Evening star., 1922-12-10
Law Indicates Question Will
Be Reopened if Repara-
tions Is Settled.
BALFOUR NOTE HELD
NO LONGER EXISTING
Britain Wants Moratorium to Per
init German Recovery-Specu-
lation as to United States.
BIZ the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, December 9.-The clouds
that overhung the parliament conference
last night have been partly dispelled by
today's proceedings. The four premiers,
Bonar Law, Poincare, Theunis and Mus
solini, held two meetings lasting five
hours. There was nothing approaching
an agreement. nor had any agreement
been expected from one days delibera-
tions. The chief result was something
more nearly approaching an understand
ing in the positions of the two prlnci-
pal nations Great Britain and France.
than had existed at any time during the
past few weeks.
POincare Offers Acceptance.
NJ. Poincare offered in behalf OF
France acceptance Of two-year mora
torium for Germany. provided satisfac-
tory guarantees were forthcoming; these
guarantees embraced measures for
economic control, of the Rhineland in
dustries and partial occupation Of the
Ruhr district with q division of soldiers
to collect customs on the coal output.
NJ Poincare did not consider that this
program would be regarded as military
action against Germany.
Premier Bonar Law caused a sensa-
ton when, in the course Of his reply
to NJ. Poincaire. he gave clear indica-
tion that the British government
would be quite willing to consider the
question OF cancellation of the French
debt, provided such a step was made
possible by a reparations settlement
satisfactory to Great Britain.
Declaration Encourages France.
Mr.. Bonar Law had previously inti-
mated that Americas insistence on
the payment Of the British debt had
made it very difficult for England to
discuss remission of the French war
debt
The British prime minister's decla-
rations at the afternoon meeting
greatly encouraged Premier Poincaire,
who was extremely pessimistic early
in the day over the outcome of the
conversations.
While the premiers are far from
an accord as yet. it was said by the
French delegation this evening that
Mr.. Bonar Laws pronouncement on
the debts had made an agreement
much more likely.
Premier Bonar Law began by say
ing that the Balfour note no longer
existed for the British government.
Prepared to Consider Debts.
II am prepared to reconsider the
question of cancellation of debts" he
went on. eff such cancellation would
insure settlement satisfactory to the
British government"
NJ Poincaire. although reserving
his formal reply to the new sugges-
ton until tomorrow, expressed deep
pleasure at the British attitude.
The British prime minister briefly
outlined the kind of settlement he
desired-a moratorium sufficient for
Germany to re-establish her finances
and credit and stabilize the mark, no
the French and a reduction of the
Indemnity to between 10000, 900, 900
and 10000. 100000 gold marks.
Expected to Swing POincare.
This statement Is expected to have
the effect of making NJ. Poincare more
conciliatory and less inclined to talk
about military measures. although he
ures would not prove very effective.
Another new element which may help
tho conference Is an agreement de-
veloped tonight when it became
known that Karl Bergmann, German
reparations chief. had arrived in Lon
don with Chancellor Cuno's new
scheme for a settlement.
Herr Bergman communicated the
plan to Mr.. Bonar Law today, who, in
premiers at IL o'clock tomorrow
morning. He will submit the plan at
Germany's request, and Great Britain
has In no sense approved the sug-
gestions.
Certain changes have been made
man press several days ago and it is
reported that the idea of an external
loan has been dropped for scheme
of allied participation in German in
dustry.
America Before Conference.
America was prominently before
the conference today. despite the fact
that none of the customary official
observers was present. Americas
position regarding the allied debts
was discussed at some length by the
premiers. who apparently agreed that
any settlement OF this question for at
least several years would probably
have to be made with the United
States out of 1t.
There continues to be much COM
ment over the presence here of the
American ambassadors, Houghton and
Fletcher. and United States Senator
Mccormick. Ambassador Fletcher left
tonight for Brussels, but Mr.. Hough-
ton and Senator Mccormick are re-
naming. 1t was said in well in
formed British quarters tonight that
Great Britain wanted to invite the
United States to the meeting, but
NJ. Poincare opposed this. wishing to
limit the discussions to the four al
lied powers
Allied observers are still wonder
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