Evening star., 1923-11-02
Poincare Speech, Which
Caused Worry in U. S., Now
Held Political Move.
INSISTS TREATY RIGHTS
SHALL BE UNMOLESTED
London Confident as French Are
Seen Receding From Previ-
Gus Policy.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associat ted Press
PARIS. November 2.-France ac-
cepts with cordiality the contem-
plated collaboration of the United
States in a conference of experts to
study Germany's capacity to pay rep
arations. She demands, however,
that 1t should be clearly understood
that the proposed inquiry should bear
solely on the present" capacity of
Germany, and that it should respect
all the rights held by the reparation
commission under the treaty of YER
sailles.
This is the substance, it was
learned today. of the reply which
France has made to the British note
of October 81 asking her to join
Italy. Belgium and Great Britain in
a collective invitation to the United
States to be represented at the pro-
posed conference. The reply was
handed to the British embassy yes
terday. Its text was not made pub
lie.
Premier Poincare's Nevers speech
yesterday is regarded in political
circles here as more for home con-
sumption than as reply TO the
Washington and London suggestions
regarding a conference or experts 70
consider Germany's capacity for the
payment of reparations. The pre-
mier's speech is considered to be
the first gun in the electoral cam
paign of 1924.
Spoke to Radicals.
1t is pointed out that for the first
time in a long series of speechmak-
ing, inaugurated early in summer, the
premier spoke in radical-socfalist
department. before an assembly pre-
sided over by a deputy from the left
groups, he having heretofore restrict
ed his activities to solid nationalist
centers in the Marine and the Meuse
and other war-torn departments.
tone and spirit of the premier's ad-
dress, especially his closing words:
1--WE covet no territory; We respect
the liberty of peoples; we desire to
retain with our allies the most ami
cable relations. We ask nothing bet
ter than TO resume with Germany the
intercourse of good neighbors."
This is the whole program of the
left groups, the radicals point out.
and they express the hope that the
premier will persevere in his good
desires.
Wants Treaty Observed.
The French foreign Office regards
the limitations Premier Poincare, in
his various authorized utterances, has
put upon the scope of the reparation
inquiry by the proposed international
committee of experts as strictly
conformable to the treaty of YER
sailles. The premier's acceptance of
the idea of such an investigation was
at the outset, it is recalled, condi-
tional upon a strict observance of the
provisions of the treaty and upon
control of the inquiry by the repara-
tions commission.
The premier made the conditions
specified in his acceptance, 1t Is ex-
planned, because France was unable
to consent to any decrease In her
claims that was not compensated for
by decrease in her liabilities.
Those best informed on the French
premier's views say he is convinced
that the sole reason for the proposal
of the expert committee or confer
ence was to reduce the amount of
Germanys debt to the allies. The
suggestion was made in such a way
that he could scarcely decline 1t, but
he could and did surround his &C
ceptance with guarantees against
any such result from the committees
deliberation, and he has since made
1t clear, these informants point out,
that there is no prospect that he will
change his mind.
The most useful thing the commit
tee could do, in French official opin-
ion, is to make thorough investiga-
ton into the way which Germany
has managed to dodge payment, how
much money she has placed abroad
and what may be her disposition now
regarding payment-whether she is
disposed to consider such reforms in
her finances and monetary system as
will make 1T possible for her to pay.
IL the allies do not consider this
program sufficient it is considered
doubtful in competent circles here
whether an agreement can be reached
on the invitation to the United States
to join in the inquiry.
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