• Last Sunday, for instance, M. Poincare said that -the
Conference must be entirely subordinate to the 1 Reparations Commission, which is now, of course, virtually under French orders and is presided over by a Frenchman. Next, he declared that there must be no reduction in the ridiculous total of £6,600,000,000 demanded front Germany. Lastly, he declared that in any case the Conference could make no difference to the Frencli occupation, and that the Ruhr would be held till the full amount had been paid by Germany. The question may be repeated : Under such conditions what is the use of appointing a Committee at all ? The British Government, however, with great wisdom, as we think, have come to the conclusion that the whole matter will be brought to the test of the world's opinion when once an International Committee has got to work.
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