The Washington herald., 1921-04-02
Government Holds Teu-
tons Responsible; Will
Support Allies.
AMERICAS POSITION
PRAISED BY VIvIANI
Attitude Unchanged on
Taking Part in League
of Nations.
ny ARrHUR SEARS HENNING.

ny hHIHtH sEANs HBNNING.
The United States holds Germany
responsible for the war and will
insist that Germany make all the
yeparstion in its power for the dew
astation and sufferinGs Of innocent
peoples wrought by it's incxcusable
act OF aggression. This is the atti-
tude OF President Harding and his
administration authoritatively made
known yesterday. Presumably IL
was communicated to former Pre-
mier Niyiani, OF France, in his talk
with Secretary Of State Hughes, il
not during his audience with the
! President.
/ To say that NJ Viviani is pleased
over this voluntary exposition Of
the governments position is putting
it mildly. Seen by the correspond
ent. he expressed himself as being
greatly moved by the typicslly Wig
orous and straightforward American
pronouncemenL While this is graft
flying in the highest degree. he said,
il is not a real surprise. as il stands
| on sll-fours with what he had 90
far learned in his attempt TO pre-
sent the cause and plight of France
NJ. Niviani said IL shows that Amer
lea has the most intelligent grasp
Of. and a deep, sympathetic interest
in, the European situation as seen
from the allied viewpoint. IL shows.
he added. that America is still keep
4 L.. l. "a. n
and that America is not leaving
| France in the lurch.
Will Demand Payment.
Whatever peace program the sd-
ministration evolves is to be made
I consistent with this fundamental
| declaration. The United States will
do nothing that would permit Ger
| many TO escape fun responsibility
for the war.
Germany. moreover. the adminis-
tration holds, must admit response
bility for the war and must be COM
| PEELED to pay damages to the full
! extent of It's ability as determined
| in a fair and just manner
Any suspicion in any quarter that
| the United States. after spending its
blood and treasure in the war. would
do or say aught that would enable
Germany to escape fulfllment of It's
| just obligations to the victims OF
aggression is not only absurd but
distinctly repugnant to the admins
! tration.
This is the answer OF the admin
istration to the fears entertained
among the allies that the United
States contemplates a course OF ac-
tion which would encourage Ger
many TO resist the payment Of rep
arations and to German hopes thst
the United States can be relied upon
to help Germany escape paying the
penalty for causing the war.
Amount Not Questioned.
Whether the reparatious cNactcd
| of Germany by the allies under the
| terms Of the Versailles treaty are
more than Germany H. able TO pay
and whether these reparations have
| been determined in a fair and Just
manner are questions upon which
the administration is not stating It's
| position at this time. Presumably
| these are matters which viii he
| dealt with IL occasion should arise.
That the Presidents attitude as
TO Germany's responsibility for the
/ war, however. means the adminis-
1
| Of the allies as TO the continued
participating of the United States in
| European affairs does not follow.
The ratification OF the Versailles
treaty even with such notifications
| as were embodied in the Lodge res
| ervations is now out OF the qucr-
tion. The administration would not
| accept the treaty unless IL were
much more radically revised.
Position Unchanged.
The President in his inauguration
address declared against the entan-
/ clement of the United States in Eu-
ropean affairs and any peace that
is made must meet this test. II
the allies were willing to revise
the treaty TO the satisfaction Of the
| United States the way would be
| opened for direct indorSemr mt Of the
! terms imposed on Germany.
Such Endorsement would also be
made possible by ratification OF the
treaty with reservations OF nom
acceptance of provisions Of which,
the United States disspproves.
a third method would be a scp-
arate peace with Germany for which
the, Knox resolution IL proposed to
pave the way. II this alternative
should be adopted the aGministra-
tion presumably would require that
| Germany in such a treaty admit re-
4 sponsibility for the war and agree
to make reparstions.
What was disclosed Of the sd-
ministrston attitude yesterday does
| not indicate any weakening of dis
approval of the present League OF
Nations. II was noted as significant
that a concurrent development was
the announcement OF the appSint-
ment of George Harvey. a league
! irreconcilable. 20 be Ambassador 70