Evening star., 1923-01-07
PARIS CONFERENCE
/ DOOMED ATS START
Tardieu Says Right and JUS
tice Rules Attitude OF
French.
GUARANTEES ARE DENIED
Proposal to Take Over Gold in Debt
Settlement Also
Attacked.
GUARANTEES ARE DENIED
M ANDRE TARDIEU.
Former French High Commissioner to
the United States.

Former French High Commissioner to
the United states.
BY Cable TO The Star.
PARIS, January 6.-There could be
no agreement between Great Britain
was so suddenly ended. There was no
possibility Of compromising the Anglo
Saxon and continental viewpoints. 1t
is more and more apparent once
again that words do not have the
same meaning here as there
To England reparations means re-
ViVal of business. To France il means
reconstruction of her ruined terri
tory. In England the question is
wherein new solutions can be i'm
provised at any moment, while in
France and other devastated coun-
tries, it all is question OF right and
justice.
Astounded by British Plan.
The British proposals simply as
founded the French. Belgian and
Italian delegations. That is the first
point for American public opinion TO
bear in mind for such an unanimity
is significant and rarely has been en-
countered in the last few years. 1t is
true that never at the worst mo-
ments has Britain ever been so direct
ly attacked and during that entire
period Britain never before SO direct
1y assailed the rights of continental
countries, which Germany sacked.
The British plan constituted a pure
and simple reputation, not only of
Versailles, but of the schedule of
payments adopted in May, 1921. which
Britain signed and ratified. When, in
1920, America rejected the treaty,
many Europeans regretted the fact,
but never denied her right to do so.
prif in m
the contrary, now repudiates formal
engagements IL which she actively
participated and which bind her the
same as any other signatory.
Insist on Definite Total.
For many months the British circles
favorable to reducing the war debt,
have been insisting on fixing def
mite total. but Bonar Laws plan does
not include this.
The reduction accorded seems four
fifths OF the total. Belgian priority,
which should be considered sacred, is
infringed, as well as Italy's rights.
Whereas Britain unhesitatingly Of
fers to Germany a complete four
years moratorium and half mora l.
torium for four years thereafter,
every security is refused creditors
who through Germany's default. have
had to involve themselves to pay re-
construction and damages so that our
four billions.
Future reparations also would be
rendered illusory by transferring
them from the reparations commits
sion to an international council pre-
sided over by the German finance min
lister, who is to have the deciding vote
in case OF disagreement.
Would Take Gold.
on the pretext OF liquidating the
Immediately take from France-al-
though Germany is given a mora
torium-nearly one and a half billion
gold francs in cash and two billion
gold marks In German bonds: and
from Italy half a billion gold francs
and a billion and half gold marks.
Thus England alone gets any immedi-
ate receipts.
I might proIong this analysis, but
this is enough to show the character
same thing as the Balfour note, only
more so. For three years Lloyd
George revised the details of the YER
sailles treaty demanding successive
sacrifices from France, and always
without compensation. Bonar Law
has done the Same thing by whole
sale in one paper. His intentions,
they say, are good, but it is unfortu-
SnAte that the obvious results are bad.
/. To all such suggestions the reply
Jof. France always will be No! We do
not deny great difficulties are coming.
For the most part they are the con-
sequences of London's forgetfulness
Of her solemn engagements. France
will face her difficulties in agreement
with the countries which see things
as she does, but never willingly will
she accept being guillotined as Bonar
Law, perhaps without fully realizing
it, proposes.
Copyright. 1921