Evening star., 1922-12-08
french TOCONCEDE
$7,0DQ,0)0,OlD CUT
i'm GERMAN AMENDS
Willing to Sacrifice Half for
International Loan to Get
Money at Once.
INVASION OF THE RUHR
HELD ONLY ALTERNATIVE
Agreement by Premiers in London
Depends on Proposals by
Poincare.
By PAUL SCOTT MAWRER.

BY PAUL SCOTT MAWRER
by cable TO The Star and Chicago Daily News
Copyright. 1922.
PARIS, December S-Francc an
parently intends to make drastic con-
cessions concerning the reparations
at the London meeting Saturday. Its
share of the total payments under
the existing schedule is SO per cent OF
the 132.000.000.000 gold marks or
about $1,000. 100000 gold marks.
In London. 1t seems, France viii,
consent to reduction of its share to
the equivalent of 100. .0oo. .0oo, 900 paper
francs. which at the present rate OF
exchange equals $1,000 .ooo, 900, or only
28,0o0.000,000 gold marks
Ready to Lose Half.
France. therefore. seems TO be
ready to cut its claim to less than
half the present figure. There is, how
ever. condition. namely. that the first
payments of this sum are to be made
almost Immediately available by an
international loan
Otherwise France is determined to
proceed without further delay TO the
occupation of the Ruhr basin, either
VI III part dS means pl
forcing Germany to a direct under
standing with France
These sensational revelations We're
made to the writer from a reliable
source.
The complete statement follows:
New Terms Ready.
Up to few days ago the govern
ment seemed TO favor q policy of
watchful waiting at London. Thu
French delegates would inform them
selves of the British. Belgian and
Italian views, reserving the fuli
French plan for the Brussels confer
ence. The motives seemed to jutify
this tendency:
First. insufficient knowledge Of the
real intentions of the new British
government. and. second. the hope of
finding in Brussels a more favorable
audience for the French point of
view. because of the presence of Ru-
mania, Jugoslavia and CZechoslova-
kia. whose interests are supposed TO
be similar to those of France.
Demsnd Broad Exchange.
However French opinion seems 10
have opposed this tendency. demanding
instead a broad. open exchange of views
with the principal allies. 1t is accord
ngly toward this second tendency that
Premier Poincare seems now tn be evolv-
ing. Generally speaking. it is consid-
cred that the Franco-British under
standing is the corner stone of the en-
tente.
Neither Belgium nor Italy nor the
others wish TO be placed in the dilemma
of having to choose between France and
Great Britain. As both NJ. Poincare
and Benito Mussolini have limited the
London conversations to two days. the
conference referee. therefore. will be
obliged to deal with the whole repara-
tions problem in this relatively short
time. leaving the details to be settled
at Brussels.
Basis Of Attitude.
THE attitude of the French delega-
ton doubtless will be dominated by the
following conditions:
''Desire for an interallicd loan s.,
that Franco no longer will be Obliged
to finance pensions and material rap
arations from its own resources.
ITO facilitate such loan France is
disposed to reduce it's share of the
total reparations to the equivalent in
gold marks of 100 900. .0OO, 900 paper
francs. which sum is necessary for fin
ishing the remainder of the recon-
struction job. ANY combination
doubtless would satisfy France-for
example. the Encouragement of per-
centageS for the partition of the rep
arations between the allies so as to
permit France to receive the amount
aforesa id under the reduced total.
New Pledges Held Vital.
France will not consent I" :.
moratorium for Germany without thu.
seizures OF new cages or pledges in
the Rhineland and Ruhr Basin.
'If loan is found impossible.
France. which is unable to foreeo
reparations. must resort to a policy OF
pressure in the Ruhr district or
around the edges OF this region.
France is reluctant to take such ac-
ton save in agreement with the al
lies, but will act alone IL necessary.
The French budget. with receipts OF
about 10000, 100000 francs and dis
bursements of about $4,000. .000, 900
francs. no longer can continue to ad-
vance money against Germany's ac-
count without the certainty OF repay
ment at fixed dates.
14.OO0. .0OO.OOO Francs Deacit.
"The deficit in the 1923 budget at
tains nearly l4.o0O.000,000 francs, Of
which 5000 100000 is for pensions.
France is unable to bear an increase
of this burden. 1t must either sus-
pend reparations advances at the risk
Of revolt on the part Of the dew
astated populations or insist that
the work of reconstruction must
henceforth be wholly at Germanys
expense.
.'The Poincare cabinet. therefore. is
doomed to act il it does not obtain
an international loan in London or
Brussels. AS most financiers seem to
consider such a credit operation on
a sufficiently large scale impossible
at the present time. unavoidable nc
cessity seems to obiige France 1"
carry out a vigorous policy toward
Germany in the Ruhr basin in the
near future"
HOPE UP TO PoINCARE.