Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-05
TEUTONS MUST DEAL
DIRECT WITH ALLIES
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Ueased Wire Service TO The Journal.
Ilnrn1.,icrl,t

Copyright, 1921
WASHINGTON, May 3.-The Unit
ed States government has notified
Germany that she can expect neither
aid nor comfort from the Harding
administration in the controversy
over the payment of damage done in
the war.
This, in effect, is the plain mean
ing of the note dispatched by Presi-
dent Harding and Secretary Hughes
advising Germany not only that her
recent reparatio offer made through
the medium of the United States was
unacceptable even as a basis of dis
cussion, but telling Berlin to negoti-
ate directly hereafter with London
and Paris.
What particularly aroused the
Berlin to the effect that Germany
would pay no attention to the allied
conference in London of last Satur
day SO long as the door to the White
House was open. The Germans hoped
for American diplomatic intervention
as a means of splitting the allies or
at least Softening the French de-
mands. But the Harding admins
tration, sensitive about the tauntS Of
certain Americans of German descent
who have been telling Berlin that as
soon as the Wilson adminiStra ton
passed out of power President Har
ding would prove himself the friend
of Germany as opposed to the allleS,
has taken occasion to remove any
doubt concerning the administration S
pro-ally stand. So determined is the
United States. to range itself along
side the allies in the reparation con-
troversy, that the White House again
and again has asked the press to
emphasize the point.
AS Expected.
The decision of the American gov
eminent not to forward the German
proposals is exactly what has been
expected and confirms the informa-
ton contained in these dispatches a
week ago even before the text of
the German note was published in
Berlin. The Washington government
from the beginning has had~Ro doubt
that the German offer was unaccep-
table and though there was a brief
period when it was considered good
policy for officials to deny they had
been advised of the allied viewpoint,
a move taken to gain time in sizing
up the situation itself. the ambas-
sailors of the foreign governments
never had any doubt of the ultimate
step which America would take.
The new development really is the
decision to return the German note
unanswered and the notification to
Germany to conduct her negotiations
with the allies direct. This refusal
on the part of the United States to
act either as an umpire or mediator,
nication, pleases the allies more than
they dare publicly express. They do
not want to read into the American
action more than is apparent on the
face, but it is a fact that there is
more hope of allied solidarity at the
gan her efforts. to drive a wedge
between the United States and her
ASSOCIATES in the war.
Baked by the United States. the
the allies. The viewpoint here is
that the American governments
firm attitude will hasten rather than
retard settlement for it will con-
vince Germany that further negotia-
ton or parleying is out of the ques-
ton.
Another Significance
The president took a deep interest
in the phraseologyN of the note to
Germany and the communicate
may be said to represent a unani-
nous agreement inside the cabinet
L hC lHONc lliS d1OLleG SlSnlIlCdnCS.
1t means that the United States is
unwilling to discuss at this time
the merits of the reparations con-
troversy and that all expressions
purporting to put the American gov
eminent in the position of taking
sides are unauthorized.
The Washington government has
views of its own as to how much
Germany should pay and as to the
wisdom of drastic measures, but
these opinions will not be volun-
teered at this time. The Hughes
note is one of the shortest on rec
ord. Since it is in line with the de-
sire of the Harding administration
to keep hands off European affairs
it pleases the 'irreconcilable'' ele-
ments in the senate, who, by the
way. are on top these days. 1t dis
appoints to some extent those who
believed American leadership might
have interviewed to bring the Germans
and allies together.
ever. that physical coercion will
solve the situation has been the
dominant factor in the whole bust
ness. Since the British and French
have not been in entire accord. the
American government was unwilling
to add further fuel to the flames
by siding with the British as
against the French. On the other
hand, the decision to give the Ger
mans a week or more within which
to frame new proposals meets with
favor here because of the conviction
that Germany will at last see the
handwriting on the wall and bow to
the inevitable.