The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-03
WORLD WITHOUT ARMS IS VISION
 OF MACDONALD Letters Lay Foundation
 For Restoration Of { Confidence FRANKLY DISCUSSES
 BREACH WITH FRENCH Labor Premier, In Letters To Poincare, Takes Up Problems
 Of Lcng Standing
By CHARLES N. M'cANN Tn sassA Wtra ta Tha hoe, . erald'

LONDON, March Z.-On the lnltla- tive of Premier Macdonald, the British prime minister and Premier Poincare of France have exchanged letters dis cussing Anglo French differences, debts, reparstions, disarmament and possible European conference.
 The letters, which will be published here Monday morning, were exchanged week ago. It is expected that after the report of the reparations experts has been made, further letters may be exchanged between the British and French premiers, laying the foundation for personal conference and possibly an ultimate full dress European repara- tions conference, in which the question of allied debts will be considered. A disarmament conference, which Macdonald is known to favor, may re- suit later, but this depends on the sue cess of the reparations negotiations.
 Evidently remembering the repeated refusals of the United States to con meet the debt question with the repara- tions question, Premier Macdonald, in his letter, envisages a European debt and reparations agreement, after which Europe could approach the United
  one another, but as united Europe anxious by mutual sacrifice and ar- rangement to cure the ills from which our people are now suffering" Reviews Differences
 MacDonald's letter to Poincare began by frank review of Franco British diff ferences, pointing out Britain's uneasi- ness over French aims, first in regard to Germany, secondly, in regard to French armaments, particularly in western France, and thirdly in regard to the little entente.
 He stated that the lack of confidence expressed by public opinion in both countries shows a thoroughly un- healthy condition"
 Macdonald pointed out that France wants security against Germany, while l the British empire wants security against war, and emphasized that SC. curity was not only French problem, but European problem.
 Tt may well be that some later dec ade may see the coming of universal disarmament and universal arbitra. tion," he wrote. Our task, meanwhile, must be to establish confidence, and this will be achieved only by allaying international suspicious and anxieties which exist today,
 Macdonald declared that the question remaina to be considered of whether this wQpld be accomplished by the de. 1 mil ation and neutra1ization ycsf- tain zones, or by other methods.
 League May Piay Part
 The League of Nations might play an important part" he wrote.
 Macdonald pointed out that cooper ation throughout all Europe was nee. essary, but that a Franco British agreement was necessary first. Declar- ing that the two powers must await the experts report before they could dis cuss reparations, he added:
 Il do not see why this problem, if approached in it's widest aspects and if considered in conjunction with the problem of allied debts, should not. at an early day, be solved in such a man ner as to give England hope of the economic stability of Europe, and France the assurance that her just re- quirements will be met.
 Here again, if France and England can but agree, the cooperation of other European nations will be as- sured, Macdonald continued. He then spoke of the possibilities of ap- preaching the United States in the mat ter.
 Premier Poincare replied in detail to the various points raised by MacDon- aid, declaring that France did not de- sire either political or economic ami hilation of Germany; that France had no ambitious military designs, and that no reasonable Frenchman ever dreamed of annexing a particle of Ger many's territory"