New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-24
Versailles Treaty Will Be
Enforced, He Says, but
Denies Cermany's Food
Supply Will Be Cut
Declares Council
Needs Aid of y. s.
Berlin Government Doing
Its Best, but Cannot
Function, He Contends
By Ralph Courtney
Special Coble to Th, Trib,nc


Copyright. 1920. New York Tribune Inc.
SAN RENO, April 23.-The attitude
of the British delegation at the Su-
preme Council sessions in San Reno
was outlined to-day by Premier Lloyd
George in an interview. He spoke of
most of the outstanding points of diff
ference between the British and French
conceptions Of the problems before
the conference, declaring:
You may take it that the incident
resulting from the German ocupation
of the Ruhr region and the French en-
try into Frankfort is now settled"
Premier Lloyd George said the Yer
sailles Treaty must be executed, but de-
MED that England proposed to bring
pressure to bear on Germany by the
stoppagc of food.
There is enough starvation in Ger
many already" he said. "When we
speak of economic pressure to enforce
the treaty it is necessary to know what
Is meant. To construe it as signifying
the stoppage of food is mere newspaper
talk. There are several means of COM
peillng Germany to respect the treaty
depending on any particular violation
thereof. If the Germans fail to dis
arm, one method might be adopted; if
they fail to deliver coal, another.
United Action Essential
II am waiting, in company with
Il AI.
oplnlcn Of experts on these questions.
| cannot conceive that any Aliy should
act alone in these matters, for if we
don't stand together in action we cannot
stand together in council.
MY impression of Germany is that
she IS IN state of paralysis. The real
dlthculty is not that Germany is re-
luslng to execute the treaty, but that
the government is unable to impose it's
VIII on all parts of the empire. She
Is like a man who cannot control all
his extremities. Bavaria, for instance,
refuses to obey Berlin. Of what use
IN these circumstances would be the
occupation of the Ruhr region? It is
impossible to bring pressure to bear on
Bavaria by occupying territory in
am. OF course, speaking of the
present. What may happen in the future
is another matter. On the other hand
though, there is good reason to fear
boishevlsm in Germany. l. am inclined
TO thlnk the Germans are too disci-
pilned race for the spread of this
doctrine. 1t does not appear to me that
the latest German note is proof of
Germany's bad faith. On the question
of disarmament, the British position
IS that If 10000 men are not sufficient
to keep order in Germany we are pre-
pared to reconsider the matter after
hearing experts"
Note to Wilson Withheld
Turning to Turkey, the Premier said
it was hoped the note to President
Wilson on Turkey would be published
IN few days, but not, Of course, unit.
the President received it.
II regret very much that the Presi-
dent is not taking part in our discus
sions on Turkey" said Premier Lloyd
George. "The United States would
have brought to the conference a de-
tached point of view, free from all
European entanglemcnts. l have never
been informed officially Of the ex-
pected arrival at San Reno of the
American Ambassador to Rome as
spectator. What we would like, how
ever, is an American representative
who would not only take notes, but
give us the American viewpoint.
America would be particularly helpful
in the question of protecting the
Christian minority in Turkey"
The British Premier said American
oil interests in Turkey would be re-
spected.
Owe defer very much to American
opinion" he added; "much more than
you think. 1t is a great pity that
America is not here when the fate is
being decided of the very cradle Of our
common faith. l am not criticzing
America; it would be impertiment Of
me to do so. l merely want to empha-
size the great loss Europe sustains by
her absence"
"The Serbian government falls every
time the Peace Conference assemblies"
said Premier Nitti of Italy to-day, in
reply to objections that as the Serbian
government had just fallen it would
CONTINUED on page feur)