New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-23
U. S. to Act
With Allied
No Step Will Be Taken in
Indemnity Matter With
out Approval; Berlin
Course Is Held Hopeful
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON, April Every
step BY this government in helping to
Drlng about an agreement on German
reparations, and through that agree
ment restoration of Europe to norl
NAL activities, will be made only with
the approval of the Allies. This was
made clear in high quarter to-day
despite constant assertions that the
memorandum spoke for itself and Of
fetal refusal either to amplify it or
to discuss possibilities which might
arise under it.
Intense satisfaction was manifested.
despite the official silence. at the
cables from Berlin regarding the
speech Of Foreign Minister simons in
the Reichstag. There is strong hope
here now that the German government
will follow the course urged by the
Harding Administration in both the
memorandum dispatched last night and
in that sent previously, and will make
immediate proposals for new nepotia-
t!ons regarding the fixing Of repars-
tions.
Dispatches from Berlin that DR..
Slmons is taking strong position in
favor not only of making new repara-
tions proposals, but of going to the
extreme limits of what Germany can
pay in doing so have inspired hope
even among those most skeptical that
the German Foreign Office was merely
entering into a new note writing series.
Pessimism Is Shattered
Some of the Doubling Thomases to-
day even began wondering with what
grim humor Woodrow Wilson, living as
private citizen but critical observer,
endless procession of notes, always
seeming to get somewhere but then
Immediately developing into another
crisis. This fear, which had begun to
be rather general here, was largely
inspired by the eagerness with which
the German diplomats seized on the
line of the first memorandum indicat-
ing that this government thought the
amount of reparations too large, and
professed willingness to permit Presi-
dent Harding to fix the amount they
would pay, obligating themselves in ad-
vance to pay whatever he thought right
and just.
The word from Berlin tonight, how
ever, caused strong reaction from
the slight pessimism about the general
situation. The Germans seem about to
follow what was hoped and believed
was the most likely of the courses open
to them, as pointed out in the Wash
ington dispatches Of The Tribune this
morning. They are apparently going to
make new set of proposals on which
further negotiations over the amount
to be paid may be held.
h =
tonight is what this government pro-
poses to do if the Germans should send
proposals to the Allies, through Wash
ington, which the Allies may consider
so far below what ought to be paid
that they will refuse to consider them
at all.
Negotiations Seem Necessary
eve will cross that bridge when we
come to it," very high official said
when questioned on this point. He hur-
ried on to Indicate, however, that this
government would do nothing which
did not meet the approval of the Allies.
The real expectancy of the Admins
tration is that the new proposals of
Germany will be very sweeping in
terms, but very general, so that ne
order to find out what they really ex-
pect to pay or to promise to pay.
This is theory, because it is felt that
now the German Foreign Office must
realize that this government. in the
event that no satisfactory offer comes
from the Germans, and therefore no
negotiations are begun. with the Allies
prior to May i. will give its moral sup
port at least to the French in their
movement of troops further into Ger
many.
The point is that while this govern
ment infinitely prefers a peaceful set
tlement of the reparations questions
to a further occupation of Germany
by French troops, and to other meas
Continued on next pase)