New-York tribune., 1922-04-25
Barthou UItimatum to
Lloyd George Inspired
by Sentiment That Im-
perils Poincare Regime
Ready to Enforce =,
Versailles Alone
Stand Causes Sensation at
Genoa; Holiday Plan Is
Held British Politics
By Wilbur Forrest

GENOA, Aprti 24.-Under tie
spur Of French public opinion and .
parliamentary situation in Paris
that threatens the Poincare miEs
istry, Louis Barthou, head Of the
French delegation a. the conference
here, proposed to-day as an alterna-
tive TO Lloyd Georges "pact OF cor
fdence," probational armed peacs
of Europe under Allied military con-
troll Barthou told Lloyd Georas
that the French never would tolerate
signature TO any mona aggressioa
pact with Germany and Russia sinca
those countries had entered into .
separate treaty.
Negotiations for some agreement
to keep peace in Europe we're opened
to-day at luncheon in the Villa
Reggie headquarters Of the French
delegation, where Lloyd George, SIR
Laning Worthington- Evans, British
Secretary for War. and others Of
the British delegation we're in at
tendance. The French proposal,
owing to it's extreme reactionaEy
character, has made a profound SEN
sation and easily overshadows the
one created by the announcement Of
the German-Russian treaty.
League Proposal Revived
The proposal is practically a re-.
llval Of the one made by Leon Bour-
geois at the Paris conference in 1919,
namely, that powers be given to the
League OF Nations, together with an
understanding by the chiefs of staff
Of the signatories to the Treaty Of
Versailles, TO halt any act Of ag-
gression that might be attempted by
any nation. It is understood that
Barthou suggested that Germany
and Russia probably had secret
understanding Of a military nature
that would place France in peril.
Barthou Is understood to have taken
the stand that France was willing &c
GO all III her power 10 conserve the
peace OF Europe even 10 the extent of
providing quota of the armed forces
needed for the enforcement o. pcace,
but that the country simply could not
accept anything so unstable as a prom
ise made al Genoa 10 guarantee tne
peace OF Europe and the security o1
France for given number o, years.
lie does not believe that the French
vii! be satisfied with anything less
than positive military agreement
backed by ali the Allied powers. On
no less tangible foundation than thiA
is ne willing 10 proceed with the oe-
hoerations at Genoa, and unless there
is practically complete surrender on
the part Of Lloyd George it is not
probable thai France viii continue Sc
the conference.
Benes to Draft Agreement
After Barthou's position had been
made clear. the French and British
leaders agreed TO place upon the
shoulders of Dr. Edouard Benes, of
Czecho-Slovakia, the responsibility OF
drawing up pact to guarantee peace
in Europe. Assisting him will be AM
bassador Barrere. of France, and Il.
Fromegot. of the Paris Foreign Office.
as we'll as Sir Cecil Hirst, legal aA-
visor to Lloyd George
Lloyd George told Barthou that Ia
any agreement that is reached, France
and Great Britain must continue to be
the pillars Of the peace organization
Ao io2
Britain had any intention of giving up
the entente with France and insisted
that the Treaty Of Versailles would ~
defended.
League Held Impotent
Barthou laid stress on the part taken
b. Woodrow Wilson and Lloyd George
without giving il sufficient power TO
make its mandates effective On this
lack Of power in the league he blamed
the turn events now have taken
France. it was argued, was conf
PEELED to make her first military aiii-
ance with Belgium and also special
arrangement with Poland. The answer
to these understandings already has
come in the form of the German Rus
sian treaty, which has shifted Europe
back into the old channels that led 50
previous wars.
Since no nation has been able to
| show any material security since tho
Paris conference, the French argue, the
| policy of alliances has been gaining
ground. Now that the nations arc gath
cred at Genoa to discuss the develop
| ment Of some pact that will assure
peace, it must be done with sufficient
| guarantees. Hence the French proposal
of an Allied military guardianship over
! Europe.
The Tribune correspondent was given
| to understand to-dar that France was
willing to sign non-aggression pact
on the lines indicated by Lloyd George
up to the time that Germany announced
her treaty with Russia. Now all this
has become impossible in French eveA
and unless something Of more tanSi
Bile nature comes out Of the Frenct,
nter arnnnSal th NJ L. =.