The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-01-02
Prenliers in
Conference
on Policy
Final Effort Being Made TO
Settle Rcparaiions Ques-
tions Allied Circles
Sober and Anxious.
France May Act Alone

Paris. Jan 1--CBy \ P.)-The
prime ministers Of France Great
Britain and Belgium, together with
the Marquis Della TOrretta represent
Ing the Italian premier, will go into
conference tomorrow which is regard.
} cd as the final effort of the allies to
reach collective settlement of the
feparations question. There was q
sober and even anxious spirit in al
lied circles tonight. in face of the prob
ability that, ii the conference fails,
separate and direct action by France
will follow.
The meeting is a continuation of
last months premiers' conference in
London which was called to examine
whether any practical results can
come from a general economic con.
eress in Brussels. The main questions
to be decided are, first. whether
moratorium can be granted to Ger
many and. second, upon what terms?
Divided on Policy.
France and Great Britain are
sharply divided in policy. The French
insist upon seizing the productive
resources of Germany on the left bank
. fthe Rhine and in the Ruhr valley
as guarantees that when the mora
torium terminates, Germany will re-
sumo her reparations payments.
President AIillerand, replying to the
New Year good wishes Of the diplo-
matte corps today, made it clear that
France stands upon her conception
of justice and her rights under the
treaty of Versailles
Complete peace can be established,
he declared. 'only on the the basis
of the treaties and through respect
for the rights acquired and the
obligations incurred"
The British government thoroughly
disapproves stern methods or penal
ties and desires to work out a plan
under which Germany would be al.
lowed a moratorium of at least two
years, this time to be employed in so
reorganizing her resources that she
may successfully shoulder her debts.
Loan Is Suggested.
Any settlement likely to be success
full depends, in Bonar Laws view, on
some form OF international loan for
Germany, and together with his asso-
ciates on the British delegation, he
has received with approval the sug-
gestion of the American secretary of
state that an international committee
determine the amount of reparatons
TO be expected.
The conviction held by Premier
Poincare of France is that a change
in heart on the part OF Germany is
required above all other considera-
tions. lie believes Germany's plans
for the future are based upon a pol
icy of resistance to the execution of
the Versailles treaty. and any effort
10 help 1t he regards as useless until
the Berlin government decides In
earnest to fulfill it's obligations.
Extension of the present partial
moratorium, which expires on Janu-
ary IS, and the raising of cash for
Germany. in the international market
in the French view will be nullifed
by the continued German opposition
TO payment of her debts. so that
action such as France now contem-
plates will be eventually forced upon
the allies.
The Belgian and Italian govern
mentS appear now TO lean more To-
ward the French view than toward
the British, but with some disposition
to seek middle ground.
Urge ConciliatOry Program.
The Italian delegation has plan
which it will present to the council
after Poincare and Bonar Law have
explained the French and British
viewpoints. This conciliatory pro-
gram calls for guarantees to satisfy
France, but without penalties so as
to meet the British objection. relying
upon such action by Germany as
would have the result of making the
guarantees productive without the
use of force.
The Belgian premier, NJ. Theunis.
who worked strenuously in London
last August to bring Lloyd George
and Poincare together also seeks to
harmonize the French and British
programs, which it is understood. he
thinks, could be done if the German
government would unreservedly af-
firm it's willingness to fulfill the rep
aratiOns clauses of the treaty to the