Evening star., 1922-12-29
ENTIRE PREPARATION
ISSUE TO Be S|F TED
France Lays German Seizure
Plans on Eve of Pre-
miers' ParIey.
DISAGREEMENT LIKELY
Little Chance Appears of Reconcil-
ing Views Held by Poincare
and Bonar Law.
DISAGREEMENT LIKELY
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PARIS. December 29.--As result Of
exchanges of views since the London
meeting OF the premiers, the allies
have decided to go over the entire
question of reparations in detail at
the Paris conference to begin next
Tuesday. 1t is expected now in Off
cial circles that it will require at
least a week and perhaps TWO weeks
to complete the discussion.
The general situation in Germany.
the possibility of putting her on her
feet through an international loan
and a moratorium. and estimates of
the length of the moratorium neces-
sary for her recovery. will probably
be the first items on the order OF
business The allies have collected a
great deal of data bearing on those
questions.
While the conference will go into
the question of reducing the total
of reparations due from Germany. 1t
is thought in French official quarters
that little will be accomplished by
this conference further than the fin
ing of the moratorium and reaching
a decision regarding guarantees that
may properly be taken.
Will Seize Forests.
The French government has prac-
tically completed its plans for the
seizure of certain German state for
eSts as result of the formal action
OF the reparations commission last
Tuesday in declaring Germany in
voluntary default for her failure to
deliver the specific amount of timber
during the present year. Some OF
these government-owne forests are
in the occupied territory of Germany.
and others in Bavaria
1t was authoritatively stated last
night that apart from any general
settlement that may be reached at
premiers, NJ Poincare has made up
his mind to take these forests in eco
nomic reprisal for Germany,s "wilful
default" even though the other allies
refuse to participate in the operation.
The French premier will insist that
his plan of seizure be the first item
on the agenda of the premter's meet
ing. He will ask the approval of the
allied powers. but II this is not forth
coming he is prepared to act alone.
Many political observers express
the belief that NJ. Poincare will use
this decision as the main support for
his contention that no relief must be
granted Germany without the taking
British Oppose Seizures.
The French government is con-
der the terms of the treaty of Yer
sailles. governed by the reparations
commission. The British contest this
right. and unofficial information has
reached French officials that Andrew
Bonar Law. the British prime min
lister, will come to Paris opposed to
any discussion of seizures or of eco
nomic guarantees until every possible
avenue of settlement has been eX-
plored. This and other indica tions
minds of some of the observers that
the French and British premiers Will
And it most difficult. if not impossi-
BILE. to agree.
The French, it is said. deeply re-
sent the vote of Sir John Bradbury.
the British member of the reparations
commi ssion, against Tuesdays deci-
sion holding Germany in involuntary
default.
1t is explained that evidence of Ger
question and that the French demand
for a formal declaration of such de-
fault should not. in good faith, have
been opposed by Great Britain. 1t
was also asserted that this refusal
likely would place next Tuesdays
meeting of the premiers under a GER.
tain handicap because of French re-
sentiment.
Members of the reparations commits
sion are declared to hold the opinion
that only some unforeseen develop
ment, such as last-minute interven-
ton by the United States, now can
prevent France from seizing certain
economic guarantees. According to
the belief, these Will take the form Of
a collection of 10 per cent tax on
all coal exported from the Ruhr re.
gion and the strict collection of 26
per cent ad valorem tax on all gem
eral exports from the Rhineland. Fig
ures are being prepared to show that
the yield would turn the so-called
penalties into productive guarantees.
objection. On the other hnad. the
thought Is held that it may be neces-
sary to carry out the plans with mill
tary support, at least in the begin
ming.
French Oppose Reduction.
French public opinion. it is main
tanned, is still as unprepared to ac-
cept any reduction in the reparations
total as it is to accept the idea of q
moratorium without guarantees. /
NJ. Poincare's attitude at the confer1
ence will be that neither the present
nor the future must be sacrificed
that there must be taken. as pledges.
resources that will produce some
thing Immediately on the reparations
account, and that. if Germany is
given a breathing spell. it will be
time enough to decide what she can
ell ta1x har I,ae -
been effected.
The French viewpoint is that a
moratorium without guarantees would
likely turn out to be simply an en-
couragement for Germany to demand
an extension when 1t expired.
GERMANS IN DEFAULT.