New-York tribune., 1921-04-23
u. S. Rejection
OF Berlin Plea
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nication indicates that the United
States will not continue the conversa-
tions with Germany on this subject ex-
cept in accord with the Allies. Secre-
tary OF State Hughes is understood in
authoritative quarters here to have as
sured Ambassador Jusserand to this
effect.
The Temps, commenting on the rcply
Of the, United States, says; y
"One truth overshadows all in the
exchange Of the German and American
notes. If the German government were
ready to bring forth acceptable PRO-
posals. it would not make detour by
way of Washington. 1t would submit
directly its offers to the Reparations
Commission before the total German
debt is fixed md the mode Of payments
decided upon.
"The invitation of the United States
for Germany to formulate acceptable
proposals is impossible for the Simons
government, in view of the last two
years Of odious propaganda, in which
DR.. Simons himself helped by his Feb
ruary speeches and by preaching to the
German people that they are not re-
sponsible for the war, that they owe
nothing and that they have not been
vanquished. If the Fchrenbach~ ~Simons
government attempted now to back
water and formulate just and equitable
propositions it would be carried away
in the flood OF lies and hatred which it
has helped to accumulate.
Must Have Guarantees
Before Germany can subscribe to
acceptable undertakings, the German
people themselves must realize their
position and their duty. Words will
not suffice. We must have--in fact,
we demand-guarantie The United
States government, which loves peace
and is desirous of bringing the crisis
to an end, is trying to encourage Ger
many to change it's mentality That
is why it is not simply refusing to
mediate, but offers to Germany to
"The American reply contains three
fundamental ideas: First, the United
States refuse to act as mediator; sec
ond, they invite Germany to make ac-
ceptable proposals, and, third, they
will eventually transmit to the Allies
such acceptable proposals in order that
direct negotiations may be resumed.
THE first part is the most important,
as the United States refuses to tear up
an essential stipulation of the Treaty
Of Versailles, which provides for the
Reparations Commission to fix the
total German debt, which Germany has
invited the United States I'd ignore by
asking President Harding to fix the
amount himself.
The offer to transmit new proposals
was made in the evident desire to be
agreeable to the Allies, and We are
happy to recognize the tact with which
Secretary Hughes drew up this diff
cult paragraph. We shall not insist
upon the Importance which the trans
mission by the United States of Ger
man proposals would assume before
the entire world. No one assuredly can
consider that so great nation, after
the decisive part which it took in the
war would act as simple messenger
and ignore the contents and value of
the essage which it transmits.
Guaranteed by America
German propositions transmitted
by the United States would be. no
tlons guaranteed by the United States.
Such guaranty, if unequivocally formu
lated, would be very advantageous to
Germany's creditors. They might
afterward invoke the assistance of The
United States to bring Germany to
execute during thirty years, perhaps.
undertakings which it assumed through
and under the auspices of the United
States. Is this really the manner In
which the situation lis understood at
Washington? 7" sos ~ "a
The Communist committee last niaff
placarded the walls of Paris with
posters which said that the repara-
tions problem was a problem of the
classes and that the Allies could not
legally claim the German peoples gold