The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-02-19

reparatlons and allied debts 10 the
United States. But at the moment
neither the people OF the United
states nor OF France are adequately
educated TO the fundamental facts
in the situation. Until this educa-
ton Is achieved little real good can
| flow from a conference.
In April and May Of the present
year Germany is going to default
upon her payments under rcpara-
tions, When she defaults France
will be faced with a specific situa-
tion. NJ. Poincare will have TO
choose between the use OF force to
collect what does not exist and can
not be collected. and an agreement
TO allow Germany moratorium and
to consent TO such other action a.
Will in reality amount to a modifl-
cation Of the reparations portion OF
the treaty OF Versailles American
| official observers believe that by
that time the French people Will
have recognized the realities in the
| reparations situation.
In the meantime tho United States
government. under the funding bill
which has recently been passed and
signed, Is going to undertake to col
lect the allied debt owed to the
United States. And everyone knows
In advance. who is familiar with the
| situation at all, that the American
commission Is going TO confront the
fact that no one of the continental
nations which owes us large sums OF
money is in a position 20 pay any
thing. But until the experiment is
tried, until the American people are
brought face TO face with the fact,
there Is not much chance OF accom-
plishing anything. Therefore, in
Washington there is a general be-
lief that both for the American and
for the French people the inevitable
experiences OF the next few months
will serve as admirable preparation
for n later international conference.
Obviously, when there Is an
other International conference in
which the United States partIci-
patcs the chief subject, at least
from the Washington point OF
view. must be the question OF In
tcrnational Indebtedness. Fresh
from their experiences with the
Washington conference, American
officials are eager, as they should
be, for ~ very rigid restriction OF
the agenda of such a conference.
They would like TO see nothing
but the question of debts and
rcparations discussed.
1t Is no breach of confidence TO
say. too, the prevailing opinion in
Washington today Is that next au-
tumn will be a far better time for
an economic conference than any
earlier date. At that time one may
presume that the treaties OF Wash
ington will be out of the way, and
that the congressional campaigns
will be terminated. For obvious
reasons American usefulness in an
international conference would be
handicapped by American political
circumstances and might possibly
become an issue in a domestic cleo
tion, precisely as 1t would be handi-
capped IL American presence in a
European conference became an is
sue in the legislative discussions of
domestic affairs.
Now, turning to the question OF
land armaments in Europe, which Is
OF very great interest to the Ameri-
can government. although II Is not a
| question in which we have direct
concern, one can say quite frankly
that the Washington official world
would welcome a European confer
/ ence limited TO the discussion OF
| land armaments following closely
ence, which might dispose OF this
| question In advance OF an economic
conference, OF that economic confer
/ ence in which the United States
would be represented.
Russia the stumbling Block.
| As II stands at present Washing
| ton does not believe that any dis
armament or limitation OF srma-
ment can take place in Europe until
Russia, which has the largest and
perhaps the most dangerous army,
| consents to demobilize her forces.
| Such demobilization would at once
affect the situation In the border
states, notably Poland and Rumania.
With the Russian army brought
| down TO police limits similar reduc-
tions would be possible in the border
states. This Is one phase.
| Again, Washington looks with In
| terest and approval at the proposals
which have been made for agree
ments extending mutual guarantees
| of security not only agreements be-
! tween France and Great Britain, but
! between all those states which either
! participated In the alliance against
! Germany or obtained liberty as re-
| suit OF the defeat OF the Central
| powers and of the Russian revolu-
! llOn. II ~ very GltdIlS lttbb ll's'h
| that in the Pacific the United States
proceeded to a political treaty with
Japan, Great Britain and France be-
fore IL undertook a limitation OF
naval armaments. Political security
being assured, limitation Of arma =
ments became a simple matter.
| Washington recognizes that the
same order of events Is logical in the
| European situation.
All of which is another way OF
saying that in the period during
which the Washington treaties are
being debated and the questions OF
reparations and allied debts are be-
! ing illuminated by events which can
not be mislnterpreted. the American
administration would be glad 10 see
Europe argue to that military ad-
| iustment. which II regards as an in
evitable prelude to any sane discus
sion or solution of the financial
question. But, however Interested
the United States government may
be In such discussions II believes
that 1t has no real place In them
and IL is totally unlikely that II
would go beyond sending an OBJ
server and indicating It's approval OF
the purpose,
In sum. then, the situation of the
United states government with re-
spect OF the Genoa conference ID
ouite simple. Our officials perceive
| that ON the whole the economic
situation OF the world Is improving
| S,,-aftfnpg ara vary much better,