proponents Of the league here are
greatly discouraged and some Of them
insist that the only. thing which will
save it is complete reorganization at
some future time. This pessimstc
that reach here of secret negotiations
among the Allies. but whether it is
justified will not be known until after
the San Reno conference.
The French arc showing themselves
| to be clever diplomatic strategists
but the test Of their ccverness will
come at San Reno during the discus
sion of the Russian and Turkish prob
lens, when the British representatives
at the conference VIII call Tor show
down. Reports from Italy say the
industrial situation is extremely un.
satisfactory and Premier Nitti is ex
pccted to advocate the adoption of
radical policy toward Russia. in The
/ hope, that resumption Of trade with
that country will improve condition.
! in his own.
4 Premier Nitti will ask a resumptio,
/ Immediately of diplomatic relations
with the Bolsheviki. a step consider
ably in. advance of the trade policy
said to be approved bv the Unitee
/ States government. Premier Lloyt
| George will support Premier Nitti il
his proposals. American opponents o
the league of nations can find plent,
Of justification for their position il
these developments.
The British delegation include
Philip Kerr, the Premicrs secretary
who is credited with suggesting tn
policy Great Britain followed. leadinl
up to the clash OF diplomatic arm
with France over the occupation o
! Frankfort and other Rhine cities
Prcmiers Lloyd George and Nitti wcr
among the first delegates TO reach Sal
Reno. according TO reports receive
here, and were carly in confersnc
together.