The Washington times., 1921-04-23
HARDING AIMS
TOBE PAC|F|ER
-Hapgood
-Hapgood
U. S. Commission, Headed by
Root, Will Mediate Indemnity
Dispute, Writer Says.
By NORMAN HAPGOOD.

dispute, Writer says
By NORMAN HAPGOOD.
The German government began its
negotiations with President Harding
before Viviani reached this country.
The President, therefore, has had
the situation sharply before him for
some time. He fully realizes that
it is the biggest thing he has to
meet or is ever likely to have to
meet.
SPLENDID DREAM.
The President has q dream. II IL
q splendid dream. He hopes to be
the medium through which Europe
finds the road to peace. He believes
| that his predecessor failed at Paris
to turn the powers OF Europe into the
right direction. and his highest aspl-
| ration Ii to accomplish that turning
himself.
Make no mistake about It The
| President is dealing with the Euro
pean problem. He has been dealing
with 1t. He will continue to deal
with IL.
As far as the United States Is
que of Nations, but he dreams day
and night about his association of
nations.
SEES ROOT As MEDIATOR
He heartily backs the Knox reso-
luton to declare q state of peace, but
he definitely refuses a separate treaty
Of peace. He means to stand on the
Versailles treaty with far-going reser-
vations
Now how is he going to proceed
to help disentangle a situation in
which France and Germany are in
such relation to each other that they
prevent recovery and threaten further
disaster?
One thing IL fairly sure. I think,
There will be an American COM
mission to look into these matters be-
fore much more time has passed. An
other thing is fairly sure also. Elihu
Root will be the chairman OF 1t.
When matters have progressed that
far. one influential member Of the
Cabinet urgently hopes that WASH
ington will be the city at which all
necessary conferences will be held.
Can that be pulled off? 1t IL doubt
full. The difficulties are serious. They
have been increased by Viviani's visit.
vIvIANrs VISIT HELD HARMFUL.
That was a most unfortunate visit.
Before he had seen the French dele
gate at all. Senator Lodge said the
visit was a great mistake. After the
distinguished guest had left, the sena-
tor who had had most to do with
him said the visit had done harm.
1t did harm in two ways. The dele
gate lacked candor. He did not tell
the American statesmen what France
was ready to do in the way of i'm
proving the situation in Europe. He
rlerely repeated the familiar COM
| plants against Germany.
That did not carry us any further
ahead, and this country is getting
oh. 30 weary of propaganda.
Both the propaganda and the fall
ure to offer positive help set back
the cause. All European statesmen
might as well realize that the cards
must go face up on the table.
Another thing has been affecting
opinion in this country, especially
the more observant opinion Good
authorities tell us that France is
refusing to take the machinery that
Germany Is bound to turn over to
her. and that England Is refusing
to take the ships that Germany is
velopments cause q furious amount
of thinking.
HARDINGy INDEMNITY STAND.
I am safe in saying one thing
about the spirit in which the Admin
| istration approaches the negotiations
in which IL has been engaged nov
several weeks. 1t wholly approves
OF insisting that Germany be made
to pay a definitely ascertained sum,
as large as IL Is. for the welfare
OF Europe; that she should try to
ray-for the welfare of the entente
countries, IL you like to put 1t that
way.
1t wholly disapproves OF two ten
denotes in seeking the res-establish-
ment of peace. One is the attempt to
find safety in the mere weakening of
Germany. II the rumor Is true.
therefore, that an alliance Is being
formed to resist any effort OF agon-
lied Austria to become part OF Ger
many. intense hostility will be en-
countered here.
PRAISES HUGHES.
The other aspect OF which It disap-
proves is subtle and deadly. The
French government is afraid of its
people. Politicians continue to make
claims and threaten acts. not because
they think they are helpful. but be-
cause they will soothe the public and
keep the politicians in power. That
must stop. The facts must be faced.
II you analyze our two notes to
Germany, you will find the same ele-
ments in both of them. There Is in
sistence on Germany's responsibility.
There Is refusal to act Independently
| of the Entente.