Hickory daily record., 1922-12-14
THE BREAKDOWN AT LONDON
Republican.

Springfield Republican.
A new and more energetic drive for
cancellation Of the war debt to Ameri-
ca is apparently to be made as a conse-
quence of the failure of the allied pre-
miers to reach an agreement. Their
conference adjourned yesterday until
January 2, 1923, and the interim seems
likely to be filled with efforts to find
basis for action by the United States.
The conference broke down because of
Premier Poincare's insistence upon
occupation of the Ruhr and Great
Britain's refusal to countenance mill
tary action. But unofficially it has
been put about that France would be
willing to forego the march into the
Ruhr, provided it were relieved OF
its debts both to Great Britain and the
United States.
In behalf of Great Britain, Satur-
day, Bonar Law made the large con-
Icession Of agreeing to cancellation OF
the French debt to Great Britain pro-
|vided satisfactory agreement could
strike the French as sufficient COM
pensation for giving up plans for mil
itary action, but it is intimated that
| if the United States would join Great
Britain in canceling the French debt,
the seizure Of more German territory
might be abandoned.
The onus Of making this proposal,
lit is limited in London may be taken
by the British government during the
interim, and the opinion is expressed
there that the United States govern
ment would at least be willing to at
tend a conference for the discussion of
cancellation. With this goes the unoffi-
cial suggestion that Great Britain in
return for canceling the French debt
might desire a partial moratorium on
it's debt to America, paying the inter-
|est but postponing repayment Of the
principal. Such conference the United
States might safely enough attend, but
it'll congress tightly controlling the
purst the administration would prob
ably not send plenipotentlary. We are
seeing, indeed, the extraordinary spec
tacle of an issue on which the future
peace of the world may depend, but
which is not open for diplomatic dis
cussion of the kind which often averts
war.
Nor is it likely that the new request
lOT ccHCclutlOu, ldAlIS llC IO1lil 10
does, will soften the hearts of oppon-
ents in congress. To them it will appear
q hold-up by Premier Poincare, and
nothing that Clemenceau can say will
materially alter this Judgment. The
conciliatory attitude of Bonar Law and
the disposition of Benito Mussolini to
support the French had made the pros
poets for a settlement bright; by in
sisiting on his menacing program in
the Ruhr which is opposed by public
opinion in every country but France,
Poincare at a stroke killed the con-
ference-unless it can be revived by
the surrender of American claims up
on France.
Let Poincare shelve the report of
his special agen NJ. Dariac, in regard
to the strategic and economic mastery
to be gained by seizure of the Ruhr
and the Rhine customs, and on January
p meet Bonar Law half way with a
pacific and reasonable proposal for the
adjustment of reparations and interal-
lied debts, and America will watch
the negotiations with sympathetic in
terest. If they result in hopeful and
friendly plan of reconstruction it will
be strange if America does not do its
part. But there is not the slightest
prospect of moving congress by
brusque measures threatening the
peace of Europe.