San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-14
RIFT IN EUROPE'S
WAR CLOUDS SEEN
FROM U. S. SHORES
French Attitude Has Over
night Change Regard
ing Preparations.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Copyright, 1898, by The San Antonio Light
Washington. ID. C., Jan. 13.-Dcvel-
opments abroad impaired hope and
chcerfulncss here today, and the Unit
cd States government is in a much bet
ter position to extend helpful hand
now. than it was n hours ago.
News that the separations commits
sion, at the request of France, would
begin parley with the idea of giving
Germany more time to pay was taken
mere as rift in the clouds of war.
Whatever may have prompted the
French TO turn to diplomacy once more.
whether it was the passive resistance
OF the Germans or the knowledge that
bayonetS would not mine coal, there
is qualification that events have so
shaped themselves as to permit America
10 mediate.
Next moves would seem to be, first,
a renewed suggestion from the United
States government that the scheme for
mally laid before the French govern
mcnt By Secretary Hughes now be con-
SIdered as a formal proposition: and,
second, that America jon the rcpara-
tlons commission so as TO be able to
use her vote for the best interests of
the world
For many drys there has been a
controversy, mostly in the press, but
not without attracting the notice of
both Secretary Hughes and Premier
Poincare, over the exact character of
Mr.. Hughes suggestion that a com
mission nf finnnnfprp L
chosen by all the interested powers TO
report on Germany's capacity to pay
indemnity and a scheme for regular
payments plus an international loan.
For reasons of his own, Premier
Poincare has chosen to call Mr.. Hughes
suggestion an informal matter and to
deny that it was presented as formal
proposition. He has taken refuge in
the hair splitting definitions of officials
and unofficial formulas in diplomacy.
At first this was looked upon with dis
appointment. As it turns out now.
NJ. POincare's attitude may be turned
to advantage for il the French feel
Mr.. Hughes suggestion was not "pro-
nosal" and hence has not been declined.
the American government would not OBJ
Jet TO making it again in official form
if there is any hope of acceptance.
There has always been a feeling in
some quarters here that Premier Poin-
care wanted to keep the American plan
as a sort of ace in the hole anyway,
and that he would look With more favor
on it after the French had marched
into the Ruhr than before The Ameri-
can offer was, of course, made with
the idea of preventing the invasion of
the Ruhr. Acceptance Of it would have
compelled the French to abondon their
own determination 10 seize the Ruhr.
They did not want to do this: first. be-
cause they wished to show Germany
how much in earnest FrInce was, and,
second, because French opinion has to
be satisfied that the extreme course had
been taken. Otherwise n compromise
would have Ovcrthrown the French
ministry.
So officials here see decided hope IN
the overnight cables and i. would not
be surprising if at any moment hint
came from France that if the Amcri-
can plan is revived it would be accept
ed. Should such action be taken, I'M
questiOnably the administration would
wish TO get the authority TO attend of
ficially the sessions of the reparations
commissions. President Harding, in n
recent letter to Senator Lodge. said
the hands of the executive branch Of
the government were tied by lack of
power in the reparations controversy.
When Senator Robinson. Democrat. in
PRODUCED his resolution to give NJ. Hard
ing the necessary power, events had
changed somewhat and the administra-
ton felt that it would be "inoppor-
tune" TO pass the resolution at the
very moment when France was begin
ming to March into the Ruhr.
Now it appears that France has de-
cldcd to ask the reparations commits
sion to arrange new conditions of pay
ment. On such a matter unanimous
consent is required in the rcDaratious
commission. Americas opportunities TO
reconcile the conflicting viewpoints of
Britain and France would be enhanced
II Mr.. BOyden. the American represen-
tative, had full power to vote and act.
UnqucStionably the overnight n rvs will
make it difficult for the administration
to keep from active rartieipation 10
the councils Of the rcparations commits.
sion: