The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-02
U. 5. SHOCKED BY THE SPEECH IF FPOINCARE
Purpose 0fFrance To Prevent A Full, Complete And Im-
 partial investigation Into
 Discomforting Of Germany AMERICA STRESSES PLAN AS PURELY ADVISORY Washington Holds That Pro-
 vision Permits Question Of Reduction Of Obligations To Come Up Under Treaty

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-Interpreta- ticns placed by the French foreign office on Premier PoIncare's re- marks today at Meyers. shocked of- fcial Washington somewhat, in so far as any purpose o1 France to prevent full. complete and impartial in- iuiry by economic experts into the reparations question may be indl- lated
 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 accept ed the expert committee plan with only the reservation of all French rights under the treaty of Versailles and insistence that the committee function under the reparations com mission.
 To what extent the limitations upon scope of the committees in- quiry read by the French foreign of- fee into the premter's speech, accord- ing to press advices, would influence American participation was not in- dicated. It was made very plain, how ever, that the United States would look upon any plan that did not pro- vide for a full and free examination by the experts of Germany's capacity to make separations payments as an "abortiYe" effort to solve the prob lem.
 Purely Advisory, .. $. Plan.
 In making his original proposal and again in the recent correspondence with I.ord Curzon, 1t was pointed omt, Scersssra Hughes fully recognized that 10 goNalnment wonld care ta 5cfigpif fteeif in advance to accept of kA the experts might bring forward. The American government has stressed at all times the necessity that the committees work should be purely advisory.
 It was indicated also that the United States does not share the view attributed to Premier Poincare in the foreign office summary as carried in press dispatches that Germany's debt to the allies has been fixed for all time and cannot be changed. In this connection, attention was called to Paragraph 5. annexed, Chapter VIII, of the treaty of Versailles hich sets out the conditions under which an unanimous vote shall be required by the reparations commits sion. One of the subjects speeI1lcally named among those on which the commission must record unanimity is proposal to reduce German onllga- tions.
 It is held here that this provision permits the question of reduction of obligations to come up under tho treaty.
 Throughout the present negotia- tions administration spokesmen have insisted that with the German capitu- lation on passive resistance to French occupation in the Ruhr, door was opened to a renewed effort to worN out a sound financial plan for set clement of the whole question or reparations. Such a settlement was becoming increasingly necessary due to the fact that no separations pay ments of any note were being re- ceived by the allies, and in the Amer icsn view none are likely to be re- ceived. British Initiative Welcomed.
 British initiative toward new ef- fort to bring allied opinion into agreement on plan of action to meet this situation with American co-operation in drawing up the plan, was welcomed in Washington on that ground.
 The French attitude as it has been made known here in diplomatic con versations has been understood 10 be one of agreement in the sugges- tion that experts, including Amer jeans, attempt to work out financial plan of the sort contemplated anu submit 1t to the allied governments for their consideration. There mas
 (Continued On Page Two)