The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-04-22
us. TOD|RECT
WORLD PEACE
Exchange of Notes With Berlin
Shows America Will Play
Leading Role.
By HARRY L. ROGERS.
International News Service.

The rapid-fire exchange Of memo
randa between the United States
and Germany leaves no doubt. in
the opinion of officials here today,
as to the dominating role this Gov
ernment is about to play in world
politics in general and reparations in
particular.
SETTLEMENT DESIRED.
The German government has lp-
pealed to America to mediate the
question of reparations. which for
many months has remained unsettl ID
| to the detriment of thex world and
Secretary Hughes, in reply which
breaks all records for promptness,
has informed Berlin that, while the
United States couid not act as um-
pire, II strongly desires an immed'-
ate and just settlement, and will un-
dertake to bring the matter to the
| attention OF the allies.
The German people the note states.
"solemnly declares that the German
government. is ready and willing -
agree without qualification or ressr-
walton to pay to the allied powers rs
reparation such sum as the President
after examination ana in stiga tion
may find just and right. They for-
mally pledge themselves to fulfill in
letter and spirit all the provisions Of
any award that may be made by
him"
MAY ACCEPT ADVICE.
II was predicted today that the
Germans would lose no time in COM
plying with that part of Secretary
Hughes communication, which sug-
gests submission of proposals as a
basis OF discussion. Msy is the dat .
set for the final fixing OF indemnities,
and, although there is the possibility
OF postponement, IL is believed that
every effort will be made by the Ber-
lin government to be ready at that
time with a definite program.
That tho terms srggestc.' in tn
German memorandum to the United
states, on April 4. would form tn =
basis of the new proposals was free
ly predicted today, and to a consider
able extent this prediction is borne
out by advices from abroad. In that
communication. Simons, the German
minister of foreign affairs. expressed
the conviction that the German people
as a whole. irrespective of any pos
sible change in government. realizes
Germany must make reparation 60
the limit of her ability to pay" end
IL is also the consensrs o. German
opinion that the prompt rebuilding of
the devastated regions is to the best
interest of Germany.
FIND NOTES REASONABLE.
The Simons note further conceded
the necessity of "the immediate es-
tablishment by Germany OF an actual
sum of cash money. in foreign ex-
change, of important proportions"
and advanced the opinion that such a
sum could be realized only through
establishment of an international
loan. in favor of which the allies
should waive their general first
mortgage.
Germany would be willing, the
minister asserted, to assume the OBJ
legation of the interest and the
amortization of the foreign debts of
the allied and associated powers
within the limit of her capacity"
Secretary Hughes reply to both
this proposal and to the communi-
cation of yesterday is interpreted
here as an indication that the Hard
ing Administration finds nothing pro-
hibitive in the principles thus far
advanced by Germany, and it is ex-
pected that the Berlin government
will now proceed to an elaboration
of those principles.
While the German government ex-
presses in unmistakablc language its
Willingness to abide by any reward
the United States may make, 1t is
pointed out that there has thus far
been no formal indication from the
allies as to how far they would be
willing to leave the matter in the
hands of the Harding Administration.