New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-05-01
Germany Kills
Chance of L. S.
SendingPleaOn
<continued from paso ons)

cent German offer became clear and
specific, would ask the Germans to
make changes SO as to bring the Allies
and Germans within Mailing distance
SO that hope might be entertained that
they would sit down to conference
with some possibility of agreement.
Officials of the Harding Administra-
ton, however, especially in the last
two days, as described in The Tribune
this morning. have revealed their SEN
sitiveness to the fear that they might
be regarded as acting as attorneys or
representatives of Germany in this dis
cussion and the strong probability is
that II reply is made to the Germans
Its language will be less favorable to
their side of the argument than the
two previous memoranda.
Certainly nothing will be said, as
the situation is viewed tonight, that
will indicate stronger belief that the
PREPARATIONS demands of the Allies
should be pared down than the sem
tence of the first Hughes memorandum
which referred to satisfying the, Gust"
claims of the Allies and also stated
permit Germany Hopefully to renew
her productive activities"
The next step, in all events, depends
upon the outcome of to-day's meeting
at London, or perhaps of the meetings
which began to-day. In view of the
constant reiteraton by Administration
spokesman of the promise that this
country will not taRe any step which
will embarrass the Allies, it is thought
the State Department will shape it's
future actions in accordance with the
outcome Of this conference of the
Allies.
Wish Germany to Live
This government has made clear to
the Allies it's conviction that the repa-
ration terms should be fixed with a
view not of crushing Germany, but
of permitting her to pay as much as
possible. This idea, as set forth in The
Tribune this morning, has been ex-
planned at length, it is said, to the
various representatives of the Allies in
Washington by Secretary Hughes. The
point of disagreement between the
United States government and the
French and Belgians, it is understood,
is that the French and Belgians pro-
TESS to believe that the amount which
the Germans can be made to pay is
vastly in excess of what the Americans
and British believe can be extracted.
However. it has been growing in
creasingly clear that there is not much
possibility of revamping the latest Ger
man proposals into satisfactory shape.
It has been rather generally realized
that the German proposals were, in
fact. very much less. and contained
conditions to which at first insufficient
Importance was attached, making them
less acceptable than at first was sus-
pected.
1t German proposals are to be con-
sldered seriously. therefore, it is be-
lieved here tonight. there must be an
entirely fresh set, very much more
liberal than the ones which the French
and Belgians have fatty rejected, and
which Lloyd George told the House of
Commons would not do.
1t is suggested that if the Allied
conference which began in London to-
day, does not work out something tam
gible, this government may again play
part. Even if tho French should
meanwhile occupy the Ruhr coal fields.
as is expected they will in a few DAYS
this does not end hope of negotiations.
as the French themselves have pointed
out, SO that this governmet, it is said.
may send another memorandum to Ber-
lin to be read to the Foreign Office
by the American commissioner, always
provided that the Allied conference
does not agree on some definite pro-
gram. This new note, it is thought.
may point out the weakness Of the Ia st
German proposals and earnestly sue-
gest that the Germans make an offer
which the Allies can readily consider.
This suggestion. reinforced by the
action OF the French in the mean time
OF cutting off the supply of coal from
German Industries. may result in a
German attitude intended more to
bring about an agreement than to stir