The Colorado statesman., 1921-04-23
HARDING TURNS DOWN REQUEST
TO INTERVENE BETWEEN
GERMANY AND ALLIES.
REFUSE GERMAN FLEA
BERLIN GOVERNMENT DECLARES
ITSELF READY TO ACCEPT
AMERICAS TERMS.
cw,,t,ru Ns-.p.psr Union New. ssrIes.l

Washington, April 22.-The Ameri-
can government has refused an urgent
request of the German government that
President Harding mediate the ques-
ton of reparations between Germany
and the allies and fix the sum Ger
many is to pay.
The United States agreed, however,
that IL the German government would
formulate promptly such proposals re-
garding reparations las would present
a proper basis for discussion 1t would
consider bringing the matter to the
attention of the allied governments In
n manner acceptable TO them in order
that negotiations may be speedily
resumed ..4-..-.
Germany's appeal, signed by Chan
cellor Fehrenbach and Foreign Minis
ter Simons, was directed to President
Harding 1t was answered by Secre-
tary Hughes after a conference with
the President.
The texts of both the appeal and
the reply have been made public. The
communication from Berlin said the
German government was ready ana
willing" to agree without qualifica-
ton or reservation" to pay such sum
as the President might find just and
right and ito fulfill, in letter and
spirit, all the provisions of any award
that may be made by him."
In reply, Secretary Hughes said !:
This government could not agree to
mediate the question of reparatlohs
with view to acting as umpire In It's
settlement. Impressed, however, with
the seriousness of the issues involved
as they affect the world, the United
States feels itself deeply concerned
with the question of obtaining an early
and just solution.
This government strongly desires
that there should be an immediate re-
sumption of negotiations, and relter-
ates its earnest hope that the German
| government will formulate such pro-
| posals as would present proper basis
for discussion Should the German
government take this course this gov
ernment will consider bringing the mat
ter to the attention of the allied gov
| ernments in manner acceptable TO
them in order that negotiations may
speedily be resumed.
Germany's appeal was regarded here
rs remarkable. 1t was pointed out
that it was directed to the head of n
nation with which Germany still is
technically at war and which mas
troops on its soil. Reference to the
state of war was made in the German
communication, the chancellor and for
eign minister declaring that notwith-
standing this they petitioned the Pres
| ident lin the name of the German gov
ernment and German people" with
"the confident hope" that the appeal
would be granted
Germany has until May to meet the
| allies demands that the first Install
ment in cash on the reparations bill be
paid. Premiers Lloyd George of Great
| Britain and BRAND of France are to
meet in England to discuss measures
| to be taken if Germany fails to meet
| the demands. 1t has been reported
France would insist on the occupation
of additional territory and other pen
Mites in the event of failure to comply.
What steps Germany has taken to
meet the demands or to what extent
new reparations proposals have been
prepared are not known here. From
| the urgent nature of the German ap-
peal it was the belief of some officials
and diplomats that the Berlin govern
| ment found itself in an extreme posi-
ton.