, 1922-12-31
AFFAIRS

Der >.
AFFAIRS
January found the great powers
stiil engaged in formulating treaties
n agreements in the Washington
conference on armaments and Pacific
ocean problems. and on February 1
the delegates. In plenary session.
adopted the five-power naval limita.
tion treaty with an agreement on Pa
cihc Notifications: passed resolutions
declaring the open door in China, and
approved n treaty for the restriction
OF the use OF poison gas and subma.
rlnes in warfare. At the same time,
Mr.. Balfour announced that Great
Britain would restore wei-Hai.wei to
China. Three days later the confer.
nee approved a number Of treaties
designed TO restore to China some Of
her lost liberties and passed a resolu-
tion for the creation Of an interim
tional commission to revise the rules
OF warfare. on February G the dele.
gates signed all the reaties and the
conference adjourned sine die. and in
our days President Harding submit
ted the treaties to the senate.
By the end OF March the senate
had ratified all these treaties rs well
as n with Japan. by which the
troublesome question Of American
rights on the island of zap was set.
tied. Great Britain and Japan also,
in the course Of time. ratified the CON
ference pacts. and. like the United
States, took steps toward putting
into effect h terms of the treaty
on naval limitation. But Franco.
more interested in her own troubles
connected with the German repara-
lions and with the Developments In
the Near East. delayed action, and
her example was followed by several
smaller nations. Thus the hull effect
of some of the treaties was lost for
the time being.
Rehabilitation OF Europe. economic
and financial, was the great problem
that confronted ehe world and, OF
course its salution depended to a
considerable extent CT n settlement
Of he German r~eparations matter.
This had not been cached when the
year came to a close. The allied com
mission, an International bankers
committee and various individuals
struggled with the question through
out the twelve months, but It would
be tedious TO tell in detail of their
efforts. The Germans steadily main
tanned that complete enforcement of
the treaty of Versailles would ruin
Germany and be disastrous for the
rest of Europe. although Doctor
Wirth. the chancellor. helc that Ger
many must and would ultimately pay
the r~eparations bill. Berlin insisted
that q long moratorium be granted
on all the payments snd that an in
ternational loan to Germany be ar
ranged. France, depending on the
reparations o for reconstruc-
ton and continually on the verge of
bankruptcy. would not listen to prop
ositions for the reduction of the war
bill. and from time to time mad
preparations 20 put into effect sane
tions against Germany. such as occu-
plying the Ruhr district. and the ma
tional forests in the Rhineland. Al
ways Great Britain objected to this
until late in the year, when Bonar
Law succeeded Lloyd George as
prime minister. Then it appeared
the British government might sup
port such a move by France when
Germany should default IN the repa.
4dAAOlib Day GllN dAAG ia JAAl0dAN
On April 10 an economic and finan-
ciai conference. called by the allied
supreme council, opened in Genoa
Germany and Russia were invited TO
participate. under certain restrictions
but soon after the sessions began the
delegates Of those two nations con
cluded a treaty ~cancelIing their war
cebts and this treaty OF Brest-Litovsk
and establishing full diplomats rela-
ions. Surprise and angered the
great powers, despite the protests of
the neutrals. barred the Germans
from further participation IN the dis
cussion of Russian affairs. which was
the most important subiest before the
conference then. The allied nations Of
fered to give financial aid to Russia
under certain conditions, but Belgium
refused TO agree to his and a day
OF two later the French withdrew
their assent, charging that Lloyd
George was practicing trickery to
gain control OF the Russian oil fields.
Meanwhile the soviet delegates were
making such excessive demands that
the uselessness Of further negotia-
tons became evident and the confer
cnee adjourned after adopting an
-lsht months truce with Russia. II
Was aEeed that another meeting TO