Evening star., 1925-10-01

would be reached The French left
the meeting of both commissions
this morning smiling, and an Ameri-
can commissioner reiterated that he
still was hopeful.
The atmosphere. however, had
changed with startling suddenness
overnight, as indications from French
circles late yesterday seemed hopeful
for an agreement.
The general situation this morning
was regarded as critical, with possi-
bilities that a turn Of events might
precipitate the negotiations either way
into accord or utter failure.
There had been intimations yester-
day that the security clause demanded
by the French had PRACTICAL, been
conceded by the Americans, but after
the swiftly moving events Of late yes
terday and the White House call this
morning by the Americans there was
no doubt but that the security clause,
at least as embodied in the last French
proposal, had been thrown into the
discard.
There was much running in and out
of the meetings yesterday between the
subcommittees of the French and
American bodies. The sessions yes
terday started with the meeting of the
American commission as a whole about
10 o'clock. Promptly at noon a SUBJ
committee of the American commits
sion, consisting of Secretaries Mellon
and Hoover. Senator Smoot and Repre-.
sentative Crisp, met a committee Of
similar size from the French commits
sion, headed by NJ. Caillaux. After
about an hour in conference they ad-
journed for lunch.
Security Is Discussed.
At 3:12 o'clock the two subcomnit-
tees reconvened. At $50 the French
left the conference rooms and went
room to Secretary Melons private Of
flee nearby. Several minutes later
they went back with the Americans
again, and at 4 minutes after o'clock
they departed for the afternoon.
1t was some time later before the
Americans adjourned.
Exactly what happened during these
sessions has not come to light, but 1t
was intimated that the security clause
had been seriously discussed and that
there had been much talk over the
whole French offer.
When the Americans finally emerged
one member of the commission an
nounced that the subcommittee had
been authorized to call on President
Coolidge this morning, but when
pressed for an explanation from an
observer who thought at that time
that perhaps the agreement had been
tentatively reached and was to be sub
mitted to the President for his ap-
proval, there was no definite enlight-
eminent forthcoming.
Hopeful Impression Given.
The cryptic answer was given that
this would be in accordance with gen.
eral procedure for the group to call
preted at the time in the absence of
any information to the contrary that
perhaps the agreement to all intents
and purposes had been closed. Later
in the evening, at the French en-
bassy, a spokesman for the French,
who was not M. Caillaux, gave out a
hopeful impression which was inter
preted by various attendants at the
conference. The terms of the French
offer were revealed by this spokesman.
The position taken by the American
commission rejecting Frances offer
was interpreted as having the entire
approval of President Coolidge, as the
Americans had seen him but a few
minutes before 1t was issued.
What the President said to the COM
missioners was guarded by all ap-
preached, but 1t Is known that the
Chief Executive has not only been
in conference with his debt commits.
sion, but with members of Congress
outside the commission who have been
giving him their views in no uncer-
tain terms. The active interest of
Senator Borah, chairman of the Sen
ate committee on foreign relations, in
the French debt parley looms over the
negotiations as an indicator Of the
power Of Congress, which is constant
ly being kept in mind by the Amer
ican commission.
Should the American commission