Evening star., 1922-12-17
BY HENRY ". BUM.
HHE following is brief summary of the
most important news Of the world for
the seven days ended December 16:

tne seven DAYS enQeU bcCcIHUcI 4V.
Germany.-After only two days OF discus
sion the conference in London between the
premiers of Britain, France. Italy and Bel
gium adjourned to January 2. AS basis Tor
discussion Poincare submitted his old pro-
gram-a two-year moratorium and "produc-
tive guarantees" Bonar Law followed with
a highly important statement He announced
that his government did not consider itself
bound by the Balfour note on the debts. Il
prepared" he said, "to reconsider the ques-
ton of cancellation of debts. If such cancel
lation would insure settlement satisfactory
to the British government" He added. now
ever. that there could be no thought OF can
collation. of the debts owing Britain unless
the reparatons settlement should be definite
and final He sketched. in rough outline his
idea Of settlement 1t should include a
ample opportunity to straighten out her
finances and re-establish her credit it should
forty billion gold marks or less: it should
not involve military action by France.
regarding the debts. but he was not prepared
definitely to renounce his productive guar
ish had submitted definite proposal. Time
lacking for adequate discussion, it was decided
adjourn.
premiers an interim proposal They rejected
il as entirely inadequate.
Great Britain.-In his speech to the COM
Great Britain could not pay her debt to the
United States if she Cancelled the debts owing
her from France. Italy and Germany. To do
SO would cripple her for generations ex-
claimed the quidnuncs. Eonar Law reversing
himself overnight. Nov he repudiates the
policy of the Balfour notes and anon he re-
afiirms it," But. in fact Bonar Law did not
himself. His statement to the other
premiers was quite non-committal. He did
not repudiate the policy of the Baifour note
merely he did not consider himself bound by
it, He did not pledge himself to an opposite
pitabe ION principle" it were, to the idea
OF cancellation Addressing the commons. he
developed his position cautiously. as is his
wont. The Balfour note declared that Britain
would pay her debt to America and was. in
consequence. constrained to demand payment
from Brtain's debtors What Bonar Law said
was something very different--namely. that
unless Britans creditors should pay. Britain
would be unable to pay the United States
That seems to put it up to the United States
whether there shall be a settlement of the
reparationS question.
Tho Lausanne Conference.-The reader will
please that in what follows there is
intention of belittling the league of nations.
Things looked black at Lausanne on the night
of the 18TH Since Monday, from to
dewy eve. Lord Curzon had volleyed and thun-
dered petitioned and implored behalf OF
the Christian minorties in Turkey-briefy in
terrupted now and then by Ismet Pasha to
intimate in language of extreme diplomatic
elegance that the noble lord liar.
Seeing that apparently shamed thereto by
the Popes protest the allies really had their
backs up about the ConStantnOple Greeks.
Ismet had consented that those who had
ied-some 2O0.0O0--might remain in the city
Except immigrants into Constantinople since
to the Anatolian Greeks-that is. the sorry
remnant of them about so0ooo-1smet was