The New York herald., 1922-12-11

with much vigor. purely economic"
He expressed himself as being optimistic
as to the result OF the Brussels confer
enc (which. he says, Will be merely a
meeting of experts to adjust details"
1t is learned. however. that his plan
Includes provisions for the ALLEGATION OF
some OF sthc reparations, hitherto ear
marked for the French. TO italy. Musso-
linis argument is that ltaly's share OF
the separations is much less than 1t
should be, that the cancellation OF debts
would not sufficiently benefit her and
that France who would be the chief
beneficiary. should compensate Italy by
/allocating to her some OF the German
reparations bonds.
Such suggestion ruins the entire
Italian plan in French eyes Both the
Italians and Belgians are working val
iantly TO save the conference tonight
however slim the hopes. The Germans
alsosare trying to keep the subject open
and It. is understood that they have
made Efforts TO get In touch with the
american representatives in London.
II was the consideration OF the Ger
man note and French unwillingness 10
accept German assurances that developed
the serious situation. The note was con-
sdered by the conference as too in
A'DNN
was the best evidence that Germany
could not be trusted. and he asserted
thatsh he would insist that the only thing
possible, was occupation of the Rhine
land and the Ruhr. He demanded allied
adhesion TO such a plan. Bonar Law
said. that he could not accede 10 TINS
without consulting the Cabinet.
Itris no secret that the Cabinet VIII
hack Bonar Law in refusing to support
the French. The Italians and Belglans
have failed to take definite sides. Bonar
Law submitted what the British plan
would be on broad lines. 1t provided
for the immediate payment by the Ger
mans 10 France of 50,000.000 gold
marks taken from the foreign currency
held by German industrialists. Then tn
grant Germany six months during which
French sanctions would not be imposed
At the end OF six months IL the Ger
mans showed good faith the sanctions
would not be imposed. but If they
showed bad faith Great Britain would
back France in occupying the Ruhr and
in taking almost any other punitive
measures. France wanted.
Poincare rejected this plan and 1t
was at this point that the conference
adjourned tonight.
Pessinlism prevails in conference cir
as the general Interpretation OF Poin-
cares attitude is that there is no pos
sibility of moving him. What enters
intoe the allied calculations now is
whether the breakdown in the confer
ence might result In the fall OF the
poincare Government before the French
can move into the Ruhr and his replace
ment by M..1,oucheur or some other
Premier capable or conciiiation.
The Allies have not hesitated to tell
poincare that occupation OF more Ger
man territory means war, whether now
or later. and that they do not favor
more war.
king Receives Premiers.
The conference took an unexpected
course to-day when the morning session
adjourned TO allow the delegates to go
to Buckingham Palace. The King had
hurriedly returned from the country and
had invited the allied Premiers only
when they were about 20 start for Down.
ing Street The unprecedented sudden
ness OF such a Royal action deprived 1t
of any ceremonial implication.
1t Is understood that ehe King spoke
with such force and gravity as his con-
stitutional relationship with Bonar Law
permitted OF the need OF his British peo-
pie for peace and a return to normal
economic life.
The conference will meet tomorrow
not without hope of reaching some sort
of an argument, but, in view of the atti-
tude which II is known will be taken by
Bonar Laws Cabinet advisers, 1t seems
that there win be nothing but an agree
ment to disagree. 1t remains for Bonar
Law TO determine how nearly benevo-
lent England's attitude can be when the
French occupy the Ruhr alone.