Evening star., 1922-12-17
By OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

A MOTHER allied conference has
~ broken on the rocks of French
n chauvinism.
With the old world eagerly
awaiting decisions. the allied premiers
assembled in London and gave eagerly
begging millions crust instead OF
loaf.
To England. Belgium and Italy
there was but one course to pursue
but when Bonar Law and Poincare
of England began to consider repara-
tions and their enforcement along
general lines there came deadlock:
if there had been no indication OF
rocks ahead within the conference
itself. the deadlock has been MADE
certain by events since the premiers
left London. with work unfinished
but with promises that ii would be
renewed in Paris early in January
or before the time Germany's fulfill
ment of reparationS terms is requir-
ed and before which coordination OF
policy should be effected
Little Hope OF Agreement.
Diplomatic advices received in
Washington indicate that there is
little hope that agreements will be
reached when the allied premiers re-
assemble. Bonar Law has enunciated
far-fung promises of some settlement
of the issues which today are hirtllng
financial and economic interests of
the old world to certain doom. Pre-
mier Ioincare in his statement To
the chamber on Friday declared there
was understanding that no matter
what was done to enforce guarantees
from Germany the allies would be in
accord.
Washington hears differently. That
rhe exposure of French imperlallStlc
schemes in regard to the Rhineland.
hy Lloyd George. has placed Bonar
Law in such position that the Eng
lish government can never sanction
'he French proposals of Ruhr seizures
and the application of turther pres
sure along the Rhineland is certain.
There is sure to be a breakdown in
Paris deliberations. as there nave
been in all conferences since the
war. when French governments Tor
rhe sake of political eNpediencH ana
Influencing peoples at home nave
eSpoused the boldeSt sort "f p"ilc!
in dealing with the Germans. Only
through some neutraliZlnS agency
IAN nationalism he undermined and
pence Of the world assured.
Poincare gained his political posi-
-ion after assaults against the Eriand
regime. the threatening 10 temporiZe
Frances claim or show some mere!
I" the Germans in the adjustments or
the whole situation. Polncare cannot
in case GSrmanv defaults further
unless there re far-reaching reasons
why France should do so.
American Help Might Aid.
The only reasons that appear upon
tl,e political horizon is outside help
for Germany such as American finan-
NJ
rlste collapse of Germany internal lly.
France cannot afford to press Ger
many to this end. Neither can France
move into Germany in the heart OF
such revolutionary processes with
out placing her in onerous position
in the eyes of the world To be
blamed for the delays that have been
occasioned by clingine to milltaristlc
schemes is sufficient. but to dellber-
ateIv step into Germany at a time
when Germany is coilapsing COM
petely would damn French foreign
policy to such an extent as to alien
ate peoples all over the world. No
matter what else France may do. TINS
Is not eXpedient.
But there is a serious question i'll
the minds of diplomats and othars
that France has been sincere in her
threats to invade the Ruhr. even TO
place about il a military customs cor
don in order to bring the German
government to its knees with prom
ises of right doing and far-reachins
reform AS matter of fact. it is be-
lieved that France. as she has been
known TO do before in regard to the
Ruhr and in the settlement of other
issues. has been bluffing to the ut
most extreme.
Poincare. knowing that the French
people are beginning to demand
action of some firm sort in view of
,;ermany's constantly repeated state
mcnts of inability to pay reparations
cXacted and in view of the constantly
rho French people themselves. must
give an account of his stewardship
in the form of concrete action if he
is to continue in power. There is
hut one thing outside of military
action against Germany that can save
Ioincare from bitterest cenSure and
bossibly overthrow. and that is mana
in other directions.
Might Get Mana EIsewhere.
There is no question that the
French people would be content with
cancellation of allied war debts il
there must be reduction of repara-
tions. There was no indication in
England of disposition to actually
seriously consider the proposition of
debt cancellatin until Bonar Law and
Poincare got together in London.
There is every reason to believe that
rather than consent to military action
in the Ruhr. Bonar Law gave prom
Use of seriously considering cancel
lation of debts. 1t is even said that