New-York tribune., 1921-04-25
Supreme Council to Meet
Saturday to Consider
Berlin Offer and Pass
ON Invasion Program
BRAND Asks British
To Seize Hamburg
America Not Invited to
Conference, but Dele
gate Will Be Welcome
By Ralph Courtney
Spectnl Cable to The Tribune


LYMPNE, England, April 25.-At the
close Of the conference Of the French
and British premiers here early to-day
1T was announced that M. BRAND and
Mr.. Lloyd George were entirely agreed
that the French plan of invading the
Ruhr valley must be put into operation
if the German reparations offer, now
expected by way of America, proves un-
satisfactory.
The two premiers, however, will with
hold their final decision until the ST.
preme Allied Council meeting that has
been called for Saturday.
Premier Lloyd George discussed the
situation with representatives of the
press after the conferences had ended.
1t was understood that the Allies
send no invitation to the United States
government to take part in next Sat-
urday's conference. The meeting will
be in London if the British coal min
ers' strike is still on at that time, but
otherwise it will be in Paris.
If the United States desires to have
meeting that is to decide Germany's
fate, the initiative must come from
Washington. 1t is said that America
the fact that the United States is not
party to the Treaty Of Versailles.
The British government is surprised
that Germany should have sent her
new offer to the United States. It is
considered unfortunate in high British
quarters that Germany did not at least
forward a copy of her offer to the
Allied premiers, while they were in
conference here to discuss the repara-
tions questions.
Action Waits on New Offer
The action Of the Allies now de-
pends upon the terms of the German
proposals which are being made known
to America. Although Mr.. Lloyd George
has officially promised his support to
the French plan of invasion if this is
that M. BRAND also has given his word
to the British Premier that military
operations will only be unloosed if
satisfaction is seen to be unattainable
in any other way.
1t is understood that the British
prefer to send q small contingent of
cavalry and possibly some tanks as
indicative Of their support of the
French, rather than take some more
spectacular action, such as the occu-
patton of Hamburg. 1t is said authori-
tatively, however, that the details Of
British participation must await the
consideration of the matter by the
Cabinet. Lloyd George is to consult
his advisers on the subject at the
earliest opportunity.
Pending next Saturdays meeting, the
Allies are looking forward to word
from America regarding the German
proposals with the greatest interest.
No one here knows whether the
United States government will merely
transmit Germany's offer to the
Allies or venture an opinion upon it's
acceptability. The French are reported
to be urging that whether or not
America expresses her opinion con-
corning the German offer, the Allies
must consider the transmission thereof
as implying Americas responsibility
for it's contents.
Seek to Commit America
|. The French may seem to be stretch
ing a point in urging this assumption,
but it is desired to have some defense
against American intervention if the
Allies decide that such intervention
may have a bearing on the indebted
ness of the Allied powers to the United
States. The Allies might point out to
the Washington government that the
German offer is far from being as large
as the bill presented to the Berlin gov
eminent by the Allies, but under cer-
tain circumstances the French and
British governments might be prepared
to consider the terms which America
(Coutjnued on next pauo)