Evening star., 1922-12-31

Hh6G HuSC.D
support of the enfeebled German
finances.
In the face OF this American pro-
nouncement, French resistance to
what was frankly referred TO as
"Anglo-American pressure" stiffened
almost to the point OF defiance.
A roundup of the most responsible
French opinion finds the Hughes
speech attacked at virtually every
point. The American proposal is re-
gaTded as one to paralyse Frances
hand against Germany, without CIV
ing any appreciable return. The sug-
gestion for an international commits
sion of business men. on which the
United States would be included. to
inquire into the German capacity to
pay, which ordinarily would be well
coined here. is being criticized here
tonight on the ground that the pre-
rogatives granted France by the
treaty of Versailles are not brought
into play. In this connection, much
stress is laid on the recent decision
Of the reparations commission official
ly holding Germany in default on pay
ments.
POincare Faces Test.
That France will go into the pre-
meriers' conference Tuesday determin-
ed to carry out her program of guar
antee seizures, even at the risk of
the displeasure of both the United
States and Great Britain. tonight
seems certain. For Poincare failure
at the January 2 meeting means fall
from power. There can be little
question on that score.
This afternoon Poincare delivered
brief speech in the chamber of
French sentiment in Germany and
the lack of satisfaction obtained by
the allies for the recent maltreatment
OF officers Of the control commission
in Bavaria. on the subject Of which
another "ultimatum" has already
refer to the Hughes speech.
Resentment Is Felt.
With the first French reaction to
the Hughes New Haven speech one
of keen resentment and the cabinet
ministers officially Withholding all
comment. lie Temps. generally re-
man. tonight. in rejecting Secretary
Hughes suggestion for an interna-
tional expert commission of investi-
cation, says:
THE reparation debts are the re-
suit of treaties and accords signed
between governments. 1t is not Gus
tomary for a nation to abandon rights
nd sr,hy1,ff 20 |.
tration representing private inter
ests. The United States government
certainly would not consent to any
abdication of this kind IL called or
to safeguard the rights Of he'
tary Hughes suggestion that the repa
rations problem Is not properly po-
litical one. When any question strike:
SO intimately the taxpayers OF so many
countries. says Lee Temps. 1t is i'm
possible to keep It from being political
Paper Scents ~Plot."
In discussing the Hughes speech ir
La Liberte tonight, Jacques Bainville
sees in It a powerful Anglo American
plot to overthrow the avowed French
policy on the eve Of the premiers' con-
ference. He brands the British idea
that the German debt should first be
'fnfantile." and Secretary Hughes
speech as "absurdity. hypocrisy and
nonsense. more favorable to Germany
than to France.
'The Intentions Of both Hughes and
Bonar Law may be good. but with
good intentions" he says. THE United
States government has now come &c
the aid Of the British. II would be
difficult to hear weaker words out Of
the mouth Of any statesman than those
filling the speech Of Secretary Hughes
yesterday Here we do not accuse the
American government of bad intentions
It IL all the more serious IL the Wash
ington government is sincere in this
matter. II the United States wants tc
the affairs of Europe at the precise
moment when we say there is no other
policy than that Of seizure OF guaran-
tees. It is difficult not to find this atti-
tude more favorable to Germany than
to France. But that the United States
question in the name Of the economic
equilibrium Of the world and then begin
declaring that Europe's debt to America
is foreign to the question and should
not be discussed, this is absurdity and
hypocrisy"
Insists on Word @Rahr..
LIntransigeant, without mentioning
the Hughes speech. replies indirectly
by saying that France must insist or
France wishes to be paid and is aiming
not at the German people. but at tht
great industrialists in Germany.
Everywhere one hears the necessity oi
pay from Germany emphasized. ant
everywhere one hears the need for ad
herring to the seizure policy more firml,
asserted than ever before.