New-York tribune., 1922-01-26
Britain Will
RejectPo oincare
Treaty Draft
Modification of Alliance.
Providing Large Military
Force, Incompatible With
Policy of Lloyd George
May Affect Genoa Parley
Reports America Is Not
Inclined to Attend Dis
hcartening to Promoters
By Arthur S. Draper

From The Tribnnc's European Bureau
Copyright l02c, New York Tribune Inc.
LONDON, Jan. 25.--Thc French pro-
posals for modification Of the Anglo
French alliance have been poorly re-
ccived in British official quarters be-
cause they smack too strongly of cid
time diplomacy. The Poincare sug-
gcstions would provide an offensive
defensive alliance, lasting for long
period of years and cntailing the m n
tenance of strong military establish
mcnt. These provisions are incom-
patiblc with the predominating desire
IN Great Britain and most of the other
Allied countries for a reduction in the
cost of armaments. Moreover, the
Geddes economy committee is working
out general plans for cuts in national
expenditure and particularly in army
and navy appropriations, SO that lower
taxes will be possible.
Therefore, when the Marquis of
Curzon, Minister of Foreign Affairs
hands France the British answer he
is going to make it plain that the Lloyd
George Cabinet cannot accept the pro-
posals, even if their rejection means
that France will not be represented at
the Genoa economic conference, upon
which Lloyd George has placed such
high hopes.
Promoters of the Genoa conference
have been disheartened somewhat by
press reports from Washington that
President Harding and Secretary Of
State Hughes we're disinclincd to send
delegates to the gathering, because
they have been counting on the par
ticipation of the United States. The
possibility that both America and
ko
cate their presence on conditions that
will make their active participation
virtually impossible, is distressing to
the hackers of the conference because
without these two nations the Genoa
meeting would be handicapped, just
as the League Of Nations was at first
by the absence of the United States,
Russia, Germany and Austria. In this
situation the possibility of reaching
any kind of n settlement would not
be very bright.
The attitude of the British toward
the French alliance proposals, as af-
fecting matters of British policy, re-
gardless of the fate of the Genoa
gathering, is we'll expressed to-day by
THE Evening Standard" which always
is friendly in comments on France
1t says:
"The whole idea behind the British
conception of the Anglo-French pact is
disarmament and the elimination, so
far as may be, of the risk of war. The
whole idea behind the French concep-
tion of the pact is armament and costly
Insurance against the risks of war.
The British people, we believe, are
perfectly willing to enter the pact if
it really promises to secure peace all
around. They would be very unwilling
to enter the pact if it means simply
such preparations for a new war as
would almost constitute provocation of
war"
Of course, Premier Poincarc may
decide to take part at Genoa even if
Great Britain rejects his alliance pro-
posals, but it is believed here that
his represent tatives would be at the
gathering only to prevent discussions
Of questions which directly affect
France and which France won't dis
cuss with the Germans and Russians.