Evening star., 1920-05-20
AMERICAN MAY SIT
| IN MEETING T0F|X
GERMAN INDEMNITY
Question Arises as to Pro-
priety of U. S. Sending
Envoy.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

The United States government may
ing between the allies and Germany
at Spa, where it is expected that a
definite sum will be fixed which the
Germans will Be obligated to pay as
war indemnity.
Although america has not ratified
rhs psacs hssafy. "a = dsn under which the rep
aratfons commission was to determine
the amount Of German Indemnity
and America was specifically desfg-
mated for membership on that COM
mission. question has been raised
here whether it would not be within
the jurisdiction and power of Presi-
dent Wilson to appoint plenipoten-
tiary to sit in at these most impor-
tant meetings.
If. it is contended, the President
could appoint commission to nego-
tfate peace, he can appoint a commits
sion or an envoy to discuss further
with the enemy the working out of
the terms of the armistice. All the
meetings thus far in Europe have been
between the associated powers and
American diplomats have been unof-
fiial "observers,'' without any oppor-
tunity to participate in the discus
sions.
Officials here are getting tired of the
humiliation of having European govern
ment discuss affairs vital to Americas
economic welfare with American rep
resentatives looking in through the
keyhole, as one of the Treasury Off
cials phrased it.
An Important Decision.
Strictly speaking. the President has
an important decision to make in con-
nection with the Spa conference. for
Germany really signed the peace treaty
and consented to the vesting of big
powers in the reparations commission on
the expectation that America would be
a member of that body. The President
asked Senator Lodge to cooperate in
approving the appointment of an Ameri-
can representative for the reparations
commission. but the republican leader
published the Presidents letter and took
no further action.
II would not be surprising to find
the President adverting to this Incl
oent when he returns the treaty
OF versailles to the Senate for action
Cablegrams from abroad within the
last week have told of the various
plans and schemes which are being
concocted abroad to cancel or post
pone the payment of the allied debt
to the United States None of these
plans has the slightest chance of
being accepted by either the execu-
tive branch of the government or
congress. which body must approve
any change in the existing status of
our foreign debt.
But. it is pointed out, the United
States could save the allies considera-
Die time and trouble and many mis-
understandings would be avoided if
the United States could sit down at
a table with the allies and the Ger
ava@
construction of the world. Delay on
the treaty has prevented this thus far.
American Viewpoint Necessary.
1.-The allies must get around to the
American point of view expressed at
the peace conference" said Bernard
NJ. Baruch. head of the American
financial mission, today. "They must
Germany to pay And when that is
fixed you will see a revival of ex-
changes and revival Of production
throughout the world"
Practically the same view was given
the writer by Norman Davis, another
for the United States government. and
who ns assistant secretary of the
Treasury in charge Of foreign loans. ;.
The only way any appreciable
amount can be collected from Ger
many" said Mr.. Davis. ''is to fix a
talize it by issuing obligations"
or course Europe need not expect
America to accept those obligations.
however useful they may be in the
refinancing OF their own debts. For,
as far as the United States is con-
cerned. she looks to France and Eng
land alone to pay the money owed
us and is not at all disturbed by the
absurd suggestions that the United
States should accept German repa-
ration bonds in exchange for the sig
natures and guarantees of the Brit
ish empire and France.
should Establish Amount.
Another thing, the viewpoint ex-
pressed in Treasury quarters here is
that the allies had better fix a rea-
sonable sum for Germany to pay, and
do it quickly. lest the amount that
the Germans finally are able to pay
dwindles by reason Of the very vague.
ness and uncertainty ofsallied policy
Reports to our government from
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