Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-04-28
LILIES TO REJECT
HUNS NEW OFFER
AND MOVE TROOPS
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

LA AL 6x@ w &SA@NN-
Leased Wire Service to The Journal.)
Copyright, 1921
WASHINGTON, April 26.-Great
ritain and France will refuse to
fcept the new German proposal for
e payment of war indemnity.
Although the United States govern
ent has not yet officially transmit
d the German note to the allies.
$mplete copies OF the document are
the hands of Prime Minister Lloyd
eorge and Premier BRAND.
Both the French and the British
<gard the proposal as unacceptable
Id as simply a disingenuous way of
bening the treaty of Versailles with
e United States as a party in the
ansaction.
Analysis of the German note al
hdy has been made in London ard
iris and our own diplomatic rep
sentative abroad know in a general
" how the allies feel about it.
THE new proposal differs from all
lat have preceded in that it appar-
tly meets the sums asked by the
lies, but under such conditions as
make it impossible from the allied
ewpoint to collect the amounts
omised.
New Angle
The Germans, for example, COM
etely wipe the slate clean of all
opositions previously made and ap-
bach the subject from a new angle
asking that all occupied armies
withdrawn and that when the re-
ration amount is definitely fixed
ht there shall be no more sane
Bns" or penalties. This would
pan the abrogation of that clause of
e Versailles treaty, for instance.
hich provides for allied occupation
the Saar Basin for fifteen years.
Both the French and British gov
hments realize the critical posi-
Pn in which the United Sta teS has
EN- placed by the attempt of Ger
my to use President Harding as
mediator. The allies feel that in
stice to America they should in
IN Washington in advance of their
ews on the German proposals so
Rt President Harding will not fall
etim to the German plan of rang
hg America against the allies in
ZCdratlon controversy
Will Get Allied view
before President Harding or Sec
larry Hughes actually consider a
lIfSe of action, the French and
ftish view will have been given
I'm. Within the next twenty-four
hrs they will have the full details
the allied position.
rhe German proposal starts out
IN expressions of good will and a
be of hopefulness that America
~ help solve the problem. Con
tely the Germans admit a liability
the allies of fifty billion gold
|rks or approximately ten billion
lars. They, of course, cannot pay
b sum at present, so they propose
&erred payments extending. over a
mod of forty years. With inter-
accommodating this would make
hdred billion gold marks or APP
Ultimately forty billion dollars. To
let this situation. the Germans pro-
be a world loan
Another Cause of Indignation
Another thing, However, in the new
bposal which has aroused the in
nation of the allies is the sug-
stion that German industries be
! mitted to restore the devastated
"a of France under a contract be-
Zen those Industries and the Ger
IN government. In other words.
rmany would at once give her bus
ss a huge order which would
an quick restoration of German
ustry and would prevent the re-
ration of French industry. 1t
+ uld give the Germans promptly a
lived export trade which would be
splendid basis for her own re-
Instruction. If there is any re-
BRING to be done with German
kney, that money ought, in the
wpoint of the French government,
o French firms as means OF
ouraging French industry.
The term "fatuous" is applied by
allies to these suggestions from
rmany and America will have no
ubt where the allies stand when
eir viewpoint is solicited by Secre-
~ Hughes either formally or in
finally.
&The French and British see in the
Nv German proposal an attempt to
yeigle President Harding into the
of negotiator The last para
hph of the German document, for
stance, is a confession that the
rmans themselves know the repa
ion proposal Will be unaccepta Die,
they ask the American president
feel free to make any suggestions
any notifications which he may
sire IN the interest of a world set
ment.
Huns Must Accept
XThe Germans appeal to Mr.. Har-
#hg in way that they believe also
III appeal to American public opin-
when the text of the note is pub
he'd. But the allies believe the
tied States cannot act merely as
means of transmission and keep
pm commenting on the proposals.
e French and British would like to
. America express viewpoint that
81 discourage the German theories
friction between the United States
ID her associates in the war. 1t
uId not be surprising if the change
the situation did not cause the
stponement of action on the Knox
solution.
Briefly, the French and British do
It regard the new German note as
serious indemnity proposal at all,
It a cunning attempt to reopen ne
Nations for a modification of terms
the entire Versailles treaty with
proposal made under the impression
ht President Harding is friendly to
CHI a revision and that the allies
hnot afford to turn down Mr.. Har-
his suggestions. But the Germans
mistaken. The policy of allied
idarity already has been proclaim
and the United States will give
moral support to the allies in
reparation controversy. The Ger
ms must accept the allied proposals