The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-12-09
FRANCE Will OFFER
BRIEF MORATORIUM
AND INDEMNITY CUT
Must Hold German Mines
and Forests to Guarantee
Payments.
WANTS DEBT VOIDED
Would Reduce Indemnity
to 4O,OOO,OOO,OOO Marks
if England Consents.
FOR LOAN TO AID MARK
Poincare Reaches London to
Meet Other Premiers Hop
ing to Solve Problem.
FOR LOAN TO AID MARK

LONDON, Dec. ASSOCIATED PreSS). -
Premier Poincare has come to London
to suggest reasonable and just" way
out of the reparations problem. He
believes Great Britain, in the interest
of preservation of the Entente and
fair play, should indorse his sugges-
tions.
Such is the view expressed by the
French delegation to what the French
Government believes will be the most
important meeting Of Premiers since
the armistice,
Premier Poincare is not impressed
with reports of the new reparations
settlement proposed by Chancellor
Cuno Of Germany. 1t would be viewed
by the French. it is reported, as more
of a maneuver than real plan OF
settlement. Both Bonar Law and M.
Poincare expressed hope that the con-
ference would insure Franco British
cooperation for many years to come.
The suggestions Of NJ. Poincare form
the basis of the plan which he is said to
be reserving for the proposed Brussels
conference, and their adoption. in the
opinion of the French, would insure
solution at the Belgian capital. They
are:
A two or three year moratorium for
Germany in return for certain definite
guarantees, such as the temporary
taking over OF the mines and forests Of
h. of fof
customs as means of forcing Ger
many to carry out reforms.
A loan of 100.0oo.0O0 gold marks to be
used to stabilize the mark, under the
strict supervision of the Reparations
Commission. There would be continue
ton of deliveries of coal and wood dur
ing the moratorium period.
For Reduction of Indemnity.
Reduction of the German indemnity
to about 10000. 100000 gold marks il
England cancelled the French debt, or.
failing this. an agreement to set aside
for long term OF years all questions
either of trying to collect this debt or
the so-called PREPARATION bonds" The
latter would. in effect, be reduction of
the indemnity to we'll under $4,000, 600 900
gold marks.
The Brussels conference, according to
the French plan, should be called as
soon as possible, probably on December
Is, so that details OF settlement could
be worked out before January 10.
NJ. poincare Is described as frankly
skeptcal about the efficacy OF his
threatened Independent military action
IN the Ruhr in event of failure to agree
with Great Britain. He is said to be
willing to forget about this military ac-
ton II Premier Bonar Law consents to
economic guarantees in return for a
moratorium, the guarantees to be i'm
posed more as coercivc measures than
as revenue producing measures.
Asks About UAs. Envoys.
The French Premier is greatly inter-
American Ambassadors to Germany and
Belgium, Alanson Il. Houghton and
Henry Il. Fletcher. He made several
inquiries to find out the purpose behind
their visits.
Reports have been heard here that the
United States might unofficially inti-
mate she would not ask for payments on
the war debts for the duration of any
moratorium, as contribution to set
tlement of the problem. Such move.
in the view of the French, would pave
the way to settlement OF the debts
between England and France.
Great Britains attitude In the con-
ference will be a receptive one. SO far
as known the Government has no pro-
gram. Some optimistic observers cling
to the belief that Great Britain and the
United States might cooperate In big
loan to Germany In case II Is proposed.
coupling the idea with the suggestion
that Germany use at least half the pro-
ceeds to pay France. which would mean
that for n long period part of the pay
men. # Germany's indemnity to France
would be shifted TO the shoulders OF
those two solvent nations.
The newspapers believe the United
States proposes some sensational part
in the present negotiations. but from
other quarters which should be best In
formed comes statement that the pre- j.
ence of the Americans has no greater
significance than that they are begin
ming the practice OF meeting for discuss
80 affairs of general interest to their
Government.
While there Is no arrangement as yet
for any American to play a part I'm the
London discussions. some English papers
think that the United states may have
an observer at the Brussels conference.
"