New-York tribune., 1921-01-25
Demand for Moderate
Policy Linked With
Story He Has Had Secret
Negotiations With Berlin
Split of Preniers
In Council Forecast
No Progress Made Toward
Agreement on Disarma-
ment or Reparations
By Ralph Courtney

Special Cable to The Tribune
Copyright, 1921, New York Tribune Inc.
PARIS, Jan. 24.-The Paris con-
ference of the Supreme Council at its
opening sessions to-day took a turn
which is causing considerable anxiety
in French political circles on account
Of the attitude Of Tremier LLOYD
George toward German reparations.
1t is said that the British Premier
is seizing every occasion to turn the
discussion into one on the general
policy toward Germany, and that he
insists there must be new conference
with the German ministers present in
Paris. The whole Of to-day's session
passed without solution on disarma-
ment being reached, despite yester-
days belief in French circles that this
would be settled and dismissed on the
opening day.
Lloyd George, it appears, strongly
criticized the reports of the experts
dealing with the details of the general
report presented on January bv
Marshal Foch on the question of Ger
man disarmament. He held that dis
armament could not be separated from
the other German problems, and his at
tisude indicates that, despite the great
show Of cordiality between him and
Premier BRAND, serious differences of
opinion exist between them.
Secret Conferences Suspected
The French assume that the British
smust have engaged in private CONVERSE
tions with Berlin on many subjects,
whereof the fruits are visible in the
British contentious.
1t is reported that on several oc-
casions in to-day's conference Lloyd
George declared he would not speak un-
less he was certain that there would be
absolute secrecy regarding the proceed
ings, and if there appeared the least
discussion in the press on the happen
ings before the conference he would
not open his lips again.
The difficulties met with in the
question of disarmament might lead
one to suppose that the entire confer
ence would be troublesome and that the
subject of Preparations would lead to
further disagreements. Lloyd George,
1T is reported, opposes taking the find
ings of the reparations commission as
basis for calculating the German
indemnity. He considers that the
French claims are exaggerated and
difficulty but to fix lump sum, which,
he maintains, cannot in any case be
greater than the one fixed at the
Boulogne conference, which was 85,-
000,000.000 geld marks for all the
Allies.
French Reservations on Record
ever. according to the French govern
ment, was only definite in so far as it
established the principle Of annuities
as the method Of payment. The French
never considered that the figures men
toned had any decisive value, and they
made reservations at the time which,
1t Is said, were approved by Lloyd
George.
The British Premier now aftirms. on
the contrary, that the Boulogne ar
rangement was complete, and that the
ceed the sum mentioned then.
The Paris Supreme Council meeting,
however, is not tho only one which has
begun in violent difference of opin-
ion, and it may end in accomplishing
the most useful work. as did the San
Reno conference. Paris differs from
San Reno, however, in that both Llovd
George and BRAND so far have main
tanned the most cordial attitude toward
each other.
It is possible that Lloyd George has
only adopted the present tone to De
able to bargain better on other suD-
jects, but BRAND is somewhat at q
loss to know what to do in the face of
this attitude.
Three-Year Annuity Sought
In view Of his declaration before
the Chamber, he cannot make immedi-
(ContInusd on page sIS)