The New York herald., 1922-04-04

establish the relations of all coun-
tries upon basis of stable and en-
during peace.
Before dwell upon the principal
objects of the conference, should
like to preface my statement by ref
erence TO the limitations imposed
upon the scope OF the conference.
co so because. so far as l can see,
the official amendments challenge
more particularly not the objects OF
the conference but its scope. The OBJ
lection to the Cannes resolutions on
what we are seeking to achieve is
not the fact that we have invited all
the nations of Europe, but the fact
that there are certain limitations to
the scope OF discussion.
Not Limited at BouIogne.
II observed certain question last
week by my right honorable friend,
the member from Paisley (Mr. As
quith), whose absence to-day re-
gret. He pressed question with re-
gard to what passed between the
French Prime Minister and myself at
Boulogne, and, / understand, 1t was
inferred that new limitations were
introduced in the Boulogne conver-
sations. That is not the case. There
were no fresh limitations introduced
at all. The limitations were the linn
itations the honorable members will
find embodied in this document,
without injury TO existing treaties.
1t is all summarized in that phrase.
The limitations were intro
duced at Cannes, and / think
they are just. / don't think such
a body as is summoned to meet
at Genoa could properly consider
the revision of existing treaties,
even assuming it was desirable.
Take the two great questions which
affect the economic position Of Eu-
rope-two great questions embodied
in the treaty - questions around
which controversy always has ragged.
"One is the question Of boundaries,
the fact that Europe has been rear
ranged and reorganized, that its
economic units have been broken up.
The second is the question Of reHG-
ration. Let me just point out in one
sentence what the rearrangement OF
Europe came to. In the main, there
were Alsace and Lorraine restored
to France, which made very consid-
erable difference from the economic
point Of view; Poland resurrected
instead of being divided between
great empires became an indepen.
dent national unit. Third, the recog.
milton OF the independence of the
Slavonic populations Of Austria
Hungary. Those three great changes
affected treaties.
any section of the House could wish
to go back on? Do they wish to re-
store Alsace-Lorraine to Germany?
Would they wish again to tear up
Poland? Would they wish. to take
away the independence of Czecho-
Slovakia and Jugo-Slavia?
If not it is no use criticizing Ver-
sailles and ST. Germain treaties
because they readjusted the boun-
daries of Europe. unless you are pre-
pared at the same time to say it was
an unjust distribution of Europe.
But there is no doubt that these
changes added new economic compli-
cations.
stands by ReparatiOns.
II come to another limitation
which has been urged with greater
force than the one to which / have
alluded, and that is the question of
reparations. Trouble in Europe has
leen attributed largely to the repa-
rations exacted by the treaties of
1919. May / say that those treaties
did not create reparations? The
trouble is due to the fact not that
you are exacting reparations but that
there is something to repair
"If you alter the Versailles treaty
you do not wipe out reparations; you
simply transfer the burden of them
from Germany to France. To this
country as well and to America, but
mainly to France. You would trans
ter the burden from 60,000,0 900 peo-
pie who are responsible for the dew
astations to 100000 who are the
victims of devastation-t ou d y
cneered $50 1t is no use criticizing
reparations by saying that this 81
gantic bill OF reparations is what is
responsible Tor the economic disor-
ganization of Europe, The point is
there is damage. it is to be made up,
and who is to pay it? If Germany
doesn't pay France and England and
Belgium will have to. think there
is a very considerable difference be-
tween paying an external debt and
an internal debt.
Germany's Capacity 10 Pay.
There are two considerations which
ought to be borne in mind when you
coYne to deal with the problem OF