Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-11-08
ATTITUDE
SHOCKS ALLIES
PoINcARE's CHANGE OF sErRAx-
Al BY NATIONS MAY ELIMIN-
ATE u. g. FROM QUIZ
OUPED BY AMERICA CHARGE
Speech at Movers Insinuates America
and Britain Vet In Accord With
Treaty of Versailles

Aaiirr-A AFiniti OfiNait III Il cHECIA
at Nevers, recognized four points as
within the Jurisdiction OF the commit
tee Of experts which is to make a rep
aration inquiry as a result of the re
cent negotiations of the European
chancellors and the Washington gov
eminent. The premier by his recog'
milton, 1t is held, excluded considera-
tion Of any other point. The four
points Indicated are:
First-Germany's present capacity
for payment.
Second-New methods of payment.
Third3The renovation of German
finances.
Fourth-A new monetary system.
This program, the foreign office
points out, is in line with that lndicat-
ed In the American note 10 London.
Premier P~oincare, ii is declared, on
siders that Germany's debt to the
allies was fixed once for all and can
not be changed. any more than the
total amounts advanced by the United
States to the allies during the war can
be changed.
Dealing with the peace treaty, the
premier said the victors had in several
months Fe-made the map of the world,
resuscitated some nations and created
others, and had altered frontiers.
France" he added, neither re-
ceived nor asked any territorial advan-
tage in Europe. She simply recovered
what belongs TO her-what had been
stolen from her. But she was told
Keep quiet II you agree not to re-
guarantee you against fresh aggres-
sion.A Ii was added: Have no fear;
you shall be Unidentified for all the
damage you have suffered She then
signed with confidence a treaty with
which she was not very well satisfied
but on which at least she counted as
a minimum.
Not many months passed before the
finest stones of the edifice crumbled
to dust. Our allies who were the most
keen in demanding the prosecution of
the kaiser and his accomplices forgot
their intentions and were astonished
when we reminded them. Those who
had insisted on a reduction OF the du-
ration of III occupation and who had
offered us guarantee pacts-which In
cidentally were far from sufficient
withdrew, some Of them falling to
ratify the treaty In the making of
which they had elaborated, and
others repeating that their offer was
dependent on the definite attitude of
the former"
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS placed
by the French office on Premier
P%oincare's remarks at Nevers,
shocked official Washington some
what. in so far as any purpose of
France to prevent a full, complete and
impartial inquiry by economic experts
into the PREPARATIONS question may be
indicated.
Press reports Of the foreign office
view came as a surprise to officials
here. who had been under the impress
sion the French premier had accepted
the expert committee plan with only
the reservation Of all French rights
under the treaty of Versailles and in
sistence that the committee function
under the PREPARATIONS commission.
To what the limitations upon the
scope Of the commissions inquiry read
by the French foreign office into the
premier's speech according TO press ad-
vices would influence American parti-
cipation was not indicated. 1t vas
made very plain, however, that the
United States would look upon any
plan that did not provide for a full and
free examination by the experts Of
Germany's capacity to make repara-
lions payments as an adjective effort
to solve the problem
One Of the first effects Of Wash
possible withdrawal. IL Is be-
would be almost certainly the
fall of the German government, whose
tenure of office is only held by a
and 1t Seems hardly likely that
II can survive the realization that
is to be hoped for from the
United States, II this government re-
mains aloof.
Whether the British governments
to recognize a Rhineland re-
public had anything to do with what
Is considered the extremely irrecon-
rilable tone NJ. Poincare adopted in his
is only a matter of speculation,
but Anglo-French relations are likely
be embittered by that refusal.