New-York tribune., 1922-12-09
French Doom
Debt ParIeys,
Fear of Allies
Premiers Meet i'm London
To-day as Preliminary to
Brussels Session; Bonar
Law Opposes All Force
America Strong Influence
Germany Will Offer New
Proposals TO Conference
on Reparation Payments
By Arthur s. Draper
speetoi cobi, % TAs Trisuns

AopJTlHnt 1853, Now lork lriyune Inc.
LONDON, Dee. s.--With Premier
Poincaro Of France apparently COM
mitted to a policy toward Germany so
drastic that the London conference,
and the Brussels gathering Of which It
is the precursor, seem already doomed
TO failure, the Premiers Of France, Eng
land. Belgium and Italy will convene
here tomorrow In an atmosphere OF
gloom and pesslmism.
IL can be authoritatively said the
French Premier Is determined TO agree
on a German moratorium only on the
condition France gets control over
German mines and forests, occupies a
large part Of the RuhT. and Is per-
nittcd TO collect from its residents
taxes normally paid 20 Gcrmany. This
Britain Is not ready 70 coneede.
Premiers Theunis Of Belgium. Poin.
care OF France and Mussolini OF Italy
arrived here today. Theunis and Bonar
Law were elose'cd for more than an
hour this morning in a preliminary
conference on plans for the formal
opening Of the parley.
New German Offer Prepared
That the Cuno government has pre-
pared new proposals for presentation
at the sessions here was learned TO-
day. Tho nature Of the German pro-
gram il rot known. but the fact Gran
eellor Cuno has repeatedly expressed
n desire for cooperation with the Al
lies is interpreted as ground for belief
the new proposals will more nearly
meet the Allied demands.
The presence o. Henry p. Fletcher
and Alanson b. Honghton. American
Ambassadors 70 Belgium and Germany
respectively. and the conferences they
lave held with Ambassador Harvey and
Senator Medill Mccormick have
caused much speculation by the Brit
ish press and given rise 10 the report
America fears France will decide to
invade the Rahr and intends 70 express
It's opposition 70 such a move.
Any one or all the American Ambas-
adors will be welcome 20 attend the
conferences, but IL Is unlikely America
will ave an official observer until the
Brussels conference conyenes next
week. Colonel Harvey has made a full
report 20 Washington regarding the
situation, but there Is nothing 10 IN
dicate he has received instructions TO
sit in the conference, even as an OBJ
server.
French Wonder at Americans
Members OF the Poincare encourage
expressed the keenest interest in meet
ing the American ambassadors here
and we're most anxious TO know the
significance Of their presence. Inc
American diplomats are staying at the
same hotel az the French and Italian
premiers. The American officials are
known 20 regard the economic. situa-
tion of Germany as alarming, fearing
acute shortage Of food and the serious
situation consequent this winter, un
less the Cuno government Is able 70
come 10 some satisfactory agreement
with the Allies.
That Italy, represented by the force
ful personality Of Mussolini' Will De
far from a cipher In this conference
became clear when the Fascist Premier
arrived here late tonight. He refused
to define explicitly his attitude toward
the reparation bill, but intimated that
while he favored a moratorium Italy
was anxious to collect what Is due her.
"We are too poor 20 be generous nc
fCouflnucd on paes sH)