News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1921-04-27
HARDING REFUSES
CERMANYS PLEA
Mediation Rejected, but Way Left
Open for Germans to Use
Americas Good Offices.
WILL NOT BE THE UMPIRE.
Refuses to Fix Sum Germany Must
Pay-Note Pledged German Gov
ernment's Acceptance of Award.
Asks Leave to Submit Case.

Washington.-Th Republic of Ger
many, in an appeal received at the
State Department, asked President
! Harding to set the amount of repara-
tons Germany should pay and to "se-
cure the consent Of the allied powers
| to such mediation"
In reply Immediately dispatched
over the signature of Secretary Of
State Hughes, Germany was sympa-
tAetically informed that the United
States could not agree to such a course.
Americas reply TO Germanys pro-
posal follows much the same lines as
Secretary Hughes recent communica-
ton to Berlin with reference to the
whole subject of PREPARATIONS.
The second note, however, is even
more emphatic in Indicating the belief
Of this government that the demands
upon Germany have been incapable Of
IfulHLlment, whereas in the first note
Secretary Hughes no more than indi-
Gated that this government would well
tome reopening OF the entire matter.
In the second communication lie de-
clares that this government strongly
desires that there should be an imIne-
date resumption Of negotiations"
The following is the text of the Ger
man memorandum, delivered to the
American commissioner at Berlin for
transmission to the State Department:
Berlin, April 20, 1921.
In the name of the German govern
ment and the German people, the I'M
dersigned, Notwithstanding the still eX-
listing technical state Of war, respect
fully petition the President Of the Unit
ed States Of Al4egica to mediate tie
repalation question and to fix the SUI
to be paid by Germany to the AlliL
powers and do eagerly urge him to Sc
cure the consent Of the Allied powers
to such mediation. They solemnly de
clare that the German government is
ready and willing to agree, without
qualification or reservation, to pay to
the Allied powers, as reparation, such
sums as the President after eXamna-
ton and investigation, may find just
and right. They formally pledge them
selves to fulfill in letter and spirit all
the provisions Of any award tl-at may
be made by him.
with abiding faith in the right
eOusness of this request, and With un-
denable sincerity of purpose, the Ger
man people, through their constituted
government, submit their appeal to the
President Of the United States with
the confident hope that it be granted,
to the end that Il final award HAY be
made in accordance with right and JUS
tice to meet tie heartfelt wishes Of
all civilized nations, to avoid the i'm
measurable consequences Of imminent
coercive measures and to promote the
peace of the world
"FEHRENBACH,
'SIMONS."
Americas RepuIy
The following is the text of the re-
ply of the Secretary of State forward
ed through. the American Commission
er at Berlin:
April q, 1921.
This government could not agree to
mediate the question of Preparations
with view to acting as umpire in it's
Impressed, however, with
the seriousness of the issues involved
as they affect the whole world, the
government of the United States feels
Itself to be deeply concerned with the
question of obtaining an early and Just
This government strongly
lesires that there should be an imme-
late resumption of negotiations and
'eiterates' its earnest hope that the
German government will promptly
formulate such proposals rs would
present a proper basis for discussion.
Should the German government take
his course, THIS government VIII con-
ider bringing the matter to tie atten-
ion Of the allied governments in q
manner acceptable to, them in order
hat negotiations may be speedily re-
umed."