The New York herald., 1921-02-24

Special Coble TO THE NEW YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1921, ov THE NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
London, Feb. %.
Whatever happens at the allied con-
ference on the Near Eastern problems
here this week, II will not influence
cording to Germans now in London.
who are keeping in touch with Berlin
in connection with the meeting be-
tween the Allies and the German rep
resentatives next week. But entirely
outside the German point of view, they
foresee that any radical disagreement
between the Powers in the present
conference might be disastrous for
Germany.
If the French and the British can
not agree to settlement in the Near
East there is a possibility, which the
Germans do not like to discuss, that
France and England will play their
individual interests one against the
other. For example, i'll case of hope
less deadlock in the conference, with
the critical situation in the Near East
drifting into even worse condition,
one German here who Is keeping in
ST. James's Palace, where the con-
ferees are meeting, intimated to THE
NEW YORK HERALD correspondent this
evening that the Germans might well
fear Premier BRAND of France would
give the British Prime Minister his
own way in the Near East if Lloyd
George would give France her own
way. on the Rhine.
But, he added hastily, this must not
be thought o., for Germany is in no
way concerned in connection with Near
Eastern affairs
This weeks conference has got moth
ing to do with Germany. and certainly
Germany has got enough troubles of her
own not 10 worry about other peoples
affairs" he said. This conference
should not be permitted to have the
slightest bearing on the deliberations
next week. Germany is coming here to
state her own case as she sees it-on its
merits--and she expects to be answered
in the same spirit. the Allies stating
their case on its merits as they see II,
without being influenced in the slightest
degree by outside interests.
I'VE only hope they will come to an
amicable settlement this week, because
It will promote the peace of the world,
which is Germany's chief concern now,
but IN any event this weeks conference
must not reflect on the case of Ger
many.
From a purely legal status. we have
the right under the Treaty of Versailles
to make counter proposals. Then the
Reparation Commission has until May
81 TO give a final decision on what We
will have TO pay. III we say no to the
allied terms in this conference the sit
uation will not be altered until next May.
That is the legal situation and we have
a right to believe It will prevail
Germans in London would not discuss
the possibility Of a disagreement be-
tween France and Great Britain over
the Near Eastern questions. because.
they said, both these nations seem well
united on their GtrUan policy. How
ever, they expressed the belief that there
was much "blufiing going on in the
conference this week, declaring that the
situation for Germany was too serious
for that sort of a thing. Germany, they
ad ded, had formulated plans and was
going to lay them on the conference
table. hoping that these plans would
be found impressive, but If not they
could not tell what would happen.
Asked directly II the Germans felt
inclined TO resist the enforcement of the
terms II II came to that
they replied such a thing was too re-
mote even for speculation.
Germans here have no information
the personnel of the delega.
tion from Berlin, except that IL is GER
tain that Or. Walter Simons, German
Minister. will head It. Germany prob
ably will have five or six delegates
and experts with a stan, which will
bring the German party up to about
fifty members. The British have been
informed that about a dozen German
correspondents will accom-
panv the delegation to Lond on.