Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1921-04-08
j, s, ATTITUDE
TOWARD GE R|NANY
Berlin Government Must Pay to
Extent of Ability.
ADMINISTRATION VIEW FIRM
Learned Definitely Viviani's Mission
Is to Secure Support of United
States to Make the Germans
"Come Across"

Washington, April 2.-Rene Viviani,
envoy extraordinary from France seek
ing light on Americas attitude toward
German payment of reparations, got
his answer when the United States
governments position was specifically
stated as being one of firmness on
Germany's paying to the full extent
of her ability.
That statement was not made pub
lie to the French envoy, but coming
as it did on the heels of his official
conferences and coming officially, it
was accepted as the reply. The ex-
act statement of the administration
policy was as follows:
"This administration holds firm to
the position that Germany should be
sponsibility for the war and should
pay to the full extent of her ability,
that amount to be determined by a
fair and just process"
Then in the same breath the high
official of the government who pro-
claimed the Harding policy, added
that it was absurd" for anyone to
figure that, after participating in the
prosecution of the war to success
full conclusion, 1--WE would even consid-
er taking any other position
Informal German Notes.
Furthermore, this declaration In
behalf of the administration came ST.
simultaneously with the news that Ger
many, evidently aroused by the Viviani
mission, has been striving to get some
Preparations expression from this coun-
try. 1t was admitted at the State de-
partment that there had been infor-
NAL notes received through American
Commissioner Dresel at Berlin.
However, l would not dignity
them by styling them formal pleas for
action on our part in connection with
the PREPARATIONS settlement" said an
official at the State department.
The statement of policy is taken to
indicate that the administration will
not press for passage of the Knox
separate peace resolution without
amendments which will clearly define
the American position alongside the
allies in the matter OF reparations.
At the same time it has hushed
talk of immediate withdrawal of the
American army of occupation from
the Rhine.
In the conversations he has hal
with administration officials and lead
ers of congress- M. viviani, it was dis
closed, has revealed that France is
preparing to adopt measures far more
drastic than any she has taken thus
far to exact payments from Germany,
for which the French people have
been making an insistent clamor.
Seeks U. S. Cooperation.
In the enforcement of these meas
ures, France is seeking the co-opera-
ton of the United States. According
to M. Viviani this does not necessar-
lily involve material help, but simply
the assurance that the United States
is in complete accord with the French
demands and the action she takes to
compel Germany to meet them.
If this can be accomplished, it is
the opinion Of the French that the
moral effect of it alone will persuade
Germany to withdraw its protest
against the terms of Preparations, and
at the same time serve to stimulate
the morale of the French people. It
is no secret : that the French as well
as the other allies have regarded the
refusal Of the United States to par
ticipate in the reparations demands as
direct encouragement to Germany in