San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-30
]. s. HOPES TO
BEE OLD WORLD.
|AT PEACE SOON
separations MIDDLE Will
Be Settled This Time,
Is Belief.
CAPITAL is OPTIMISTIC
Hone Based on Idea That
Area Of Controversy
Has Narrowed.
,APITAL is OPTIMISTIC
BY DAVID LAWREN CE.

opyright by The San Antonio Light
Washington, ID. C., Oct. S0.-The
United States government maintains
n attitude Of distinct hopefulness
hat the reparation problem in Eu-
ope is going to be settled this time
md this feeling prevails notwith-
tanding the apparently discouraging
tatements from Premier Poincare
yho insists the commission of experts
bout to be appointed have no power
reduce Germany's Indebtedness. ~
To understand the meaning of the
'rench premier's speeches. however,
is necessary TO realize the position
NJ. PoIncare in French politics.
% admit at this time that he had
greed to the appointment of a COM
mission to reduce Germany's pay
hents would he to commit political
|uicide. His cabinet would be over
brown instantly.
But the facts of the situation as
pointed out and emphasized by gov
rnment officials here are obvious in
heir significance. Would commits
ion of experts determine the capacity
Il Germany to pay and then make no
recommendation as to how the finan-
ial stability of Europe could be ac-
Fomplished
Up to this time France has been
Unwilling to permit an estimate to be
hade by an international commission
S TO what Germany could pay. That
(luch is now obtained by the new
barley. Once it is determined. world
will ha tD tolya ra
II any attitude assumed by the French
which, in the face Of absolute data
IS to German capacity insisted on
be impossible.
One Step at Time.
1t 10 true the French need not ac,
eept the advice of the commission Of
Experts and Premier Poincare is right
N declaring that German obligations
eannot be modified. except by the
consent of France and the unani-
nous agreement of the allied and as
bociated powers. But that is not the
important fact of the amount as
Viewed here. There will be time
Enough TO discuss the recommended
ions of committee of experts when
hat committee has completed its
work.
One step at time is the slogan
pf the optimists in the government.
And it is Appreciated of course, that
ho government is bound to accept the
5ldvice of the new commission. Sec
retary Hughes in his note to Great
Britain, in fact. in his New Haven
|peech, specifically urged that the
commission of experts have only ad-
7isory powers.
When the commission determines
Iermany's capacity TO pay it will at
| he same time suggest Il plan as TO
bow Germany can begin to pay. That
means a basis for an international
oan. If in the face of its recon-
.nendations, France still takes the
position that the experts are wrong
Ind that Germany can pay more
han has been fixed and that France
! will not consent to any reduction, the
deadlock which has been going on
Tor more than year will continue,
but with this important diff, ence-
he world will know where to place
. he responsibility for what happens
hereafter in Central Europe.
The French accepted the British
american plan for a commission OF
advisory experts largely because
world opinion would not approve OF
their rejection. The hope Of the
Future is based on the idea that as
| he area of controversy is narrow and
Facts are found there will be less
Ground for French refusal to join with
Ter former allies and associates in
| The. economic reconstruction of Eu-
rope.
That's why speeches and comments
That on the surface appear to show
That France hasn't changed her posi-
zion an iota, are not taken at their