Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-04-27
GERMANY'S BID
THREATENS TO
DIVIDE ALLIES
Newest Reparation Proposals
FIatly Rejected by France
Determined on Force.
BUT BRITAIN FAVORS

Germany's newest reparations offer to-
day threatened the amity of the allies.
While French officials Immediately
branded the proposals as unacceptable,
Great Britain proceeded to ask Berlin for
a Qualification of vague clauses, leading
to belief that she will consider further
negotiations.
France was determined to proceed with
seizure of Ruhr valley and the infliction
of the harshest penalties on Germany
"fOr failure to meet the terms of TAe
peace treaty"
Italy opposes the French plans. Great
Britain has shown "a willingness to sup
port the French in case Germany does
not make acceptable offer.
The United States may ask France to
hold back her military plans until Ger
many has been given an opportunity to
show how sincere she Is in her offer to
pay the debt.
France thus stood practically alone In
opposing consideration of the German
offer. She viii have the opportunity this
week to proceed alone against Germany
or yields to the view of her allies. The
opportunity will be given her at the meet
Ing of the allied supreme council, which
is having prepared a digest of the new
oTer.
! WASHINGTON, April 27.-Secretary of
/ State Hughes was expected to decide to-
day whether the moral influence of the
I United States is TO be thrown behind
/ the latest German reparations proposals
/ with a view to having them accepted by
/ the allies as a basis for resuming negoti-
tions
/ The proposal Of the German government
/ has created a distinctly favorable i'm
preston here and predictions were free
/ ly made in official circles hat unless un-
surmountable obstacles were interposed
/ the Administration would see fit to rec
ommend favorable consideration by the
4 allied governments TO the suggestion that
/ discussions be reopened.
/ II was pointed out. however, that the
situation is extremely delicate Secretary
/ hughes, In accepting the task of media
tion, made It plain that he would bring
u German counter proposal to the atten-
/ tion Of the allies only in a way which
/ would be acceptable to them The ae-
I rious objection Of one Of the interested
powers, it Is believed. would be sufficient
to defeat an effort at mediation.
+ THREE COURSES ARE OPEN
/ IN OFFER.
With respect to the disposition of the
German offer it was suggested that three
courses are open to Secretary Hughes.
/ First, he might peremptorily reject the
proposal as unsatisfactory.
! Secondly, he could forward It to the
allied governments without comment; or
/ Thirdly. forward the proposal with TIE
/ Recommendation that 1t he used as a
basis for further negotiation.
/ In commenting upon these possibilities,
officials pointed out that the proposal IS
not only better than any the Germans
/ have previously made but Is even more
/ liberal in its terms than even the most
/ optimistic had expected TO emauate from
/ Berlin the figure Of approximately 200
| oo0000,000 gold marks being only %
0U0,000,000 short of he amount demanded
/ by the allies at Paris.
/ AS for the second possible course, the
consensus Of opinion was that such a
procedure would not be IN keeping with
either the positive character OF Mr..
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