The Washington herald., 1922-03-20
London Asks Berlin Pay
Her Only What Eng
land Owes America.
PROJECT HINGES
ON U. S. ATTITUDE
German Liability Would
Be Contingent on Credi-
tor Nations Demands.

SOINDONE MdECn y. - II 1 v y VI
Georges hopes for a complete rest
at Criccieth, where he had intended
to shut himself away-from all ma
tional and international political
worries, were shattered when Sir
Robert Horne, chancellor of the
exchequer, descended upon him dur
ing the weekend, armed with
mass of financial and economic
problems demanding the premier's
immediate attention.
Horne's unexpected journey to
Wales was ostensibly to consult
Lloyd George on the proposals that
will be considered by the allied
experts in their pre-Genoa meet
ing which opens in London tomor-
row, as well as to discuss in q
general way Great Britain's forth
coming budget.
Assumes Broader Aspect.
The conference, however, as
sumed a far broader aspect than
was indicated officially. for IT is
believed that Horne's real purpose
was to review with the premier
the whole range Of doubtful ques-
tions relating to the Genoa con-
vention, beginning with the grow
ing doubt in the ability of the in
ternational financial conference to
accomplish any great achievement,
and ending with the question of
reparations which is none the less
urgent because il has been eN-
cluded from the agenda at Genoa.
Owing to his official position as
head of the British treasury. Horne
Is particularly concerned with both
Of these issues. And il is agreed
that three factors-eXclusion Of the
reparations and land armaments
questions from the Genoa discus
sions. the indifferent attitude of
France and other continental ma
tions and the usettled condition OF
Tngland's internal politics-make
IL imperative that the government
DEVISE some means surmounting
these obstructions IL the Genoa
meeting is to be at all fruitful.
New Debts Plan.
Regarding the question Of repara-
tions. Il is learned from authorita-
tive sources that Sir Robert Horne's
desire to discuss this situation with
the premier was heightened by DE
development resulting from Amer
fca's recent claim against Germany
for s241.OO0.oOo to pay for the Amer
lean troops OF the Rhine.
Additionally significant is the tact
that became known today that the
British treasury has evolved
scheme whereby the reparations
may be linked up with a general
scheme for the cancellation Of in
terallied debts.
The treasury scheme, IL Is report
ed, is predicated on the acceptance
by Germany of the liability for the
whole interallied debt Although
the scheme may have been permit
ted to become known" as a trial
balloon, to test international SEN
tfment, II is stated. as an illustra-
tion Of the method proposed that
Great Britain would be satisfied n
Germany paid her an amount suf-
charge her debt to the United
States.
Up to America.
The avenue through which can
collation. Of the debts might be pos
sibIe is seen in a version of the
scheme published in the Sunday OBJ
server. which states that Germany's
liability would be contingent upon
the extent by which creditor ma
tions demanded payments from their
debtors.
The French and British. for ex-
ample, under this method. would
agree not to ask other allied ma
tions to pay them except in so far
as they themselves were pressed by
the United States or failed to collect
from Germany.
Reliable circles say that the Brit
ish government evolved this sep
arate plan for a settlement of the
reparations question because h was
felt that exclusion of this Issue
from the Genoa conference was
Americas chief objection to partic-
ipatinE in the convention. There
fore the plan is more or less Of
test of American sentiment. ana
the reaction of the United States Is
awaifed with keen interest.