The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat., 1920-07-03
ENTENTE TO
MEET GERMANS
Conference to be Held at Spa Next
Week Expected to Put an End
to Bargaining over Peace
Treaty.
[By Charles McCann, United Press
\ Staff Correspondent

.
Staff Correspondent
LONDON, June 1S.-(By maiD-
Spa, where entente and German dele
gates will meet for the first time on
basis of equality, probably will be the
last inter-allied conclave OF major pro
Iportionss dealing with the Versailles
peace treaty. The tentative date set
was July 5.
International developments, since
the San Reno conference, have been
Isuch that Premier Lloyd-George is ex-
ttremely anxious that Spa shall wind
up bargaining" insofar as the Ger
man treaty is concerned. Since the
Italian cabinet crisis and the Frank
fort occupation it has become evident
that cooperative action among the
allies is scheduled to be more and
more difficult. Economic and COM
|mercial rivalry between the European
countries, regardless of past amlla-
tions, will again develop. Individual
action, except in the case OF Turkey
and Hungary, with whom treaties
have yet to be concluded, will enable
each country to mend its own fences.
While, according l0 officials close to
lLloyd-George, the German delegation
at Spa will be met as equals and will
be permitted to present their own
case in their own way, they come
with the distinct understanding that
the peace treaty Is not to be modified
{ in any way.
'"The meeting can be compared to a
conference between two litigants, one
of whom has secured legal judgment
Iagainst the other. Both agree that the
Judgment is valid and just. The mat
ter to be discussed is, how it can be
collected" This was the analogy
drawn by a British of;c:a! who will
play an important part at Spa
The German delegates, according to
VI ellinformed officials, will be request
ed to make the first overtures. Miller
and and LloydGeorge, it is believed,
have already decided upon maxim um
and minimum demands Should the
German estimate of their ability to
pay fall within these limits the con-
ference will rapidly come to close.
On the other hand, If Germany's offer
is below the estimate Of the entente,
her delegates will be given an oppor-
tunity to advance arguments and
proofs in favor Of their claims.
The general consensus among fin
anciah authorities at the present writ
ing is that Germany will repeat the
proposition made at Paris last fall by
Brockdorf- -Rantzau, namely, 5000 'O0O-
900 pounds (nominally $25, 1000, 900 ,000)
with reservations bringing this sum
down to approximately $500 000, 900.
Any such offer will be summarily dis
missed.
Various estimates Of what the allied
Preparation demands will be have been
made. That most often mentioned in
the British press is $25,00O, 900 ,00O
while the French experts place it at
$50, 900, 100000. Original demands
made by France at the Versailles con-
ference amounted to $5O000,00O,0 900,
while Keynes appraisal of Germany's s
liabilities scarcely exceeded 10000,
10000 Lloyd-George, it is under
stood, has been greatly influenced by
Keynes deductions.
Infringements of the treaty, varied
and many, will also be subject for dis
cussion at Spa This excerpts the dis
armament clauses, which the allies
decided at San Reno and the Hythe
conference should not be allowed tc
lag. Any questions concerning dis.
armament not already under consider
alton will, Of course, be permanently
disposed CT.
Advance preparations at Spa for the
entertainment OF the visitors have
been completed The British delega
ton will be located at the Hotel Bal
moral, while Premier Lloyd-George
will be the private guest CT Baron de
Crahwez, burgomeister of Spa. The
French mission will stay at the Grand
Hotel Britannique; the American mis-
sion, If it appears, at the Hotel Ros
settle, and the Italian, Belgian and
.Japanese missions at private houses
The conference meets at the Chateau
de La Fraineuse the residence of M
PelzerlCraux.
Failure Of the United States to par
ticipate at Spa will be a great setback
for the entente. The French hope OF
immediate payment" is based upon
the possibility ON capitalizing Ger
many's reparation promises and dis
posing of the German bonds in the
United States and Britain. Consider
able wealth is in private hands in
France, but French investors, after
their experience with Russian wal
bonds, are loath to sink any consider
able amount in German promises tC
pay.
According to American officials here
it is extremely unlikely that the
United States will participate. Al
least, neither Ambassador Davis noo
Ambassador Wallace at Paris ha:
planned to go to Spa.
Italy's attitude at Spa Is another
iangle that may cause difficulties. Un
: til recently Italian officials have re
: fused to recognize the Hythe ant
London conferences between Lloyd
George and Mi1lerand as anything bu
informal personal meetings" Italy
they claim, must be consulted ant