New-York tribune., 1921-04-22
Answer to Teuton Appeal
Prompt and Concise,
Reiferating Stand TAX
en- in Note March 28
Reply Held Fatal
To Simons's Plans
Ends All Hope of Ameri-
can Aid, but Still Fa-
vors New Negotiation
By Carter Field

BY Garter Field
WASHINGTON, April 21.-Pres-
| ident Harding to-day fatty rejected
German proposal that he person
ally act as umpire on reparations.
Within few hours after the receipt
Of the proposal of the German gov
ernment that if the President would
act as arbiter it would bind itself to
pay any amount he should fix Sec
retary of State Hughes dispatched
this governments refusal.
This government insisted that the
German government, without fur
ther delay, should make a proposal
to the Allies to resume negotiations
for the fixing Of new reparations
terms. This government promised.
if the German government would
hasten to do this, that the United
States would use its good Offices in
persuading the Allies to reopen ne
gotiations.
The German note was signed by
Chancellor Fehrenbach and Foreign
Minister Simons and was sent
through American Commissioner
Dresel at Berlin.
Previous Stand Reiterated
The language Of to-day's memc-
randum Of MIR. Hughes is littie
stronger on the point oe persuading
the Allies to resume negotiations If
Germany will make proposal, but
there is no difference in underlying
thought from the first memorandum
sent by Mr.. Hughes on March 2S. 1t
is felt here. that the German note
received to-day, however, was an at
tempt by the German Foreign Office
to take advantage of the concluding
sentence of the previous memoran-
dunn.
In this, after insisting that this
government held that Germany
should admit responsibility for the
war and should pay to the limit of
her ability to do so, the hope was
added that "such negotiations. once
resumed, may lead to a prompt. set
tlement which will at the same time
satisfy the just claims of the Allies
and permit Germany hopefully to
renew its productive activities"
Diplomats tonight, in commenting
on the latest German move, expressed
the view that DR.. Simons drew hone
from this line that the Harding Admin
istration was of the opinion that the
reparations terms already fixed were
too high Therefore, confident of this.
the Germans were eager to have Presi-
dent Harding take the position Of
arbiter. The solemn promise TO agree
to pay any amount the American Presi-
dent might fix was taken with liberal
grain Of salt, since it would always be
easy, it was pointed sut, for the Ger
man Foreign Office to invent some good
new reason why it could not carry its
promises into execution.
With the situation right back where
1T was after the dispatch of the frs.
memorandum Of the Harding Admins
tratlon, it lacks but ten days, it was
pointed out tonight, to the date fixed
by France for further occupation OF
Germany unless payments are begun
by the German government on account
Hence the significance in the Hughes
memorandum dispatched to-day that
the German government should hurry
to make its proposal for a reopening of
negotiations. There is little time left
before France. according to her an
nouncement, will begin the use of force
to compel Germany to pay.
This sharp limitation on the time In
which Germany can make her pro
posals and get the Allies to agree to
further negotiations is another eypIa-
nation Of why the Administration an
swered the German appeal with only
few hours delay.
The crisp answer by this govern
ment, put into fewer than 1874 words
leaves little room for discussion and
speculation on the part of the Ger
mans. This government hopes that
new negotiations may be opened and
satisfactory solution reached. 1t will
| aid IN gaining the consent of the Allies
to such negotiations if the Germans
will make new proposal Otherwise
the intimation is plain, this govern
ment, despite its regrets, will do moth
ing.
Policy of United States Made Plain
The further plain inference is that
unless Germany takes the advice OF
this government promptly the United
States, holding as it does that Germany
4 should acknowledge responsibility for
the war and pay to the limit of her
ability to do so. will morally back the
Allies in their insstence upon German
payment. AS the intention of France
to move troops further into GERMANY
has been definitely announced, the Cer{
mans may understand from NH
Hughes's memorandum that if they do
not make the move suggested by this