The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1922-04-20
r LLOYD GEORGE has ready for

r LLOYD GEORGE has ready for
IL presentation to the conference Il
mutual guaranty pact, variation of
Article Y Of the League of Nations
covenant, by which wars in Europe
would be prohibited for ten years.
He thinks that if this were adopted,
With Il penalty clause that all other
nations should unite against any pow
er invading or wantOnly attacking
another, the soviet Red army could
be disbanded, and the little entente
and eventually France could reduce
the size of their land forces. France
and Poland claim they must main
tain large armies to meet the threat
of Russia against the Poles, though
IL is generally understood the French
really have in mind action against
Germany In case the PREPARATIONS are
not paid. The delegates from the lit
tie entente, though not entirely salts
fled with the form of this plan, II is
said will support it on two conditions:
That their right under existing treaties
to invade Hungary in case of an at
tempted Hapsburg restoration be In
tegrally maintained, and that the
signatory nations agree to help one
another by force of arms against any
one who breaks the pact. 1t was ex-
pected that both France and Great
Britain would support them In the
first condition but that the latter
would oppose the second, because she
wished to model the pact on the Wash
ingtOn treaty In order to please
America and because the British are
not willing TO engage to send troops
to the continent.
Up to this time the Germans haven't
had much to say In the conference,
but In the first meeting Of the com
mittee on finance Herr Hermas, Ger
man minister of finance, started some
thing of a row by abiding to the
reparatlons. Picard of France angrily
objected to even the mention Of the
word. OF course, however, the Ger
mans expect the subject will have to
be handled by the conference ulti-
mately, and In this they are supported
by Premier Branting Of Sweden, who
really Is spokesman for the neutral
nations. He declares fatty that the
treaties Of the entente with it's former
enemies must be revised; and he also
approves Of Tchitcherln's disarma-
ment proposals. asserting that this is
the biggest thing before the confer
ence. Russia says her budget Is COW
cred by the revenues and that her
army will soon be reduced from
100000 to 100000. Her representa-
tive on the finance committee insisted
on talking disarmament.
Q ENATOR FRANCE of Maryland
- has informed the statesmen In
Genoa that he is pressing in the SEN
ate resolution for representation Of |
the United States in the conference,
and asks them to renew their invita-
ton to Washington. 1t is stated in
the capital that the attitude of the !
administration on his matter has not
changed. Among the unofficial Amer |
lean observers In Genoa is Frank Van
derllp, and it Is likely his advice will
be sought by the committee on
1.-The question Of the revision of the
German reparatlons Is extremely vital |
TO European reconstruction and there |
fore Il is regrettable that the confer
ence refuses to discuss 1t. In fact. |
IL Is doubtful whether the conference |
will result In much unless the repara-
lions are discussed. 1t Is necessary to
reconstruct Germany as well as the |
other nations on an economic basis, |
and surely Germany Will remain In a |
bad state unless her reparations mat
tiers are definitely settled here"
Il APAN, while negotiating an agree
- ment with the Chta government
Of the Far East-an agreement which
is reported TO have been already
signed-is ruthlessly supporting the
Vladivostok government, 10 the ex-
tent Of fighting the Chita forces con-
tinually. The latter have been driven
out Of the neutral zone between them
and the vladlvostok territory and the
japanese and YladvOstok troops have
moved far to the north. The japanese |
press is lnslstent on evacuation of
Siberia, but the military party refuses.
AS for Shantung, the chances that
China will ever recover that province
from japan are fading. The Chinese
are distracted with their civil war,
and those who know conditions can
see no way In which China can raise |
the price which Japan exacts for the |
return of the Shantung developments
and the Kiau-Chau leased territory.