Evening star., 1923-10-09
REVIVAL Of HUGHES
| RUHR ARBITRATION
PROPOSAL LOOMS
Lloyd Georges View Time Is
Ripe to Try Plan May In
| spire New Offer.
IRRECONCILABLES MADE
UNEASY BY SPEECHES
Even Limited Part in European
Tangle State Secretary Sug-
gested Is Opposed.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Former Premier Lloyd Georges
| suggestion that the time is ripe for
| an acceptance of the Hughes plan to
form a commission to study the repa-
rations question is occasioning some
! uneasiness among those who consti-
tute the "irreconcilable" group in
American politics.
Never has there been a time, with
the possible exception Of the first
mention of the world court issue.
when the prospect Of dragging for
eign policy into the campaign was as
little desired by the leaders of the
republican party. who sincerely want
unity instead of discord. While Sec
thing that commits the United States
government to IAN involvement in
entangling alliances" his plan, even
at this date, is looked upon by the
"irreconcila bles" as step toward
greater participation in European
affairs, and they don't want America
to indulge even in unofficial confer
ences.
johnson Seeks Opening.
Out in California. Senator Hiram
Johnson .is waiting his chance to
make an issue of foreign policy if
the Coolidge administration makes
any gesture toward Europe. Mr..
Johnson has plenty of other things.
no doubt, of domestic character on
which he could base campaign, but
his fight from the beginning has been
against agreements of any kind with
xl,t h.
be seen campaigning again unless the
administration adopts - strictly
hands-off policy.
Secretary Hughes made his sug-
gestion about an informal commits
sion Of inquiry as early as last De-
cember and about the only thing that
Mr., Coolidge has diyulged on foreign
policy has been an expression which
indicated that the Hughes speech still
remained the policy OF the United
States government.
In that speech MIR Hughes laid
down the proposition that unofficial
persons representing each country. but
not necessarily each government, could
sit down and estimate the capacity
Of Germany to pay and the possibili-
| ties of extending credit to Germany
when once satisfactory settlement
| Is reached. No government was to
be committed. to an acceptance of the
plan,. but was to have the right to
| and to act upon or ignore the report
made.
Frnnce Did Not Accept.
The theory back of this plan was
that once the representatives of all
| concerned did get into conference
| with the sincere purpose of reaching
settlement an adjustment was in
evitable Mr.. Hughes hoped at the
time to avert an invasion of the Rhur,
but Premier Poincare was SO intent
upon making that move that the
Hughes proposal was for diplomatic
reasons construed by the French gov
ernment as an informal and unofficial
proposal and France Is therefore in
the position of being able to accept
the proposition now If she desires.
With the ending Of passive resist
direct settlement between France and
Germany was forthcoming. But the
disturbed condition of affairs inside
Germany has revived the idea that
cooperation Of the German people
and the consolidation of political ele-
ments in Germany will not be brought
about until some sign of stability ap-
pears from the outside to instill con-
ffdence. The fact that an interna-
tional loan would unquestionably
| international commission such as Mr..
Hughes proposed would have a pow
erful effect on economic conditions
in Germany. Bankers and business
men are. hopeful that an economic
settlement can yet be made, and that's
why the comment of Mr.. Lloyd George
that it is still time to act on the
Hughes plan is regarded here as a
significant boost for the Hughes pro-
posal, back of which 1t is known the
British and German governments are
ready to stand. =,
Foreign Policy and Trade.
1t is pertinent to note that Treas
ury officials in denying rumors Of un-
employment and pessimistic reports
about future business conditions do
not fail to allude to the possible adj
verse effect which European condi-
tions may have on American mar
kets. sFarm organizations are Begin
I ming to take an interest in improving
Europes purchasing power so that a
fight for cooperation with Europe
might see a different lineup than
that which developed over the league
of nations or world court issues.
1t seems almost certain that the
group which favored an international
economic conference a year ago will
be found supporting the Hughes plan
for a commission of inquiry into the
reparations problem. Should sufficient
| support develop 1t would not be sur
prising IL further inquiries were made
of France as to the possible accept
Copyright, 1921 n