Evening star., 1923-04-13
NEW FRENCHP[AN
HINTS SCONCESS|ONS
UPON PREPARATIONS
Revealing of InteraIIied Front
Expected to Result From
Premiers' Farley.
WOULD PROVIDE BRITAIN
INTEREST ON U. S. LOAN
Total of Indebtedness Not to Be
Lowered, But Burden Of
Payment Lessened.
By the Associa ted Press.

PARIS, April 13.-The premiers of
France and Belgium. with their prin-
cipal ministerial advisers. met here
today in an important conference on
the reparations question.
A rewelding of the inter-allied
front is expected to result from to-
days meeting of the Franco-Belgian
ministers here, at which a repara-
tions plan drafted by the French ex-
perts will be compared to one drawn
up by the Belgians.
1t is understood that the two differ
only slightly, inasmuch as Premier
Poincare, through Louis Loucheur,
and the Belgian government, through
its representatives in London, have
sounded the British government as
to its attitude toward the question.
1t is believed, therefore. that the dis
cussions today should prove fruitful.
Total Not Reduced.
The French plan was prepared by
the foreign Office experts in close COL
laboration with the reparation COM
mission. lie Matin. which prints a
resume of the draft, says it leaves
the total German Indebtedness at
132,000.000.000 gold marks. but pro-
vides for method of payment which
would lessen the burden of the debt
and at the same time accelerate the
installments during the next few
years.
If France in that period is able,
through international credit opera
N1 Ec
representing the "A and B" German
bonds as well as her past and future
expenditure for the deVasted re-
gions, she is ready to make conces-
sions for the remainder. says the
newspaper.
Rhine Army Costs Included
Part of the German debt, mobiliza-
tion of which Is declared to be urgent,
corresponds to the sums required for
the reparation of devastated France.
Italy, Jugoslavia, Rumania, with prior
ity for Belgium,' plus the money spent
by that country on the same account.
Also included are the costs Of the
American and allied armies OF occupA-
ton, reimbursement for the premiums
paid to German miners and various
lesser items.
The remainder Of the first 50.o0O.-
100000 marks. adds LIE Matin. may
either be Cancelled or postponed, but
England, which would be called upon
to make serious sacrifice IL this plan
is decided upon, must receive a guar
antee that her annual interest pay
mentS to the United States will be
made up to her out of the German pay
ments at suitable intervals.
Would Divide Bonds.
The essence of the new project. the
&C. 80 yx,fIz 1a
German "A and B" bonds into two
parts, one of which, amounting to
about 40. 900. 900. 900 gold marks. would
be mobilized within ten years by
means of loans. The other part would
be split up into annual payments. ac-
cording to the need Of the British
treasury.
The series OF &C" bonds would be
used in furnishing France with a
means for paying off her foreign cred
American, since England. relieved of
her annual interest payments to the
United States. might be ready to
make substantial concessions. This
arrangement would also be highly
advantageous to Italy.
&C" Bond Sum to BE Held.
There would remain to France a
sum In &c" bonds which might be
used to negotiate a concession in GER
tain coal mines.
Territorial pledges under this plan,
LIE Matin continues might gradually
be relinquished during the first ten
years and then given up altogether
on the condition that the. forty bill
lions needed as immediate PREPARATION
had been covered by loans. and pro-
vided also that a new regime had been
instituted with a mixed occupation
sufficient to satisfy the requirements
of French safety. Certain strategic
points only would remain in the hands
of the allies under conditions to be
determined later. The league of ma
tions would be asked to undertake
the management of the rest of the
occupied territory with the aid Of an
international police force and an in
ternational railroad board.
Not Opposed in Britain.
Such are said to be the broad lines
Of the plaan and, with the exception
of certain points more particularly
of interest to Great Britain, con-
cludes LIE Matin. 1t does not appear
to have aroused the opposition of
Mr.. Bonar Law and his colleagues.
There seems to be no reason, the
newspaper says. why 1t will not
meet the approval Of the Belgian
ministers.
One of the main objects of the
conference is the devising OF new
measures to make the Ruhr occupa-
tion productive. 1t is contended
that as long as the Ruhr is unpro-
ductive of coal 1t will be difficult to
persuade the Germans to accept the
Franco Belgian viewpoints, on the
situation. Just now while the
French and the Belgians are issuing
figures to show that since the Brus-
sells conference the daily coal and
coke production has increased from
5000 tons daily to 5000 tons. the
German reparations delegates in
Paris declare that after three months
of occupation the two allies are OBJ
tanning less than 1000 tons daily.
Germans Stand Firm.
Those here who are In touch with
the official German viewpoint of rep
aration issue declare that Germany
will not negotiate so long as the al
lies occupy the Ruhr, and they con-
tend the two allied powers are kill
fng the goose that laid the golden
ICbntinued on Page 2. Column -