The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-05-04

the taunts of certain Americans of Ger
lin that as soon as the Wilson admins
tration passed out of power, President
Harding would prove himself the friend
of Germany as opposed TO the allies, has
taken occasion to remove any doubt con-
corning the administration pro-alley
stand. SO determined is the United
States to range itself alongside the al
lies in the reparation controversy, that
the White house has again and again
asked the press to emphasize the point.
Note Unexpected.
The decision of the American govern
ment not to forward the German prOpoS-
ais is exactly what has been expected and
confirms the information contained in
these dispatches a week ago even before
the text of the German note was pub
liShed in Berlin. The Washington gov
eminent from the beginning has had no
doubt that the German offer was unac-
ceptable and though there was a brief
period when it was considered good pol
icy for officials to deny they had been adj
vised of the allied viewpoint, a move
taken to gain time in sizing up the sit
uatiou itself. the ambassadors of the for
eign governments never had any doubt
of the ultimate step which America would
take
The new development really is the de-
ciSiou to return the German note AN
answered and the notification to Germany
10 conduct her negotiations with the al
lies direct. This refusal on the part OF
the United States to act either as an um-
pire or mediator or even a messenger
of communication pleaSeS the allies more
than they dare publicly express. They
do not want to read into the American
action more than is apparent on the face
but it is a fact that there is more hope
of allied solidarity al the present time
than when Germany began her efforts t.
drive wedge between the United States
and her" associates in the war.
May Hasten Settlement.
Baked by the United States. the Ger
mans must after all deal with the al
| lies. The viewpoint here is that the
| American governments attitude will
| hasten rather than retard a settlement foI
| it will convince Germany that further ne
gotiation or parlcying is out of the ques.
| ton.
The President took a deep interest in
| the phFaSeOlOgy of the note to Germany
and the communication may be said e
represent a unanimous agreement inside
| the cabinet. The move has another sig,
niticance; it means that the United
| States is unwilling to discuss at this
| time. the merits of the separations con
trOyersy and that all expressions purpOrt
] ing to put the American government in
| the position of taking sides are unauthor-
| lied. The Washington government has
| views of its own as TO how much Ger
many should pay and as to the wisdom
| Of drastic measures but these opinions
will not be volunteered at this time
The Hughes note is one of the short
est on record. Since it is in line with
the desire of the Harding administration
to keep hands off European affairs, it
DeaseS the "irreconcilable" elements in
the senate, who, by the way, are on top
| these days. 1t disappoints to some ex-
/ tent those who believed American lead
ership might have interviewed to bring the
! Germans and allies together The in
| "istcnce of the French. however. that
physical coercion will solve the situation
| has been the dominant factor in the
whole business. Since the British and
| French have not been in entire accord
| the American government was unwilling
to add further fuel to the flames by sid.
! ing with the British as against the
| French. On the other hand. the decision
| to give the Germans a week or more with.
in which to frame new proposals meets
with favor here. because of the conviction
that Germany will at last see the hand
writing on the wall and bow to the inev-
| liable.