The Hope pioneer., 1921-04-07
GERMANY SEEKS
SUPPORT OF US.
Recognize Their Moral 0bliga-
tion and Suggest Means
of Meeting It. !,
WOULD PAY WAR DEBTS.
Germany Ready to Undertake Interest
and Amortization Payments Of.
Foreign Obligations Offer to
Help In Restoring France.

Observation-Disclosures of the in
formal exchanges between the German,
and American governments regarding
reparations, In which the United States
holds Germany morally bound to
make reparation, SO. far as may be
possible" have been made public at
the state department.
Describing the German communica-
tion as an ''unequivocal expression" of
the recognition of that obligation, the
American reply expresses the hope
that renewed negotiations which Ger
many says it plans to initiate, "may
lead to a prompt settlement which will
at the same time satisfy the just
claims Of the allies and permit Ger.
many hopefully to renew its produc-
tive activities
Germans Would Pay Allied Interest.
Included in the German communica-
tion is the suggestion that the only
solution of the reparations problem is
in an international loanx in favor Of
which the allies and associated powers
would waive the general mortgage on
German assets created by the treaty
of Versailles. In this connection the
German government says it "would not
be unwilling to assume the obligation
Of the interest and the amortization of
the foreign debts of the allied and as
sociated powers, within the limit Of her
capacity"
Germany invites the examination 'by
unbiased experts of its own ability to.
make payment" and says she stands
ready to meet any proposal which ap-
pears feasible "for the solution of the
economic and financial problems of
Europe"
The American reply makes no refer
ence either to the proposed consolida-
ton of allied debts as a German obli-
cation or the suggestion for the de-
termination of unbiased experts Of the
ability of Germany to pay.
Slow Restoration Of Battle Areas.
Another consideration with regard
to reparations presented by Germany
is that of the rehabilitation Of devas-
tated regions. The German govern.
.ment says it stands ready to offer to
France good offices and resources in
whatever form acceptable. It asserts
that for the immediate rehabilitation
of the devastated regions 1t has ire
peatedly proffered labor, technical ad-
vice and material assistance" but that
these offers have not been accepted.
+ Germany declares that there exists
in France only a limited degree of
concern for the rehabilitation of the
devastated regions, because advance
indemnities have been given to former
occupants of the soil who have settled
in other parts of France and the work
Nof clearing the war areas ''has been
undertaken by influe ,tial groups of
promoters who are making no effort to
expedite the performance of their con-
tracts"
The German communication is in the
form of memorandum Of DR.. Walter
Simons, minister for foreign affairs,
dated March % and transmitted
through American Commissioner Dresel
at Berlin, who has had informal con-
versations with the German govern
ment on the subject for some time. The
American reply is officially termed
statement sent to Commissioner
Dresel for communication to DR.. Sim
ons. It is dated March %.