Evening star., 1923-12-17
BERLIN ASKS RIGHT
FOR FOREIGN LOAN
Says Food Fund Can Be
Raised if Priority Claim
Is Dropped.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, December 17.-Germany' s
request that the reparation commits
sion agree to release it's priority
claim on Germany's resources to an
extent necessary to permit Germany
to borrow money abroad with which
to buy needed food was delivered
to the reparation commission today
by the German war burdens commits
sion
The request probably will be con-
sidered at Wednesdays meeting, but
the present attitude of the French, it
Is stated semiofflcially, Is against
granting the application.
The French and German govern
ments are to discuss the question of
the Ruhr and Rhineland occupation.
Premiere Poincare, in statement
made public last night accepted, with
limitations, the proposals of Herr Won
Hoesch, charge d'affaires, regarding
TO conduct with France and with
Belgium on matters connected with
the occupation of German territory
by French forces.
NJ Poincare stated that his govern
ment was always willing to confer
with a representative of Germany,
but at the same time he pointed out
that as certain topics woud be of in
terest to other allied nations as well
as to France, he would reserve the
right to confer with them before
making any definite reply to German
proposals.
To avoid any misunderstanding.
however, the premier reiterated his
statement that France would never
consent to take the question of rep
arations out of the hands of the COM
mission instituted by the treaty, nor
would 1t consider any change or regu-
lation not in strict conformance with
the treaty. The commission will con-
tinue to function as previously, re-
gardless of the outcome Of the pro-
posed conversations, he declared.
Resistance Ended.
Admitting that passive resistance
in the Ruhr had apparently ended, M.
Poincare stated that nevertheless. as
the interallied commissions of mill
tary control have not yet been able
to resume their regular duties. Ger
many cannot claim to be Loyalty exc
cutting the treaty of Versailles.
The fact that Germany has SO far
been successful in at least bringing
about a discussion of the relations Of
the two nations in the occupied terri
tory is regarded by the more opti-
mistic portion of the public as a sign
that some definite footing for fur
ther successful negotiation may be
established. The majority of the
show any enthusiasm before ship
ments of German gold or foreign Sc
curities actually are received in
Paris.
THE country as a whole has seen
too many conferences prove fruitless
to welcome with joy any new at
tempt. When Germany starts paying,
they feel, then will be time enough
to negotiate.
The exchange of ideas proposed
by Germany, to which the French
government does not refuse to lend
itself" continues the Poincare reply,
cannot, therefore, have for it's OBJ
ject infringement of the prerogative
of this commission, nor can it be a
preparatory step, direct or indirect,
for revision of the treaty"
Concerning the Rhine and the Ruhr,
the reply says, the French govern
ment has nothing to change in the
views already set forth; it cannot
hands of the Franco-Belgian authori-
ties in the Ruhr or the interallied
high commission in the other occu-
pied territories.
To Hear Berlin Plan,
AS to the establishment of a modus
vivendi in either of these regions M.
Poincare is fully disposed to listen to
suggestions from the Berlin govern
ment and communicate them, if cir
cumstances admit, with his opinion to
competent authority. He will, notably,
accept any discussion on prolongation
of the agreements with the indus
trialists, the re-establishment of eco
nomic life and administrative ques-
tions, it being under stood that France
maintains her full right not to ac-
cept the refrigeration of those per-
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