Evening star., 1922-01-16
PO|NCARE POLICY
AWAITED IN i. S.
Momentous Possibilities Rel
egate Retirement Of BRAND
to Background.
PREDICT new CONTROL
America Must Reckon With De-
lay in Genoa Atti-
tude,
BY LEROY T. VERNON.

Pending a definite announcement OF
the policy of the new Poincare gov
ernment of France, all Washington is
waiting with profound interest to see
Its effect on the relationship Of France
to the Versailles treaty and the league
of nations, and in it's relationship to
Britain. Germany and the United
States. So momentous are the posi-
bilities arising from the ascendency
of Raymond Poincare to the premier
ship of France as to relegate to the
background for the moment the .dra-
matte retirement of Aristide BRAND
from that office.
Underlying the whole political
climax in France is the Versailles
treaty. No political government can
pledge itself to adhere to the letter of
that document. with especial reference
to its reparation features. The BRAND
government made that pledge. and the
Poincare government has now done
likewise. The BRAND government
found itself becoming internationally
lonesome by reason of Frances
strenuous insistence that Germany
should make larger reparation pay
ments than she could meet and. at the
same time. restore her domestic eco
nomic condition. The extremists
charged that BRAND temporized and
conceded too much. and President
Millerand Is declared to have inter-
Tsned Traea, politically olna;adly, more than any
with the result that NJ. BRAND OBJ
1ected to being shot at from behind
as well as in 'front.'" and resigned.
Poincare's Proposal.
Premier Poincare apparently has
opened his regime by proposing to
Lloyd George the early elimination
of the supreme council Of the league
of nations and the elevation of a
council of ambassadors to it's place of
Importance. If this suggestion is ac-
cepted and the existing machinery is
to be availed of, this means, so far as
the United States is concerned, the
elimination of Ambassador Harvey,
President Harding's personal repre-
sentative in the council. and the pro-
motion of Ambassador Hetrick at
Paris as the principal representative
of this government in Europe. On the
contrary. If Premier Poincare has in
mind special ambassadorial council
for each particular meeting. Mr. Har-
veg, Mr.. Harrick or any other ambas-
sador specially qualified to handle
the immediate business might be
called upon.
Secondly. Premier Poincare has in
ulcdteu tudt france is not disposed
to yield further to Germany in the
matter of reparation settlement until
Germany raises it's tax rate per capita
to that of France, and imposes GER
tain other onerous restrictions, such
as are suffered by the taxpayers Of
the allied nations. in order to pay
their bills. This platform will elicit
some sympathy outside as well as in
side of France, but it is not the whole
story.
In fact, it is already apparent that
Frances position on the reparations
question in some particulars must be
revised downward rather than up
ward, as Mr.. Poincare proposes, and
there are already indications that
even Belgium is not now in full ac-
cord with the French position as
Premier Poincare has briefly outlined
It.
Finally. Premier Poincare has said
that the change in the French gov
ernment at this critical period will