Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-05-29

nHe striking at the present
time than that supplied by the
i forecasts of the Lausanne Con-
ference. still scheduled to meet
In mid-June. The press of every inter-
ested country in the world supplies the
same testimony to the conviction that
failure is inevitable and that effective
preparation is utterly lacking. But along
with these statements goes the equally
unanimous agreement that the confer
ence must be held
The conference is foredoomed to fail
ure for the simple reason that the i'm
mutable national StandpOintS of the
four great powers who will be the chief
factors are totally irreconcilable
The United States will not be repre-
sented at all because the Hoover ad-
miniStration recognizes correctly that
the present mood of Congress and the
contemporary public opinion of the
country make it impossible for Amer
lean representatives to agree to any
modification of the debt settlements
The Germans, in sense most vitality
concerned, for theirs is the duty to pay
reparationS in the first instance, are re-
solved to pay no more on account CT
war tribute" is their word
for it. They are determined to insist
upon definite wiping out of the whole
obligation. The Bruening cabinet, tot
tering on the brink of collapse, could
hardly survive a decision at Lau-
same which merely postponed present
payments and preserved the whole
structure of reparationS. even with
greatly modified terms. for the future.
The German people do not ask relief
from payments today recognized as i'm
possible. They do not demand an i'm
mediate scaling down of obligations
universally recognized now as impos-
sible. They demand an end, positive
and final.
Want U. S. Present.
The British view is, on the whole, not
quite as clearly defined as the German
or the American. The conviction that
the removal of the whole complicated
structure of war debts and reparationS
is vital and perhaps the vital first
step to world recovery is practically
universal in Britain. On the other hand,
there is the almost equally fixed belief
that the two issues of debts and repara-
tons must be dealt with together and
that the United States must be present
al any really effective conference.
The British recognize the justice of
the French contention that a mere
unilateral reputation by the Germans
of the whole debt obligation is MT de-
feasible either in justice or law. 1t
would establish a precedent for the re-
pudiation of all international agree
Inents by the action of one nation which
found the conditions it had Solemnly
accepted unpleasant or intolerable. But.
on the other hand. they see clearly that
the last chance of Breuning lies in the
possibility of elimination of reparations
ALTOGETHER
True to their national instinct, there
fore. the British seem likely to go to
Lausanne with the hope of finding some
intermediate transaction-which could
hardly fail to take the form of pro-
longation of the moratorium period for
four or five years-leaving to the future.
and particularly to time after the
American presidential election. the ques-
ton of final adjustment. Having agreed
to collect no money from Germany on
account of reparations for this time, the
various European debtors of the United
States might then approach Washington
with request for the extension of the
Hoover moratorium, the application to
be made after the November election
There remains the question of France,
and it is, of course, the most perplexing
of all the aspects of the problem. AS
to the matter of immediate payments,
the French and British are agreed.
There is no question of getting money
now But while the French are there
fore perforce bound to recognize the
justice and necessity of fresh mora
forum, they are acutely concerned with
the terms of this project.
Young Plan Guarded.
Thus just as the Germans are re-
solved to achieve the wiping out of the
whole obligation. the French are de-
termlned to force an arrangement which
leaves all the fundamental structure of
the Young plan intact. And this means
in simple terms that they will take the
same line in respect of any new mora
forum that they did when President
Hoover issued his famous proposal al
most year ago.
France is ready to agree at any time
to the cancellations of the portion of
reparations which provides the neces-
Sary funds to meet the American and
British debts, if in return these debts
are Cancelled. But she is still resolved
to collect from Germany the costs of
the reconstruction of her own devas-
tated area. Since, too she is prepared
to accept such payments not in money
but in klnd-as she has done very
largely in past years-this does not
present any problem of transfer and is
AiOO NS LiOlioIl dDly uIlkJOSSlDl6. But since
the United States is not present at
Lausanne. France will insist upon pre-
serving the whole legal structure, while
agreeing to the temporary relief Incl
dent to fresh moratorium
The strength of the French position
is tWofold: legally nothing can be done
without French consent since France
IS one of the parties to the treaty
financially. France-wtile interested to
an extent above half of the German
reparations payments-is only very
signify concerned with either short or
long term loans to Germany, as Amer
lea and Britain are Thus while the
reduction OF separations will automat-
lcaLy increase German capacity to pay
private loans and thus benefit Britain
and America. 1t must mean reduction nj
french returns from German payments
in 50 far as there is no compensatinp
o2Hceiiatlcn OF war debts. And here
again the French veto power is absolute
1@2nl4ned IN the Light Of the nationa,
theses On the grounds which is the only
possible means CT studying the question
ii Is PLAIN that all Lausanne can do is
give Germany further moratorium
While leaving the structure of the YOUNG
plan intact. But this will not IN any
material measure improve the WORLD
situation either materially or psyche
logically. And even this limited ster
may easily prove worse than useless be-
cause of the repercussions it has with
in Germany.
Today there is not the smallest DOS
sibility of reconciling the minimum OF
German demands with the maximum oil
possible French concessions. And tina,
has been true alike in the matter OF
reparations and Of all other European
questions since the rise of the Hitler
National Socialists in Germany Thu
virtual failure of the Hoover moratorium
and of the conferences in London anc
Paris last Summer was all due to thu
fact that France demanded in return
for any financial concessions precise
,,oliticol conditions