Evening star., 1921-04-28
BERLIN STILL HAS
HOPE TO SAVE RUHR
Can Alter Terms and Method
of Collection to Suit
Allies.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Germany still has an opportunity to
modify her reparation proposals and
make them satisfactory to the allies
and thus prevent occupation os the
Ruhr.
Although the United States govern
ment is not taking the initiative or
adopting any course that might be
construed as an effort to persuade
Germany 10 cnange ner proposals.
nevertheless the cables and radio have
conveyed to Berlin within the last
twenty -four hours enough newspaper
dispatches and official utterances from
Paris and London especially to let the
Germans know their offer is unac-
ceptable.
The difference between the allies
and Germany does not center on the
amount to be paid. but upon the terms
and method of collection. An error in
the cabled text has been discovered
which puts different light on at
least one important paragraph of the
German proposal. that which relates
to 'unreproductive outlays."
The first version made it appear
that the German government wanted
to be rid of these outlays. which are
interpreted to mean the funds spent
in sustaining the allied armies of oc-
cupation. but the German govern
ment'S official statement now says the
note should have read that aerman
business must be rid of ''unrepro-
ductive outlays" and that the phrase
refers to disadvantageous trade ar
ransements.
Removing Penalties Objectionable.
In any event. the most objection
able clause in the German proposal is
that which declares as condition of
payment that all penalties or sane
tions" must be removed. The Ger
mans declare officially in a supple
mentary statement made after the
German proposal was made to Wash
ington that this means only the pen-
altes imposed by the recent London
conference and does not involve in
any way the sanctions provided by the
Versailles treaty.
Should these two important points
be made in an official communica tion
to the United States it may be that
when the allies examine the entire
proposition it may fall into the cate
CORY of suitable basis for discus
sion later on.
For the moment the French are de-
termined to occupy the Ruhr. and
talk about notifications in the Ger
man proposal afterward. The French
believe they will be better able to
force German acceptance when the
French troops are in possession of the
than now, when French public opin-
ion would be indignant over anything
that resembled dillydallying on the
part of the BRAND ministry.
L. s. Pursuing Wary Course.
The Germans have approximated the
sums asked by the allies. but. as indi-
Gated by the British counter ques-
tions. everything depends upon the
details of the proposal and not the
general principles or vague promises
of the German note.
Meanwhile the United States gov
ernment is pursuing a wary course,
fascinating. indeed, in its disingenu-
BUSINESS. The American government
does not want to close the door to
settlement of the reparation problem.
which it realizes means SO much to
the economic condition of the whole
world. And the Washington govern
ment, on the oth5r hand. doesn't
want to adopt any course that would
encourage Germany to believe Amer
lea has deserted her associates in the
war.
Secretary Hughes has the whole
situation well in hand. President
Harding has SO much confidence in
MIN that he went off to Hampton
roads to review the Atlantic fleet and
gave the Secretary of State complete
authority to go ahead without further
reference to him.
The last cabinet meeting on Tuesday
gave Mr. Harding an opportunity to
get the advice of his colleagues aud a
course of action was determined upon.
Copies Given to Ambasxadors. /
The various moves in the situation
have been taken partly in secrecy and |
partly with public knowledge. The |
German note did not arrive in WASH [;
ington until about o'clock Monday /
afternoon. Within an hour, the
French and British amba ssadors here
had unofficial copies for the informa-
tion of their governments. AS stated /
in The Star and now confirmed by a /
from Edwin l. James. !
Paris correspondent of the New York
Times, the allied diplomats had a |
chance to say informally to Mr.. |
what they thought of the Ger |
man proposal. Mr.. James cables to- |
day, for instance: |
French diplomats are very pleased
with the graceful manner in which |
Secretary Hughes permitted the
Paris government to place a veto on |
the German proposals and thus halt
them"
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