Evening star., 1921-10-15
IS COMING
TO HEIDI s. WISH
Widening Aspects of Confer
ence Believed to Have At
tracted Lloyd George,
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Prime Minister Lloyd George has
changed his mind and will come to
the armament conference
Behind that terse announcement
from London lies an interesting story
which is just coming to the surface
1t will be recalled that cablegrams
from Europe indicated a few weeks
ago that the British prime minister
felt he would be too busy to come to
America. The American ambassador
at London heard the same and re-
ported it to the Washington govern
ment. The chagrin and disappoint-
ment of President Harding over that
piece of news were not concealed. Did
the British prime minister realize
what was going to happen at the
Washington conference? Did he
know that America was hoping for
practical progress and that very little
speed coudl be made if a delegation
had to cable home every few hours
for instructions?
Return OF Courtesy.
Whether anything was said in
formally to the British government
about it cannot, of course. be dis
closed. but it was not long before the
British learned of the effect which
had been produced. by the announce
ment that Lloyd George wasn't COM
ing.
a President of the United States
had broken precedent to visit Eu-
rope in the interest OF a more expe.
here that a British prime minister
might return the courtesy. From-th
standpoint of friendly relations moth
T. Ia f,,l
sonai contact between the head Of the
British government and our own ex-
ecutives. This viewpoint was con-
vincing and the British prime min
Just how long Mr.. Lloyd George
will stay is uncertain. but within the
last fortnight enough has developed
on the inside Of the whole business to
II he had any idea the Washington
conference was to be an abstract AT
fair, narrowed down merely to Sfar
eastern questions and naval arIha-
develops that collateral issues are ex-
pected to be taken. up which may
eventually transcend in Importance
the original objects tp OF the &c eo1ierence, n
ern problems or armament will mot
be given first consideration. for the
prime effort will be to reach an agree
ment. But it does mean that the
so much to do with the enormous ex
penditures of European countries,
particularly France. Will bring for
chilly to Americas attention the me-
cessity for finding a way to relieve
France. -
German Debt Issue. .,
Premier BRAND has realized the ex-
tent to which the Washington confer
ence may go in solving the problems
closest to the heart of the French
people, and he has unhesitatingly an
nounced his intention of coming here.
How shall France be persuaded to dis
arm? She is maintaining her army
largely because sshe believed it will
be the only way to collect the repara-
a large debt too, and payments to her
are in reality dependent upon the way
the Germans pay their: bills. gnc14lly
there has never been any, a9thissf0n
here. that the war debts of the United
States depend upon the baymsnystby
Germany of her obligationssth hot Sthe
fact is the relationship ts8hEcqmfng
the United States into IG-opefatiph
with the powers of EufHptt 9 ss.: Z
America may not have .:aESep1eds the
formula of internatioaalSco.one onera tfon
laid out by the league nf nations. but
President Harding's formula calls no
less for close rking,sarrangensnts
with the European powers in5theahope
of accomplishing financial stability.
Before the Washington conference ts
over the problem of the German debt
may be discussed informally here.
Nothing would please Great. Britain
and France more than to have Amer
ica come back actively and offer her
advice and Judgment in reaching An
lContinued. on Page q. Columns6.A..