Evening star., 1924-08-24
The Story the Week Has Told

side the Ruhr proper. Undeed GER
tain towns in Baden at the limit of
occupation were evacuated on the
1Sth.) Chancellor Marx, while deny
ing the legality of continuance of the
occupation, assented to the declara-
tion. This affair arranged the con-
ference business was quickly wound
up.
The question of greatest difficulty
which confronted the conference was
that of the procedure to govern in
case of German default. 1t was set
tied in conformity with suggestions
from the French delegation. In case
of representations to the Preparations
Commission that Germany should be
declared in default, the commission
Gan American citizen sitting thereon)
shall first pass judgment. If it's de-
cision be unanimous it shall be final.
II 1t be by majority only, appeal
may be made to an arbitral commits
sion whose decision shall be final.
The signatory governments pledge
themselves not to use sanctions
unless default has been declared in
the manner no ted above They
pledge themselves, moreover, to con-
fer at once if default is declared on
and the method of their application.
However, should they fail to agree in
| this connection the poor old Versailles
treaty would govern, which, accord
ing to the French Interpretation, al
lows liberty of action separately to
the allied governments in such case.
In order to recommend to the public
the proposed loan of $20O,000,000 (to
set Germany on her economic legs)
W
| thereof is provided. including such
period as sanctions might be in force.
Machinery of arbitration is pro-
vided for questions arising out Of de-
cisions by the transfer committee
(Which is to handle reparations
transfer. in cash and kind for inter-
probation of the Dawes plan and the
London agreement, and for modifi-
| cation Of defects of detail shown up
by operation of the agreement. In
fine, as I have said before, the out
standing feature Of the London un-
derstandings is the dominance of the
principle of arbitration, primarily a
French achievement.
The French and Belgians dropped
their proposal to keep several thou
sand of their railwaymen en-
ployes on the railroad system in the
occupied territory pending military
their troops G. e. prevent complete
isolation in case Of strikes) and as a
nucleus to make possible quick re-
sumption of Franco-Belgian opera
ton of the railroads should such re-
sumption become necessary.
What did the French receive in re-
turn for concessions so remarka BILE ?
In chief, favorable arrangements as
to delivery beyond the treaty terms
of certain needed supplies, especially
of coke and COAL
At the instance of the Germans 1t
is stipulated in the London agreeme mt
that all is conditional on success of
the issue of the 5000, 200. 900 loan. 1t
is presumed that this Joan will be
put on the market in September.
Assume the Dawes plan gets going
thoroughly and smoothly; other prob
lens no less important remain for
consideration-the problem of inter-
allied debts and the problem of
Franco-B Belgian security. There is to
be a meeting at Paris to decide on
the division Of the reparations to be
received under the new arrangement,
and after that conference on the
interallied debts. The question of
Franco-Belgian security is to be re-
ferred to the League of Nations. The
next League Of Nations Assembly
will be attended by most Of the su-