Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-15
CONFERENCE FACES
EUR0PE'S TANCLES
Coming OF BRAND and Lloyd
George Gives Parley Height
ened Importance
CUT IN ARMIES PUZZLE
By CLINTON ". GILBERT

sah Correspondent Evening puhlte raEer
CopUf0h', I9if, by Pvbfo .cG5s" Co"p0n.
Washington. Oct. 1J.-Tha coming Of
frem!er Lloyd, George and Briaud here
Tor the November conference almost nS-
sures the taking UP Of the European
question by the assembled nations.
NJ. BRAND made this clear in his
recent declaration that he would de
mand assurances Of the safety ot
France and shows what he expects to
be the main work Of conference. And
Mr.. Lloyd George change of plans is
not only due to an improved prospect
Of reaching settlement of the Irish
dispute, but 10 a new conception Of
the importance of what may be done in
Washington.
NJ. BRAND is not 50 much concerned
over the Orient that he could not leave
the settlement Of Far Eastern and naval
disarmament problems 10 representa-
tives, just as Mr.. Lloyd George. who is
more deeply involved in naval. disaTma.
mcnt and Pacific problems, at one time
intended to leave them 70 representa-
tives.
The conference has steadily broaden.
ed in scope until il has become one OF
all the unsolvcd problems OF the war.
II land disarmament had been left our
Of the possible agcnda, the troubles OF
Europe might have been ignored. But
land disarmament chiefly concerns
France. now the greatest military
Power in the world.
Armies Bring in Finances
And once you ask France TO cut down
her army she asks how she can be as.
sured of collecting reparatons from
Germany, and the whole financial ST..
uation of Europe rises once more and
demands consideration
The best informed here now believe
that the economic situation left by
the war. the burden of debts which the
allied nations carry and the question
how Germany can pay rcparations can
not be avoided by the gathering which
Mr.. Harding has called. and that the
Administration has come to recognize
this fact
In some way the question Of the
American loans to the Allies will figure
In the discussions. The President is
pressing for the passage of the debit
funding bill. The amended form OF this
bill. which is before the House. repre-
sents the Administration concessions
to get the bill through before the CON
ing conference is over
The proposal to put this debt in the
hands OF a commission of five instead Of
merely in those of the Secretary Of the
Treasury is Mr.. Iarding's WY OF
meeting the objection of Congress to
seeing the vast power over international
relations which this debt implies pass
entirely out of its control. Four mem
bers of this commission under the bill
will have 10 receive the approval Of
the United States Senate.
To Name Two Congressmen
. Presumably, it is the Presidents : in
tentiOu to name two members Of Con
greSs. two Senators or one Senator and
one Representative to the commission IL
the bill passes.
This will be pursuant TO the same
tactics which he has used in appointing
the American delegation to the coming
conference bringing the legislative
branch. especially the Senate. into in
ternational relations. Thus he meets
the difficulty created by his lack of au-
thority over the house of Congress.
The bill. even as amended. and even
IF IL is understood that Congress will
be strongly represented in the proposed
commission, will still have its troubles
In Congress. Opposition to this coun
try's participation in world affairs il
kIlll SlEOUR' dIlUOIRu IL ~ "PNh'utl DE
the putting Of Mr.. Lodge on the AmCri-
can delegation and probably also by the
death of Senator Knox. who was the
nblest Of the irrecOnCilables.
In this connection it is worth noting
that the margin by which the German
treaty will pass has been steadily mar
rowing. Originally twenty Democratic
Senators intended TO vote for the treaty.
Now only fourteen are expected to do
so, and of these. two nre wObbling via-
IDLY. If only twelve support the treaty
II will go through with little TO
spare.
Prospects OF Success Better
If. as is now believed. the Admins.
tration intends 10 approach the Euro
pean financial situation and the rela .
tion Of the allied debt to it in broader
spirit than President Wilson showed
the prospects Of large results from the
disarmament and Far Eastern confer .
ence will be immensely improved
All the great Powers except Japan
are more vitality interested in some ar
rangement with regard to the burden
Of debts under which they suffer than
they are in policies regarding the Orient
or in the exact terms OF disarmament
America can dictate the conditions OF
disarmament and of the Pacific under e
standing, if she approaches the fnGn
cial problem of the world in n large and
generous way.
The understanding IN American
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