Evening star., 1923-11-06

31ndl OeclSlOn Way await turCner
Exchanges Between Paris and
Washington.
With a complete statement of the
Conflicting views of the European al
lies before il, the Americ govern
mcnt today weighed painstakingly
the question whether the door had
hccn closed to American aid in an eX-
pert reparations inquiry.
In no quarter was there any authen-
tie indication how soon decision
would be reached. or in what direc-
ton the opinions of high officials
were tending. 1t was apparent, how
ever that hope of an eventual agree
ment had not been lost.
Jusserand Sees Coolidge.
Shortly before President Coolidge
alId his cabinet assembled for their
Regular Tuesday meeting Ambassador
JuSSerand of France called at the
White House and spent twenty min
utes with the Chief Executive. He
SAID he had come primarily to pay his
respects, but left inquirers to draw
their own differences as to what sub
Jects may have been discussed
Yesterday TIE ambassador, just
back from Paris. talked for more than
two hours with Secretary Hughes,
'utiIning the reasons why Premier
Poincare objects to the unrestricted
reparatlons inquiry favored by the
United States and apparently agree
able also to Great Britain, Italy and
Belgium.
) The long conference between the
Secretary and the French plenipo-
tentiary led to many rumors of a
compromise on the one hand and of
N deadlock on the other. For none
OF these was there any basis in the
outsiyings of responsible officials.
Both at the State Department and at
the French embassy it was emphasize
ed that in the present delicate stage
or the negotiations what passed a.
the conference must remain a closed
book.
Further ParIeys Likely.
In authoritative quarters it was
Indicated, however, that further ex-
changes between Washington and
Pariss intended to insure y aeclearer;
understanding of the position of the
two governments, must be awaited be-
fore there could be a final decision.
it was said authoritatively that moth
ing had transpired to finally dispel
the hope of administration officials
IL an agreement permitting American
aid in the proposed inquiry.
For Premier Poincare to continue
in his preSen4 position undoubtedly
has become increasingly difficult since
the British. Belgian and Italian gov
ernments all have indicated willing
ness to accept an unrestricted in
vestiga ton, leaving France alone to
bear the burden of responsibility for
failure of the new plan for solution
of the reparations tangle.
At the same time it is recognized
here that NJ Poincare has much popu-
lar support in France and that it
would be difficult for him to recede.
Hughes at White House.
While it is recognized that questions
of detail about the lLoposed inquiry
should be adjusted at the quickest
possible moment, it is the opinion in
some quarters that it may be several
days before a final understanding is
reached.
Ambassador Jusserand's call at the
White House preceded by only few
manutes the arrival there of Secre-
tary Hughes, prepared to make a |
general report on the whole situation.
Answering the inquiries of news
paper men as he left the executive
Offices, the ambassador said:
II came primarily for the purpose of
paying my respects to the President. |
Whether or not we discuss the fine
weather, or politics. | leave to your
clever minds to guess
Conference Result Secret.
Whether Ambassador Jusserand, in
the lengthy conversation in which he
presented the views of his government
to Secretary Hughes yesterday, had In
dicated any possibility of recession in
Frances stand for restricting the scope
of the study by economic experts had
not been disclosed.
Before the French ambassador went
to the State Department, Information
had reached officials here that Great
Britain. Italy and Belgium had reached
an accord on the form of an invitation
for American participation in the in
quiry. Hope was expressed Dy gov
ernment spokesman that France could
be induced to join in a full inquiry, but
no indication was given as to what
course the United States might pursue
should the allied governments fail to
reach an agreement.
War Debts Not Topic.
Earlier yesterday Secretary Hughes
conferred in his office with Secreta-
ries Mellon and Hoover. 1t can be
stated on authority that the question
of allied war debts to the United
States was not touched upon at this
conference. The fact that all three
secretaries are members Of the debt
commission has led to some specula-
tion in view of assertions in France
that the French government would be
willing to concur in an unlimited in
quiry into Germany's capacity to pay.
provided the question of interallied
debts also was to be discussed.
Speculation of this nature was
characterized as altogether wild" in
responsible quarters. 1t was reiter-
ated authoritatively that the WASH
ington government had not changed
its view that the reparations qtIes-
tion and that Of interallied debts
were in no way related and should
not be joined in the proposed confer
ence concerning Germany's economic
capacity.
PoINCARE GETS q. S. VIEW.
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