The Washington herald., 1921-04-06
GERMANY GETS
mo Help HERE,
SIMONDS SAYS
Thinks Sec. Hughes Note
Clears Doubts of u. s.
Faith to Allies.
INSISTS ON TEUTON.
PAYMENT FOR WAR
Message Dispatched Be-
fore Viviani Arrived
In Washington.
BIZ FRANK H. sIMoNDs.

In estimating the significance OF
Secretary Hughes communication
TO Germany the initial and perhaps
the most important circumstance Is
temporal. Thus. although the pres
ence Of NJ. viviani in Washington
suggests that the first clear cut
declaration OF American policy to-
ward our allies and enemy Of the
war made by the new administra-
ton Is a result Of the viviani visit.
the fact Is that the note was sent
to Berlin before the distinguished
Frenchman reached the Capital and
would have been sent in any event.
The fact Is this: President Hard
ing took office at the very moment
when the breakup of the London
conference produced a crisis be-
tween Germany and her European
conquerors of the gravest sort. II
was plain to Secretary Hughes that
one of the possible reasons for the
German denanse was the expecta-
tion Of American support and the
false Interpretation of American
failure to ratify the treaty of Ver-
sailles as disapproval of the terms
affecting Germany. That Germany
hoped to use the United States as
a basis for further resistance was
patent.
Statement Needed.
Accordingly 1t became at once q
question for the President and the
Secretary Of State when and how
some utterance could be made
which would destroy this totally
false conception of American opin-
ion. ofieial and unofficial. For the
new administration was quite clear
in its own mind and with respect
of the country's mind that the
great majority Of Americans recog-
nized Germany as responsible for
the war and In addition to moral
guilt liable legally up to the limit
of possible payment.
Thus, the German communication
through Mr.. Dresel in Berlin opened
the way for the swift and decisive
response OF our State Department.
which clearly indicated that Ger
many had nothing to expect In the
way of American assistance in re-
sisting allied claims and not the
smallest sympathy in her argu-
ments about mutual responsibility
for the war and its destruction.
The fact that N. Viviani was on
his way to Washington, at the mo-
ment. gave greater publicity to the
American gesture, but 1t was a case
Of coincidence.
No Doubt Expressed.
Now, examining the American
note in the light of the known facts
about the spirit of the State De-
parment. what does IL mean? Much
comment has been excited over the
repetition in the note of the IA
miliar language that holds Germany
responsible up to the limits of pos
sibility for reparation. Does this
mean that there is doubt in our
State Department as to the reason
ableness of the demands made by
the allies at London. demands which
the Germans repslsed defiantly, thus
inviting fresh occupation of Ger
man lands2
] do not think so. On the con-
trary, the evidence suggests clearly
that the idea of the State Depart
ment was to suggest that German
submission was a necessary first
step: that Germany must abandon
new proposals: that no question of
reasonableness could be raised while
Germany was challenging not the
amount of the bill, but primarily
her liability to any bill. Here was
bit of frank advice to the Ger
mans to go back to their debtors
and propose terms which might be
accepted. Here was plain adver-
tisement of the fact that any idea
America intended to intervene to
urge a reduction of the reparations
in advance of German submission
was prepostsrous. b,
Leaves United states Free.
On the other hand. like the care
full lawyer that he is. Mr. Hughes
did not compromise the future po-
sition Of the United States by any
declaration on an issue not yet
properly raised. II a time were to
come when American opinion were
invited not by Germany, but by our
former associates, on the question
OF the reasonableness of a bill
which Germany had already accept
ed in principle; IL a time were to
come when American economic in
terests were concerned-as thew ac-
tually are at all times-with a set
Element Of the European mess, the
State Department. the government.
would still be free to take the mat
ter up.
In effect Mr.. Hughes has served
notice on the Germans that they
must come in and\face the music
or take the, consequences without
the smallest chance of American
assistance or the smallest hope of
an American protest. He has indi-
Gated that the United States be-
lieyes Germany should pay and
pay up to the limit. More than
this, he has bIuntly intimated that
II Il not for Germany to Ak that
limit What the limit is he does
not pretend to say. Doubtless he
could ind in American finance
testimony OF sufficient value II |
the allies and not Germany sought
American opinion But the allies
have not asked. nor has Germany
taken the irst step. which Is SUBJ
mission.
vfvis.f's Pesitisn.
And what Of n. yiviani in all
this7 Assuming that the former
French premier came here solely
10 discover American purpose with
CONTINUED on PAGE nm.