C. E. HUGHES ANNOYED

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 108, 3 November 1923, Page 7

C. E. HUGHES ANNOYED

POINCARE'S RESERVATIONS

REPARATIONS CONFERENCE' IN JEOPARDY.

(UNITED PEEBS ASSOCIATION.—COPSRIGBI.)

(AUSTRALIAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

WASHINGTON, Ist November.

M. Poincare's speech at Nevers today appears to have broken Mr. Hughes's equanimity. Mr. Hughes, since the week-end, has silently t.ccepted M. Poincare's various utterances limiting the effectiveness of die expert committee. The State Department has also taken pains on several occasions to* correct statements that the French attitude was unsatisfactory, but M. Poincare's latest utterance is considered incompatible with the conditions indicated in the Huehe--Ciirzon correspondence. My. Kuglies intimates that 'the United States will refuse to become involved in an abortive investigation, and he fears that M. 'Poincave's conditions ■will tend to that result.

Officials still hope that France will not block the proposed investigations. It is telt tuat France can never expect to secure any reparations if the present status continues, while Germany can be expected to begin payments after the experts act.

It is increasingly evident that the J 6 ™ -nForelgn Office's interpretations of M. Foincare's remarks at Nevers have shocked and surprised official Washington. Officials here believed that M. Poincare had accepted the expert committee plan, the enly reservation being with regard to French rights under the Versailles Treaty and an insistence that the commit!e/func tion under the Reparations Commission J.O what extent .these limitations on the scope of t,ie inquiry will influence American part lc ipation is not indicated, but officials regard any plan not providing for a full examination of Uermany s capacity to pay as an abortive effort. The United States does not share the view attributed to M Poincare that Germany's debts are nxed and unchangeable.