Evening star., 1921-01-24
POWERS, MEETING
TODAY, CONFER ON
TEUT0N D|SARM|NG
Other Postwar Questions
Make Gathering Second
| Only to Versailles.
L0NG-PENDlNG PROBLEMS
MAY REACH SETTLEMENT
Chief Subjects of Session 1nciude
Reparations, Turkish, Austrian
and Russian Conditions.

VnleI 0uUJCCIS VI
Reparations, Turkish, Austrian
and Russian Conditions.
By the Associated Press.
PARIS, January 24.-Represeh.a
tiyes of Great Britain, France taiy'
Belgium and Japan gathered mere TO-
dav for a conference which seemed
second in Importance only to that pre-
ceding the signing of the treaty OF
Versailles.
The principal figures of the meeting
were David Lloyd George, British
prime minister, and Aristide 6riano,
who last week assumed the post VI
president of the council of the French
republic. About these men the heso-
tiations of the conference are expect
cd to revolve during the coming week,
and 1t was believed that when the
conference shall have finally ao-
journed. the allied world VIII nav
settled questions long pending ana
long threatening serious compilca-
tions, not only between ally and en-
emy countries, but also between tne
governments which fought side by
side against the central empires from
1914 to 1918.
Subjects for Conference.
In Importance these subjects ranked
~ follows:
Reparations, disarmament of Ger.
many. enforcement or alteration ;ns for OIL
Austria and policies to be pursued In
dealing with Russia. All OF them
were questions on which the different
participant nations were more or less
divided. and the settlement OF which
was viewed with great concern.
Arrangements for the first session
this morning contemplated discussion
of German disarmament by allied
military experts, who are understooo
to have agreed on a solution which
to Germany in which to execute the
engagements she made at the Spa
conference. These agreements call
for demobilizatfon and disarmament
Of armed forces under the surveil-
lance Of an interailied control CON-
mission, and it was believed the con-
ference would not be called upon to
do more than to 'ratify the plan sub
mftted by the experts, which should
rot require more than one sitting.
Tie program for the day. which.
Of course was but provisional. cal led
for cunstdeFzron OF the. subject Of
coal deliverfes,Sthe arrangement ms de
between the allies and Germany at
spa expiring on January 81. 1t was
forecast that the allies would en-
deavor to reach q new decision on the
subject as rapidly as possible, SO that
Germany might be notified before
that date.
Question Of Reparations.
This business once out Of the way,
the conference would be free to de-
vote all its time and energies to the
question of reparations. which was
evidently the most important to come
before the meeting. and upon which
NJ BRAND. it has been asserted.
owed his selection as French premier
to the fact that he was considered to
be the man who could most clearly
and convincipsly plead the cause Of
the conference. The financial and
economic position of France and the
possible negotiation of loans in Amer
lea were considered in the prepara-
tions made by the French cabinet to
lay the claims OF France before the
allied governments.
German financial and econbmic ex-
perts may be summoned to this city
before the conference has continued
very long. The contention of Premier
Lloyd George that the conference Tx
the amount of indemnity to be paid by
Germany. which is opposed by Pre-.
amount of reparations to be paid the
allies should be determined only on
the basis Of what Germany can be
compelled to pay. seemed to be of
such q nature that expert German ad-
vice must be called upon for data.
Disarmament Of Guards.
The discussion of the disarmament
Of German citizen guards and the
nf
forces to the limit fixed by the YER
sailles treaty also appeared to re-
quire the submission of information
on the exact situation, especially in
Bavaria and in Prussia.
The situation that arose in Greece
following the return of Constantine
to Athens also seemed to have a di-
rect bearing on the conference. It is
no secret that France would not re-
sist alteration OF the treaty of Seyres.
by which Turkey was shorn of SOW
ereignty over constantinople. the
Dardanelles, Smyrna and its hinter-
land and large sections Of syria.
There has been rumored desire on
the part of the allies to deal direct
]y with the Turkish national govern
ment at Angora. that regime being
dominant in Asia Minor at present.
the Turkish sultan's power being a
mere shadow OF authority.
Appeals from the government of the
Austrian republic. rejecting a critical
situation in Vienna, were ready TO-DAY
for submission to the allied repre-
sentatives. Danger of an absolute
governmental collapse in Austria
with it's sequel of anarchy and bolshe-
vism, is realized in every allied capi-
tai. and some means of granting as
sistance to 9ustria, 1t is believed, must
be devised before the conference
closes.
Trade Relations With Russia.
Resumption of trade relations with
Russia by allied governments, which
would entail sort of conditional
recognition Of the soviet regime I'm
Moscow. appeared to be topic which
would be discussed seriously during
the next week. In connection with
this subject. the note sent by Presi-
dent Wilson to Paul Hymans, presi-
dent OF the assembly OF the league
of nations, on Saturday, in which Mr.,
Wilson demanded that the allies as
sumo q hands -off" attitude toward
the Russian nation. appeared to be
Of prime Importance.
I'VE understand and We know
Frances sufferings." the Echo de
Paris quotes Premier Lloyd George
their talk at the station last even
ing. ENGLAND would not understand
il we did anything to injure your
interests. We shall. then, discuss
with absolute sincerity and friendli-
naSR 0nr ViewnOinfx and am car-