Evening star., 1924-06-18

was in danger. and proceeded to work
with all his influence against the
premier. who might oust him from
office IL sustained in the election. 1t
was these two issues and not any
weakening toward the reparations
that brought Poincare's downfall, ac-
cording to his own statement.
In the course OF NJ Pofncare's
speech last November certain sig
nificant passages threw much light
upon Frances attitude in regard to
her debt to the United States for
billions of dollars loaned. Speaking
of the release of Germany from pay
ing anything but actual damages to
property and persons, Premier Poin-
care said:
not. that, in the minds of the allies,
damage ca used to persons and prop
erty takes priority over the costs of
the war. cloud applause.)
But then, gentlemen. how can we
admit, / ask you, that these war
costs. which the allies refrain from
claiming from Germany-and which
in her case they put down as COM
ing after reparations, pensions and
every category of damages-should
other. even before Germany has paid
up?" fSustained applause from very
large number of benches)
NJ Herriot--In order that TINS
is necessary to understand one
another, and in order to understand
one must see one another. America
may admit this point or view but
one must talk to her.
NJ Poincare-How can one imagine
f-... 10. g A.
and tomorrow should be treated
more vigorously than the enemies or
yesterday? Cloud applause) Such
an iniquity seems impossible to us;
And, consequently, we have said ana
repeated that we could not ana
any part whatever of what is owed
us. so long as the question OF inter
allied debts was not stttied.
In weighing all these considera-
tions, we are led to take our precau-
tions in advance, in order that the
experts conference Dawes commits
sion) might not serve--Voluntariiv or
not-the interests of some foreign
financiers.
Two points in the above are sig
nificant: The French acceptance OF
the Dawes plan is conditional upon
its continued enforcement against
Germany, not merely covering the
bonds "A" and "B'-amounting 10
fifty billion gold marks. but also
bond 'C"' covering the additional sum
of eighty-two billion gold marks
though that is not apparently en-
oouraged by members OF the dawes
commIs sion, and may iead 10 iutuit
discussion of vital nature. second
+
her loan from the United states uhlIl
she collects full reparati"ns from
Germany"
Full reparations Of damages 10
persons and property IN France
means how much? Already the re-
building of the devastation has cost
ninety-five billion gold francs, ana
to complete the work will add an
other five billion. Besides that the
pensions will come. And there are
influences at work outside of France
TO cut Germany's total reparatlons
down to fifty billion gold ma rks.
France gets only 81 per cent OF what
Germany pays.
as to her obligation to repay the loan
of about four billion dollars, what
has the United States at stake IN
the outcome of II all?
:
NJ Poincare declares that Herr
Stresemann demands that the treaty
be modified so as not to charge Ger
many with having caused the war.
The French, he says. will never con-
cede any change in that accusation
so well proved. He further accuses
Germany with proceeding secretly to
mobilize and train troops, contrary to
the treaty-statemen confirmed by
Premier Herriot as special justitica-
ton for his selecting Gen. Nollet as
minister of war. Both PoinCare and
HerriCt agree in intimatinE that
Stresemann's pretense Of wanting Ger
many exculpated from the charge of
having started the war is meant as
a loophole in conditional acceptation
of the Dawes plan-whiCh. he says,
Germany will never accept in good
faith. nor carry out to the full repa-
rations" of 1872 billion gold marks.
Copyright. 1924. by Paul V. Collins