Evening star., 1923-04-15
PARIS NOW THINKS
L0UCHEUR FAILED
Fears Berlin Sees Weakening
in London Trip for Rep
aratiOnS Plan.
BY ANDRE TARDIEU,
Former French High Comm issiOner to
the United states.

BY Gable to The Star.
PARIS, April 1.-THE visit of NJ
Louis Loucheur to London was a
monumental mistake. The only re-
suit has been to stiffen Germany s
France was weak kentng and was not
ready to go through with her com
plete Ruhr program.
When II was learned that Loucheur
had crossed the channel there was a
mild interest here. II was known
he had talked with half dozen Brit
ish ministers but. because he does
not object to publicity. llttle atten-
tion was paid to this. Not until the
Daily Telegraph published his So
called reparations plan. which ear
ried us back several months, did any
one here think second time about
the visit.
Curiosity developed further when
Loucheur, carrying the paradox &c
the extreme, declared he had gone to
London only to visit the museum
despite the fact that as soon as he
returned he had long talk with
Poincare. The people then realized
that where there was 50 much smoke
there also must be fire. and news be-
ing scarce, the papers gave them
selves d free rein.
According TO trustworthy informa
tion the facts are as follows:
Loucheur who wants to get back
into power and remains convinced
that his various reparations plans
submitted at Paris. London, Cannes
etc, will make for universal happi-
ness If they ever are adopted took
1t upon himself to go to London to
talk about them. Before going he
had a chat with Poincare. The lat
ter. who is unable to make a clear
decision on any subject, did not dare
I to tell Loucheur to abandon his triI
as 1t might prove embarrassing, 81
he pulled out his old plan Of las
December and elaborated on IT. Thus
when Loucheur went to England h,
! let it be known he was fresh from
Poincare's arms, and this explain!
why Bonar Law, although ill. trav
eled miles to meet him and also why
| imm ediately after he was the CUES
of Lord Burnham. proprietor of til,
Telegraph, that paper published tn,
reparations plan. asserting it was tn,
product of the best French minds
Thus Englishmen who conversec
with Loucheur were convinced tha
the latter in reality was Poincare'.
envoy. Likewise, Loucheur. when h.
returned to Paris. did not object to
certain amount of publicity concern
ing his trip.
But the press has been bad from
his point of view, and most paper:
criticize the move as spreading doub
concerning Frances determination Il
carry the Ruhr enterprise to it:
natural finish with victory for ou,
| country. At first Poincare sait
nothing. Then Loucheur went to tn,
Quai dOrsay and asked for support
The semi official press at ono,
changed its tone. and Loucheur hac
it stated, without official denial, tha
the trip was authorized by the pre-
mier.
Unfortunately the statement viii
not bear examination. For example
the suggestion that Germany is to b,
substituted for Great Britain anG
! France in paying the debts these tW,
nations owe America has caused lout
laughter everywhere among all VIII,
know that the interallied debt prob
lem is not SO simple as all that
Moreover. the old scheme of mutua
debt cancellation long ago wa
dropped, and Loucheur. by warming
over these old formulas. showed Al
unbelievable and lamentable lack o
Judgment From the political view
point l will make just this observa
ton: Poincare now declares hi
views are unchanged and he will re
announce them in a speech. How
ever. his hesitation has linked hin
with the Loucheur position, and tn
whole is farce that should hav,
been avoided. Poincare today real
ICES this too late.
Copyright 1927