New-York tribune., 1922-03-27
Lloyd George
Drafts Plan to
Revive Europe
Address to Commons ON
Genoa Policy Is Expected
TO Contain Proposal for
Reconstruction Program
Would Cut Indemnity l-3
Reported He Also Will Ask
That Britain Cancel All
Inter Allied Obligations
By Arthur S. Draper
rom The Tr4bune's Europeoa Bureau

from nc lr45urc's Europe0n BnTedu
CCopyrKht, 1922, New York Tribune Inc)
LONDON, March 26.-When Premier
Lloyd George goes into the House OF
Commons week from tomorrow to
demand the country's support for the
governments policy at the Genoa eco
nomic conference, he will sound what
has friends say will be the keynote of
a great program for the reconstruction
Of Europe. He and his colleagues are
convinced that the bottom of the post
war depression has been reached. and
they are looking forward to the Wig
orous upbuilding of the Continents
economic life.
Full details of the Premier's policy
have been worked out during his vaca-
tion in the Welsh hills that will end
with his expected return to London to-
morrow. He would like to cancel all
the international debts among the
Allies growing oUt Of the war and re-
duce the indemnity demanded Of Ger
many TO about one-third Of it's present
him that most of the interAllied debts
are uncollectable anyway, and that
Great Britain might as we'll take the
leadership among the nations by wip-
ing out all the debts owed the London
Treasury by France, Italy and the other
Allios.
Undcterred by Handicaps
Lloyd George realizes, of course, that
the Allied debts to the United States
have to be considered in this connec
ton, and he has been considerably en-
barrassed by the refusal of the Wash
ington government to be represented at
Genoa. by the unexpected political re
volt among his own Unionist support
Ireland. But, despite these handicaps,
it is reported from Wales that the Pre-
mier il keen to be back in the whirl Of
domestic and international politics, and
he believes that he can go ahead sue
cossfully with his Genoa plans.
Just how the financial side Of the
European reconstruction plans can be
worked out without American co-opera
tion no financial authority here can
see, but this fact does not deter Lloyd
George. He believes that there is
strong hope for an agreement at Genoa
for the reduction Of land armaments,
and as reports from Russia indicate
that the Bolsheviki are ready to make
CONCESSIONS on this score Lloyd George
hopes to meet largely the objection TO
the sovets raised by Secretary Of State
Hughes in his note refusing American
participation in the conference. II OBJ
stacles pointed out by Washington can
be removed financial aid for Europe
might not be unobtainable from Amer
lea after all.
Pan-European Peace Sought
Russia maintains the largest army IN
Europe next to France, and a cut in
this force would strengthen the Pre-
miers own political hand at home and
increase the chances Of gaining Ameri-
can assistance in the reconstruction
measures projected
The Premier's opponents in Parlia-
ment insist that his Genoa plans are
only device to bolster his own polit-
ical fortunes, but this Lloyd George's g
friends deny most emphatically. They
point to his determination, expressed
long before the Unionist revolt be-
gan. to esta blish at Genoa a pan-Euro-
pean peace agreement similar to the
Pacific and naval conventions signed
at Washington, and they insist that he
has never given up the hope Of realiz-
tcontnusd On nsxt pass)