ii FROM THE TREATY TO CONFERENCE OF LONDON 15

extraordinary to relate, having never yet beenarranged, neither during the Peace Conference norafterwards. Defeated in a proposal to invite German representatives to San Remo forthwith, he succeededin carrying a decision to summon them to visit Spain the following month " for the discussion of thepractical application of the Reparation Clauses." Thiswas the first step ; and for the rest the Conferencecontented itself with a Declaration on German Dis-armament. Mr. Lloyd George had had to concedeto M. Millerand that the integrity of the Treaty shouldbe maintained; but speaking in the House of Commons on his return home, he admitted a preference for anot "too literal" interpretation of it.

In May the Premiers met in privacy at Hytheto consider their course at Spa. The notion of thesliding scale, which was to play a great part inthe Paris Decisions and the Second Ultimatumof London, now came definitely on the carpet. ACommittee of Experts was appointed to preparefor examination a scheme by which Germany shouldpay a certain minimum sum each year, supplementedby further sums in accordance with her capacity.This opened the way for new ideas, but no agreementwas yet in sight as to actual figures. Meantime theSpa Conference was put off for a month.

In the following month the Premiers met again atBoulogne (June 21, 1920), this meeting being precededby an informal week-end at Hythe (June 19, 1920).