Evening star., 1921-04-24


dying friendship for Ameri-
ca, assurances in some cases
predicated entirely upon
selfish interest. it is known fact
that today Americas unpopularity
among nations of the old world was
never greater. And it is because of
this, President Harding. in firmly re-
jecting Germany's proposal to act as
mediator in the reparations dispute
between the allies and Germany.
plays the part Of one wise and far
seeing.
Mediation-if the present foreign
policy of the administration is to
continue-would be fraught with the
gravest dangers for this country. not
only hazarding this country's power
great questions directly involving
American issues which more or less
have been wrapped up in the parch-
ment of the treaty Of Versailles.
but it, undoubtedly. would be the
means of mourning everlasting en-
and people as we'll.
President Harding's promise to
transmit German proposals, provided
this was satisfactory to allied ma
tlOHS. uHuOuDteutS Is dS ldI dS tHC
administration dare go at this juno
ture. For the future is fraught with
grave possibilities and any commit
ment taken by the administration at
the moment would endanger its poll
cy of steering clear of entangling al
liances and ignoring strictly Euro
pean questions.
Harding Policy Logical.
If the United States does not wish
to become mud-bespattered. wishes
to perpetuate good will for this
country. the Harding policy is the
logical one.
There are quicksands in reparations
settlements. and even should this gov
ernment desire to see Germany pun
ished to the fullest mede, it neverthe-
less remains that the question OF
what Germany can justly pay has
gauging of the amount cases which
would be left to this government the
offer Of mediation were accepted, would
unleash the bittereSt antagonisms and
stir further jealousies and hatred Of
Mediation by President Harding un-
doubtedly would antagonize France,
Eow about to enforce the most strin-
gent penalties against Germany for
failure to abide by the reparations
1t is stated as fact in France-ap-
preached President Harding with the
hope that he might further Germanic
procrastination in the payment of just
obligations. The two countries are at
opposite poles in SO far as agreement
on the sum to be paid by Germany is
concerned.
France insists that the reparations
figures shall stand. The report of the
reparations commission will show
130. .ooo,oo0.ooo and 10000. .o00. 900
marks. which is a sum of great deal
less than that fixed few months ago
BY the supreme council sitting in
Paris. which declared that $226. .000.-
100000 should be the figure paid. The
reparations commission has decided
that Germany shall pay one billion
marks by May 1 and guarantee the
other eleven billion considered due on
total amount of 10000, ,000. 900. The
that the Reichsbank gold reserves to-
falling nearly 2oo.0oo.0o0 be placed in
the banks branches at Cologne and
elsewhere This would place the en-
tire amount practically in the hands
of the allies to do with as they saw
ht- This latter demand has been re-
fused by Germany and undoubtedly
will be occasion Of further exactions
by the allies for failure to meet ex-
pressed demands
There In Middle Ground.
Germany consistently has stated
Guat Sne cannot pay the sums asked
BY the allies. Her counter proposals
offered at London. totaling 80. 600 0O0, 900
undoubtedly were but feelers, but the
grun manner in which Lloyd George
dismissed them, SO angered the Ger
mans that further offers were not
made.
Unquestionably there is a middle
ground for both the French and the
Germans, but woe be unto him, par
ticularly an outsider. that suggests
what this sum shall be.
The French nation. as a whole.
holds out for payment Of the full
reparations demands. Should Presi-
dent Harding have fallen into the
German trap and agreed to arbitrate
the claims the famed French friend
ship would have been proven CHI
merical. for undoubtedly. indignation
OF the whole people would have been
cord for an indefinite period. On the
other hand. should President Harding
have accepted, Germany Immediately
would have made it occasion to an
nounce further resistance to the al
lied demands and most certainly
would have used the French May day
occupation of the Ruhr as an evidence
of bad faith on the part of France
and wouf0s have endeavored to antag-
onize and possibly separate alliances
effected during the period Of war.
Furthermore, should Mr.. Harding
ever consent to set a much higher
figure than the Germans have here
tofore expressed as fair, then the
whole scheme of rehabilitation Of
financial and commercial life between