The Washington herald., 1922-12-08
Notes Sent by Embassy Ru-
rnored to Refer to Future BEL
glan Economic Conference
PReMERs MEET THIS WEEK
Official Denial Issued That
America win Take Part in
Preliminary London Meeting
BY DAVID NJ. CHURCH.
Intsrnational News Service.

Antstnstsonai news service.
LONDON, Dec. 7.-Diplomatic
messages of "more than usual
importance" are being exchanged
between the American Embassy
and the State Department at
Washington, It was learned this
evening. They are said to relate
TO the possibility of American
participation in the meeting of
the allied premiers here at the
weekend and the possible pres
ence Of one or more American
observers at the Brussels eco
nomic conference.
EVENTS OF DAY.
There were a number OF impor-
tant developments during the day.
all having a relationship with the
allied conference. They were:
!. Denial by the American en-
bassy that the presence Of Henry
P. Fletcher. American Ambassa-
dor to Belgium, and Alan B.
Houghton. American Ambassador
10 Germany. means that Amer
lea In likely to participate in the
weekend conference Of the allied
premiere"
.. Premier Andrew Bonar Laws
announcement in the House OF
Commons that the British govern
ment is ready to discuss inter-
allied war debts at the premier's
conference In addition TO German
indemnity.
BALF0UR DEBT NOTE.
8, Official intimation that the
Balfour debt note, informing the
allies that they would. have TO
pay their debts to Great Britain
in order to enable Britain to pay
the United States. is being mod
ified.
4. Official expression Of q desire
to have the United States repre-
sented when-indemnity and war
debts are taken up.
LLOYD GEORGE ANXIOUS.
Former Premier David Lloyd
George. who only recently re
linQuished the helm Of the British
ship Of state. is anxious to know
how far his old debt and indemnity
ploicy 10 going to be changed by
Premier Bonar Law and his Tory
dQVfBerS.
In the House Of Commons this
afternoon Lloyd George put the
blunt question to the Premier az
to what policy on war debts and
reparations Great Britain IL goine
TO follow In the future international
negotiations.
Premier Bonar Law replied: "Tht
government 10 not yet ready to an
D.. ss
to assure the honorable members
Of the decisions that are pending
POLICY REVERSED.
Later on Bonar Law revealed
that the government is willing tc
take up war debts and reparations
simultaneously. irrespective Of the
limitations imposed by the Balfoui
debt note. This is a reversal OF
British policy. Hitherto the gov
ernmept has insisted that both is
sues are separate and distinct and
could not be treated as having a
direct relationship.
DR.. Gianani, chief economic expert
of the italian government. who 4:
here comforting with British ex
perts, said he hoped that the Bonar
Law government rejects the Bal
four note entirely. He called the
note a demonstration Of Impractical
tpolitics.
The preliminary meeting of the
allied premiers threatens to open
under a cloud Of suspicion and un
certainty. All are Withholding theiI
programs. while each waits for hi,
lneighbor to make a definite move
Nothing would suit Great Britain
better than for the United States
to step into the negotiations assume
a dominant role and hy down the
law as to what course should ID
followed. The British claim that
America now holds the opportunity
to assume leadership I'm intsrna
tional politics. The Washington ad
ministration, however. would have
to repudiate completely its policy
tnA L.,