Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-01
SAYS AMERICA
BLOCKS TREATY
N
,Lloyd George Declares Absence
From Eeparations Board
n Causes Friction
limited STATES ACTED
AS FRIEND OF ALL

Innton, June 1.--Prcmicr Lloyd
George. outlining the repnrntions situa-
Nor In the House Of Commons late yes
tsrdav, defended the Treaty Of Versailles
And said all he asked vas that lis critics
state the facts fairly. lie said there
r.os No doubt that there was one fact
which worked against the proner Da'' :
Snce of the Rcpnrations tOmmi"siOn.
ss we'll Ms Of the League Of Nations
the attitude Of America.
He said that when tho trccty wns
i s,oncd it was assumed TINT America
rcujd be represented on the Repara-
lions Commission and in the League
~ Nations. America was the only
country without claims with respect to
renarations, he said. and the was not
affected by the repnrations settlement.
Therefore. the United States was
strictly impartial. was friendly with
Germany. friendly with France. friendly
With Italy and Great Britain. and was
also concerned with International trade
Therefore. he declared. America was
concerned with seeing that rcparations
we're not driven TO the extreme Of up-
setting the balance Of word trade.
"H - the rolicy pursued afta"
Waterloo 'rward France. when Prus-
sia and Russia and the other victors
urged that France br tramplcd." said
Mr.. Lloyd George. 1.-THE Government
in that day refused to count"nanrc s,ich
a policy: we ale pursuing the same
course. Rut II Germany is defiant. II
she should say ';si: treaty we decline
10 carry out. " would he different. A
German policy Of non fulfillmcnt would
b a policy of immediate disaster.
Is Policy Of Waterloo
at is not a question of France act
inr alone. if there is defnnre Of the
Versailles Treaty. We are sicnai oriea
to the treaty. which the House Of
Commons ratified. We are committed
TO ii. In spite Of all misrcprasenta
tions, We still stand for the policy Of
moderation and fulfillment."
Discussing the question of war debts.
the Premier said 1t wss impossible to
contemplate the proposal that Great
Britain should forgo all her claims
against the Allies without any rriris.
sion Of what Great Britain owed.
IF the German reparations he
added" he said. "the debt due to this
country is f3.OtN. 900 900. while VIC owe
about Il .OOO. .OOO.CO0 Is tho proposal
that we should forgo the whole sum
without tho remission Of what We owe?
We arc perfectly willing to enter inta
an; International discussion with view
to Obltcrating tho whole Of the war
debts. provided we receive benefit equal
to that which We are prepared TO confer.
We have an interest beyond that Of
creditor. We have an interest of a
great international trader"
Expresses Belief In Germany
, Mr.. Lloyd George said he was glad
the. German Government had made n
real attempt to meet the requirements
Of the Reparations Commission. He
believed the Germans were doing their
best 10 fulfill the treaty. but declared
that il future Government should re-
sist the treaty and refuse TO carry out
Its provisions France would not be left
alone TO execute its provisions.
eve have stood for policy Of mod
Grafton and restraint" he added. "and
for consideration Of the difficulties OF
Germany. thereby rendering ourselves
liable TO deal with misrepresentation in
France. Notwithstanding. we are p,r-
suing the traditional policy of this
country.
'No doubt the absence Of America
ftom the machinery Of the Treaty Of
Versailles, said Mr.. Lloyd George.
has disturbed its aQuipoisc. has made
the machine less effective and made il
work with less precision. | will not
say it has mad" the machine work with
more injustice. bur It has crca ted frir-
ton, which would not have existed II
America had been present either in the
League or on the Preparations Commis.
sion.
For the moment all ! will saw is
that there is no cause for disagreement
between France and England. All the
reports Of the rcparati0ns tribunal in
dicate that an arrangement will be ar
rived at which will be acceptable to the
debtor country as well as to the credi-
tors.