The New York herald., 1921-02-20
FRENCH SPLlTWITH
BRITISH IS FEARED.
N! GERMAN PARLEY.
Trouble Inevitable if Lloyd
George Attempts Policy
Of Bargaining in Lon
don Meeting.
NO BLUFF, PARIS SAYS
If Berlin Will Not Pay, We
Will Collect, Is View in
France as to Indem-
mites.
SEE INDEPENDENT ACTION
Accord of Two Allies at Time
of Paris Agreement Appar-
emily Near Point Of
Breaking.
SEE INDEPENDENT ACTION
by LAURENCE HILLS.


Special Ca6lc. to THE New YORK HERALD.
Ccpyri0ht, 1921, By THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Paris, Feb. 10.
Although the British and the French
seemed to have reached complete
accord when the Paris agreement was
made it is impossible to escape the
conclusion that a wide difference still
exists between British and French
statesmen on the subject Of the forth
coming conference in London with the
Germans.
This appears to be the situation ex-
listing on the eve of the departure Of
Premier BRAND and the French dele
cation for London. 1t was made more
evident in the last twenty-four hours
by the speech Of Premier Lloyd George
in the House of Commons yesterday
in which there were decided equivoca-
tions as seen from here, and this is
filing the French official mind once
more with doubt as to the attitude and
real intentions of the British leader
regarding this agreement.
Demand German Yes or No.
Premier Lloyd George seems to have
made reservations in this speech which
were not to be found in his Birmingham
address. If he insists on these reserva-
tions to the point of bargaining with the
Germans and trimming the total repara-
ton payment fixed at Paris to approach
at all Germany's estimate of her capacity
to pay, this would seem to presage this
time really serious divergence between
the two countries leading to independent
action by France.
The French delegation leaving here to-
morrow has determined, first, that Ger
many must return a yes or no answer TO
the agreement which sums up the In
ycstigations of the allied experts for
more than year, and that there VIII
not be any discussion across the table
over any German counter plan and,
second that IL the German answer is
no. in the form of counter proposal
containing "A lower sum, the Allies VIII
Immediately notify Germany regarding
the penalties which the French hold were
absolutely agreed to here by Mr.. Lloyd
George, and their intention to apply
lncSe DeldllltS ililhituldtc's S''N''
time as Germany meets the Paris terms.
These two resolutions are based on
the French idea as expressed in en-
phatic terms in the French Parliament
that the Paris figures represent the ire
duclble minimum for France. SO TAR
as Frances relations with the ALLIES
are concerned, the French are to ask
either for an increase In the percentage
of the reparations payments allotted to
France at Brussels or for an agreement
of financial solidarity wherein Great
Britain will waive certain portion OF
her claims on France, regardless of any
future negotiations with the United
States Government along similar lines.
French situation Acute.
Behind the forthcoming London con-
ference there exists a more acute politi-
cal situation in France than was pres
ent before the Spa or any other confer
ence. Balanced against NJ. BRAND in
the French public mind Is the still
potential political power of Raymond
Poincare. onc-time President of the Re-
public, whose pertinent questioning OF
the Premier as head OF the Senate COM
mission in the last two days revealed
clearly the danger NJ. BRAND will be IN
if he fails to carry out the mandate of
Parliament to the letter.
The Poincare faction Is insisting. first
of all. upon the penalties becoming au-
tomato
NJ. Poincare's Senate following, as
we'll as the powerful Centre and Left
groups In the Chamber are insisting
that an allied agreement on Germany's
culpa bility is unnecessary. as the treaty
authorizes Independent action II the re-
spcctive governments so determine.
A realization that the time has come
to talk forcibly to Germany Is evinced
in the bulk of French newspaper COM
ment to-day, the Figaro declaring that
II Germany does not admit the decision
OF the Allies measures of constraint
will bccomo imperative and the whole OF
France VIII be behind the Government
which has energy enough to apply them
Tho Ltbortc foresees further occupa-
tion of German territory as inevitable,
but insists that customs and taxes should
be collected in the Rhineland to help
pay tho cost of occupation simulta-
neously with any new advance
wants Action Now.
Tho expenses of occupation would
merely be added to our account " the
new occupation Is carried on in ms dis
Interested a manner as In the old days"
II says. Lets commence TO pay our
selves by organizing taxes and customs
In the rich provinces in our hands. In
stead OF searching for a complicated
method Of collecting reparations, let us
take advantage OF the security already
at our disposition"
NJ. HanotauX. in the Hfrdnsiocdnt to-
night. insists that the French delega-
IN mi 1fefap tO Car
man counter propositions.
We are not pluffing," he says.
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