We have written in a leading article about the con-
versations at Lugano in regard to Reparations and the evacuation of the Rhineland. Evacuation seems to be no nearer. The really troublesome dispute, in which Great Britain takes little interest, but with which France is deeply concerned, is about the proposed Committee of Verification and Conciliation. So far as we can gather, France desires that this Committee should stay indefinitely in the Rhineland after the troops have been withdrawn, nominally to conciliate, but substantially to supervise the demilitarized zone and see that it remains really demilitarized. Other conditions for evacuation are spoken of in France—such as the repudiation by Germany of any intention to join up with Austria, and a permanent guarantee that Germany will leave the Polish Frontier undisturbed.
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