The Washington herald., 1922-04-28
POincare Speech Thrusts
Indemnity Question to
Fore Once More.
RUSSIANS AWAIT
TERMS GLOOMILY
French Would Discuss
Protest at Some City
Other Than Genoa.

]
finds that through his Barle-du,
speech he unwittingly has giYeI
Lloyd George an opportunity to
open the whole question in a side
show which promises to Outriva
the big top performance
The British agree that the meet
ing OF the Versailles siGnatories
will be apart from the conference
proper, but if Lloyd George can
he will focus the attention OF the
whole conference on the repar&-
tions issue. and the Importance OF
this question would inevitably fore,
il into almost every discussion and
create an atmosphere which maS
possess unexpected consequence
from France.
Would Meet Somewhere Else.
France undoubtedly will attempt
to keep the general reparations
question out of the allied confer
ence as much as possible. but the
British say that il will be impos-
sible to consider the measures
which Premier Poincare threatened
to take against Germany without
taking up the entire subject Of rep
arations. and its relation to the
present crosis.
The French are much concerned
over this possibility and are hav-
ing dificulty in finding some way
to dodge IL. They are. however
{ trying to make the best Of the stu
alton by striving to minimize th'
Z potentialities by insisting on hsv-
nG the meeting somewhere else thar
Genoa so they will not have the
Germans and the Russians Peekings
I through the keyhole.
Fight for Control.
France wants the supreme Coun-
I Gil. plus Poland and tho little en-
tente. to take up tho British pro
/ test, a group in which she woul'
have the votes Of Belgium. POLAND
and the little entente against Eng
{ land supported by Italy and Japar
thus having a decided advantage
/ But under the British plan. with al
the treaty siEnatorieS except Ger
many present. the five British do
| minions and Portugal would be
added 20 Lloyd George bloc
A sharp Anglo-French duel for
strategic advantage is being
fought over this point. and the re
suit probably will determine wheih-
er France or England will exert
the controlling influence in the dis
cussions.
Russians Semi-Dehant.
The. Germans are extremely Elee-
| ful over Lloyd Georges speech l"
1 the British and American corre-
spondents. in which he warned 81
/ the danger OF another European
/ war growing out OF the present
/ situation Former Minister Rattle
nau was quick to seize the oppor-
tunity to put himself on record OF
hearty approval OF Lloyd George.
/ desire 20 prevent another war.
The Russians are awaiting Ihca
allied terms as to the economic sci-
( tlement with semi-defant pcssim-
/ ism, admitting that the prospects
! of an agreement are not bright.
| But il the conference does END
without an agreement, the Bolshe-
| viks. on account Of the treaty
signed with Germany. will have
gained more than the allies.
Russians Make Denial.
Therefore the Soviet delegation
feels il will be Just as well IL the
Genoa conference fails TO produce
a Russian-allied agreement for the
powers with reasonable policies"
can either deal separately with the
Soviets or can hold a new confer
| ence without France and her vas
/ sails"
The allied subcommission meets
tomorrow to approve the Russian
note drafted by the experts. Mean
while the Russians have anticipated
/ presentation of the memorandum
and taken steps to prepare the
ground for a rejection OF il Il they
feel compelled 20 act unfavorabIy.
They issued a communique deny
| Ing resistance TO the allied de-
mands or trying to rupture the
conference, and declaring they only
seek TO safeguard their sovereicntv
and abide by the principle Of reci.
procity on which the Cannes pro-
gram was based and to which they
want to adhere faithfully.
Foresees FaiIur~
1T is absolutely impossible that
we Will cede the question OF paw
ment OF private debts when the
bourgeois governments participat-
ing In the conference are not dis
posed to make similar concessions
Tchitcherin said. Hence the fail
ure Of the conference seems iney-
| liable"
Allied nations opposing separate
agreements with Russia. fearing
some nations would receive sns-
cial advantages-thus creatinp new
dtscord-hope that Genoa will lav
tne basis OF a project which can
be submitted to Moscow for CON
slderation and be signed by all tn
powers later.
negotiations on the nonsgpreS-
sion pact have reached the xtsClc of
tentative agreement between IN.
ritish and French that the right
to enforce existing treaties shan b.
| preserved.
Benes. Of Czecho-Slovakia no .-
attempting TO reconcil, Ge--,
desire for guarantees again. 90
cupation Of the Ruhr snd -bc
French demand for allied military
sanctions.