The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-01

regretted that France position mas not been better understood at Wash tngton-it is grievous that it should have been so -presented--it must be remembered that France has had matters of more immediate vital in- terest to deal with at home.
 And here once more we are facing an announcement of dangerous impro- yisations which for two years have so gravely troubled Europe. It is the first result of the Lloyd George Briaud conversations at London.
 Example k Cited
 Again we have the same error. ln- stead of trying sincerely to execute signed and ratified contracts new ar . rangements are substituted, which, 1T they satisfy the one, anger the other. Let me cite d single example: Ger many declares that she Is bankrupt. The reparations commission responds spontaneously, "you must pay. Whereupon Lloyd George and Briand, instead of studying the right way to support the commission's decision, permit their experts to elaborate a rev plan giving Germany further de- lays.
 Then, to appease the just protests of France, they consider plan pro
  her priority rights in the next pay ment by Germany. Belgium naturally is resentful and energetically com plains that she is left out when the allies consider her affairs, so that they may better violate her rights. In this Belgium is absolutely correct: Italy also protested the Lloyd George Briand scheme of settling the affairs, so that they may better vio- rSe n fhiQ RNlRiNn1 Is absolutely correct. Italy also pro- tested the Lloyd George Briand scheme of settling the affairs of Eu- rope all by themselves, and so the conversations of London were ad- journed for a general rendezvous the coming week at Cannes.
 Hard on BelEiun
 But here Is the point. Belgium last May consented to free Germany from the payment of 12,o0O, 900. 900 marks. despite the fact that the repa = rations commission unanimously had decided in April that Germany was able to pay the sum. Thus Belgium rave her adhesion to a revision which is now turned against her This is a striking example of the danger or abandoning the terrain of law for the sands of promises.
 The same mistake was made at the Lloyd George Briand conference. One hopes 1t may be corrected at Cannes. In fact, French opinion demands that it be corrected. For fl we wish our due we must not permit our gov ernment to tighten the demands on Germany at the expense Of our ally Belgium. Treaty mutilations easily become an endless chain.
 But I imagine all of the problems which confront us on this side Of the water seem very complicated to the American people. As a matter of fact, they are for us even. But let me try to make the immediate problem clear by showing the essential steps in 1t. 1t Is mess, l admit.
 In January, 1921. at Paris. the all lies renounced all integral repara- tions from Germany excepting sum which represented much less than the actual damage done by Germany in the war.
 In May, at London, the allies aban- doned the provision for the pay of 20,000, ,000, 900 marks then due, and then sacrificing 12,000. 0o0.0o0 over due.
 This December at London. previous steps taken brought the projected at tack on ,Belgium's priority rights in the next German payment. "f Road Is Straight
 The road is straight, you see. But let me give another example. In July, 1920, at Spa, then French pre- yiiier. M Millerand. contrary to the treaty, agreed that German boats de- 1lvered to England should not be val ned at their war price, but at the much lower 1920 rate. This under valuation was one of England's most important triumphs and resulted in August, 1920. in convention chang ing the division of the first billion cash payment from Germany--a con yention which gave France abso- Iutely nothing.
 In other words, England having the boats for almost nothing. thanks to the feebleness of the French gov ernment of 1920. flatly declared her turn and France found herself. as you say, down and out"
 It Is always the same thing. The first equalization inevitably brings others. The only way to have pre- vented all this would have been for the allies to live up to their sigma lures.
 But the instability of Lloyd George on the one hand, and the pusillani- mity of the allies on the other. has been responsible for anarchy in Flu rope.
 Everybody in France believes that the Cannes conference will agBravate this anarchy. Alas. bitter experience Justified the apprehensions.
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