Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-04-23
GERMANY WILL SUGGEST TO PRESIDENT
HARDING ELASTIC PREPARATIONS TOTAL
TO Be DECIDED BY BOARD Of APPRAISAL
Total Is Believed To Be Larger Than That Fixed At Recent
London ConferenCe-FranCe Opposed To Reconstruction
Plans OF Devastated Regions-Shadow OF America
10y international News Service,


Berlin, April 23.-An elastic "a
arations total TO be decided flel
year TO year by an international
board of appraisal" will be suggest.
ed in Germanys reply to President
Harding which is to be dispatched
to Washington at noon today ana
to be announced in the reichstag
this afternoon. The International
News Service learns that this is
the outstanding feature of the new
proposals finally agreed upon by
the leading German statesmen after
conferences which lasted through
out the night and we'll into this
morning.
\ In the meantime. the tentative
total which Germany will offer to
pay is understood to be far from the
total demanded at the Paris con
ference. but much larger than that
fixed at the rerent London lonfer-
enre. The offer of this tentative
total, it is believed, will be "am-
pitied" by clause providing that
the total be made a variable fac
tor" Germany agreeing to pay a
sum to be decided annually by the
judgment Of an international zap
praisal board in accordance with
the progress Of Germany's indus
tries.
Later it was learned that the note
has been sent. 1t was cabled to
Washington this morning, it is un-
derstood.
Not Satisfactory.
Paris. April 23.-The new German
proposals for the reconstruction Of
the devastated regions OF Northern
France are considered insufficient
and unacceptable by the French gov.
eminent. it was learned this after,
noon. Premier BRAND, was expect
ed to tell Premier Lloyd George SO
at the conference at Hythe this af-
tenoon.
The eyes Of all France are eager
ly fixed unon the old Kentish town
whore tba two premiers are to
thresh cut the whole complex rep.
arations question and arrive at a
definite decision as to the joint at.
titude and Britain, not only toward
Germany directly but toward the
prospect of American mediation
which was opened by President
Hardings note TO Paris.
The note continues TO be the main
topic of discussion in the French
press
1t is now clear that three conflict
ing emotions dominate French feel
ing namely
/. Satisfaction that the American
president refuses to be the umpire
in reparations question.
.. disappointment that he did
not categorically refuse 70 have any
dealing whatever with Germany on
this question.
>. Hope that the note mean
America re-eatrance into the allied
counsels.
Goes to Conference.
Hythe. Ene|and. April 23,-Pre-
mier Lloyd George left this ancient
former seaport of Kent at noon TO
Dover, II miles from here, to meet
Premier BRAND of France. who Is
due to arrive there from Boulogne
at 2.2O this afternoon. Before the
afternoon is far along. the two pre-,
miers will have plunged into their
long heralded conference on the Ger.
man reparations question. Upon its
outcome hinges the question Of
peace and stability in Europe.
No time will be lost over formal
ties at Dover. The two premiers
will Immediately come to the home
OF Sir Philip Sassoon here and be-
gin their deliberations. Their sec
retaries will be the only witnesses.
The great conclave of allied states.
men and military and economic eX,
perts was called off at the last min.
nte and the momentous conference
was restricted to these four men.
Awaiting Responses.
Washington, April 23,-The admin
:stration is marking time today,
awaiting responses from the cap.
fals of Europe to the delicate offe
~ mediation contained in Secretary
Hughes note ON the matter of Ger.
man separations, Reports which
have filtered through to Washing
ton from the capitals of the great
powers, London Berlin and Paris.
are on the whole of a pleasing ma
lure, it was stated in Official cir.
eles.
Berlin dispatches indicate that
Germany w les little time in for
mulating a reply that will fulfill the
hope expressed by Secretary Hugh
ss-that new offers be made which
you'd form a basis for renewed ne
gotiations.
From Paris came reports that
while France is slightly disapopint-
ed at the absence of a complete
turn down for Germany in the Amer.
lean reply. She nevertheless is eX-