New-York tribune., 1920-05-01
Wilson to Ask
Milder Polic cy
Toward Berlin
President Said To Be About
to Suggest Cooperation
as Substitute for Stern.
ness to Enforce Treaty
Political Motive Charge ed
Republicans Link Proposed
Move With Difficulties
Faced by Administration

From The Trijune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, April 30.-Indicai
tlons that President Wilson may be
contemplating taking the lead in sug-
gesting new and milder policy on the
part of the Allied Powers toward Ger
many were apparent to-day in Admin
istration circles.
Such proposal, it was intimated
would take the form OF plan of more
thorough cooperation with the German
government, as substitute for meas
ures of military enforcement of the
treaty terms, and might even include a
suggested basis for reduction in size
if not a withdrawal, of the armies of
occupation.
Recent reports reaching the Ameri-
can government through official chan
nels, it was stated, showed an increas-
ing degree of inertia or of reckless de-
spair on the part of the German people
in many sections of the former empire
This fact, it was declared, may have
a significant bearing on the extent to
which the Allies, under their present
policy, may look for compliance with
the treaty terms, particularly with re
spect to the reparatiOn clauses.
Spur to Bolshevism Feared
As officials of the Administration
see it, the problem facing the Allies or
treaty enforcement presents more and
moro the choice between policy OF
aggressiveness and sternness or one
of cooperation. Apparently the Admin.
istration would prefer policy of CO
operation, feeling that in the present
temper of the German people q policy
of harshness might easily lead to Boil
shevism and anarchy instead of restor-
ing normal conditions and rendering
the Germans capable of paying thei,
treaty debts.
these quarters, it would not be sur
prising to members of the Presidents
official family if before long he
should undertake to lead the other
powers in a change of policy. While it
was stated by one official that the
question of withdrawing the American
army of occupation is not under i'm
mediate consideration, he added that
it was inconceivable that the Allied
armies "should continue indefinitely
acting as policemen and sheriffs in
Germany" Furthermore, he declared
there was "the matter of expense tC
be considered"
Political Angle Discerned
The suggestion as to such action by
the Administration provoked consider
able interest in Republican Senate
circles, where there was a dispositi or
to connect the suggestion with the
political difficulties facing the Admin
istration at this time and the rumoreC
uneasiness of some of the Democratic
leaders over the manner in which the
German voters are refusing to respond
to the idea that the President at the
peace conference was Germany's FRIEND
at court.
Among Republicans it was noted that
en- several recent occasions Secretary
OF State Colby and other advisers OF
the President have been in attendance
at dinner parties with Homer Cum
mings, chairman of the Democratic
National Committee, and other leaders
of the party; and that the politica
reports from Nebraska had indicated
that at the primaries in that state las
week numbers of German voters swal
lowed their distaste Of prohibition ane
voted for Bryan. simply as a means o
manifesting their dislike of the ad
ministration.