Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-01-04
Rupture Imminent
CONTINUED from Page One)

Lord D'Abernon, British ambassador
to Germany.
The British prime Minister there
fore finds it well nigh impossible to
accept as a bass of discussion either
the French or Italian plans, with
out taking into consideration the
British plan, from which they differ
SO radically.
There is no reason to draw IA
vOrable deduction from a continual
ton of the conference, tomorrow, it
was declared tonight by high Off
cial of the French foreign office. The
discussion continues, he explained,
because the cmmbers of the con-
ference have not vet finished what
they have to say, but nothing has
developed to give hope that the
French and british will come to-
sethcr. The British delegation to-
night have equally abandoned hope
OF an accord on reparationS after
today's developments.
M. Poncarc's plain refusal even
to accept the British plan as material
for discussion together with the
French plan, has virtually brought
the conference to an end, in the view
of the British representatives. They
frankly admit that the conference is
being prolonged to tomorrow, or
Friday at the latest in order to pre-
serve the Franco British accord as
long as possible because of the deli
cate negotiations at Lausanne.
The possibility is envisaged of
French support being withdrawn
from the British in the Near East
and at Lausanne on the many inn
portant issues still pending there.
Mr.. Bonar Laws effort will be SIM
ply to disagree with France and re-
main detached from such proceed
ings as tho French government
might take toward Germany, with
out any breaking of cooperative rela-
tionS on other questions.
Premier Theunis and Foreign Min
lister Jaspar and their associates in
the Belgian delegation took a more
cheerful view of the days events.
because Mr.. Bonar Law abandoned
that part of the British plan setting
aside Belgum's prority. The Belgian
premier spoke in the conference with
deep emotion. which is quite unusual
in this business man.
"Under no circumstances will
Belgium renounce the right which
she won by her heroic stand during
the war and by the Allies consent
after the armistice,' said NJ. The
uns.
All eyes were turned upon Mr..
Bonar Law. Amid n dramatic silence
the British premier arose and said
in a matter-of-fact way. which con-
trasted sharply with the Belgian
prcmier's imprisoned tones: Every
we'll, we yield. But we were under
the impression that Belgium was
prepared to make concessions"
Belgium has reached the limits
of her concessions;~ perhaps Germany
might be called upon to make some
effort" NJ Theunis replied, and for a
moment the atmosphere of the con-
ference was rather heavily charged.
But Marquis Della loretta relieved
the tension by suggesting that tea
be served.
No mention was made during the
meeting of the German proposals
and DIR. Bergman said to The AS
sociated Press tonight that unless
the conference informed him it was
ready to receive the new German
proposals it was quite likely they
would never be offered. The Ger
mans are convinced that tho French
mind is made up and that their new
ideas would not stand much chance
of being accepted.
American officials in Paris are
following the conference closely and
are keeping in constant touch with
the foreign office and other official
sources. Some British observers re-
gard the British plan as being part
ly American in character and it is
even limited that the American gov
crnment had in a general way. an
unofficial knowledge of it's contents
before it was presented. But An,cri-
can officials in Paris say they knew
nothing of it previously.