Evening star., 1923-01-04
Italian Decision
tOBack French
Speeds Crisis.
ROME ENJOYS
FAIL In PLEA
English, Astounded
by Blunt Words,
Quit Sessions.
BY the Associated Press.


PARIS, January 4.-The
allied reparations conference
here broke up shortly before
7o'cIock this evening.
at is an amicable rupture"
said a member of the British
delegation as he was leaving
the conference.
I'VE are going home to-
morrow morning. France
goes ahead without us"
PARIS, January AT today's
session of the premiers' conference,
which adjourned at d 80 o'clock for
an hour, Premier Poincare OF France
read what amounted to a virtual
ultimatum to the British to say yes
or no to the French reparations
proposition or else discontinue the
conference, according to British
delegate.
The British delegation members de-
clared they were astounded by the tone
adopted by NJ. Poincare in his remarks
during the session, which was held in
secret, as are all the present series of
meetings. The French premier spoke
in a sharp, peremptory manner as he de-
livered his statement, they said, bat
;y,
to the anxious queries Of the corre-
spondests, asking, rs it all off?' replied: /:
No, we are coming back"
Shortly before the time for the second
session of the day the Italian delegation
deposited fresh propositions, in a Anal
attempt to save the conference from a
breakdown.
Today's session of the reparations
conference opened at 3:25 o'clock. 1t
was delayed by the late arrival of the
Italians, who had been waiting for a re-
ply to a telegram sent TO Premier Mus
solini. The reply instructed the Italian
delegation to reject the British repara-
lions plan.
The British delegates. who were
aware of the substance OF the inquiry
sent to Premier Mussolini, averred
that if the Italians opposed the Brit
ish plan the British delegation would
leave Paris
At 4:sO o'clock the conference re-
cessed until $50 pm.
New Lease OF Life.
Before the British delegation left
It's headquarters this noon for the
luncheon given by President Mile
rand in the Palace of the Elysee it
gave the impression that the repara-
tions conference might continue an
other twenty-four or thirty-six hours.
The members would not say that this
indicated a change for the better.
Despite this refusal to express an
opinion, the intimation of a prolonga-
ton OF the conference gave rise to a
feeling that the situation was some
what brighter. The continuation of
day and half, it was pointed out,
would in itself be a hopeful sign.
An afrplane was placed at the dis
position of the British delegation to
The separations conference today by
The French air ministry. The ma
chine was assigned after Prime Min
lister Bonar Law had made a request
TO that effect in order to send a most
urgent courier to London.
Law Determined to Stand.
Prime Minister Bonar Law is de-
termined to make no radical change
in the British reparations plan or fur
ther modify the British policy in this
respect, 1t was definitely stated at
the headquarters of the British dele
CATION today. 1t had been suggested
that President Millerand might make
a last minute effort to induce Great
Britain, at the luncheon he gave at
the Palace of the Elysee, to accept
the French plan.
The British delegates met Mr.. Bonar
Law this morning in what was de-
scribed as final effort to see IL 1t
were ;: possible to reconcile the French
breakdown of the conference this aft
ernoon. The meeting resulted in the
conclusion that the two ideas were SO
far apart a s to make concessions suf-
ficient to bring the divergent views
together an impossibility.
Criticize French Plan.
The British, therefore, confined their
efforts to drawing up detailed critf-
cism of the French plan, to be pre-
sented by Mr.. Bonar Law at this aft
ernoon's meeting.
Mr.. Bonar Law desires to avoid any
dramatic play in the situation, 1t was
indicated, and he may wait until to-
Paris, rather than. return at once aft
er the meeting. After the expected
breaking up of the conference a
meeting of the British cabinet will
probably be held to approve the Brit
ish delegations attitude here. This
meeting may take place tomorrow.
1t also is believed that a definite
announcement by France that she
would take Independent measures,
would be followed by the issuance of |
formal statement by the British
cabinet pointing out that Great Brit |
ain was opposed to such independent |
measures toward Germany and at the |
same time reaffirming her strong |
friendship for France and her inten-
ton to continue cooperation with |
France in all other spheres Of activity |
Answer to P0incare.
The British experts sat up half the |
night preparing the memorandum for /
among the delegations, /
but according to Excelsior, the note |
was only an answer to Premier Poin-
cares objections to the British plan.
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