Evening star., 1921-04-12
Editorial Digest
Hughes and German Hopes.

AAu6 ACS anu 0CIm6u x1UpCS.
Opinion on the Hughes note to Ger
many ranges all the way from COM
ment by those who agree with the
New York World (democratic) to the
effect that the memorandum "can be
nothing more than the expression Of
a pious hope" to statements like that
of the Boston Transcript Gndepend-
cnt republican,. that it is "a docu-
ment Of cardinal importance" and 'fts
effects should be proportionately far
! reaching. To some. like the Brook
lyn Eagle independent democratic),
the note contains little ito discourage
the German government in its present
obstinate and uncompromising atti-
tude.' while others. echoing the SEN
timcnt of the Boston Herald (inde-
pendent republican,. think Secretary
Hughes has announced to Berlin
that the United States has not the
| slightest intention of standing be-
tween Germany and the penalty of
! her sins"
| The suggestion that perhaps the
message presages helpful American
! intervention. which will result in new
Teparations negotiations. is harbored
| by some writers, and many feel that
1t has prepared the way to a success
! ful acceptance of the Knox resolu-
| ton. though this view is not accepted
by those who have opposed sep
! arate peace"
Says the Newark News Gndepend-
| eht): Secretary Hughes memoran-
! dum is sort of where do we go
| from here document. Standing by
! ,tSflf it is nothing but a pfous wish
! us worth depends entirely upon what
| we do next
| rms feeling that it does not outline
any specific program is voiced also
pH NE Springfield Republican inde-
pehd"nD, which finds it difficult to
suG Paris INTO tn'c,, TINS Any Endorsement of the
world tdemocrattc) makes the criti-
| cism that Secretary Hughes gives no
| indication of how far this government
is TO stand with the governments of
.nnil, .ne a.lles beyond holding Germany re-
| spons'b!e for the war Yet, it as
sertS, in that beyond are all the
really important questions of peace"
The Richmond tcl1
democratic, & holds similar opinion:
The note of Secretary Hughes" If
says. simply restates the terms Of the
! treaty as meeting American approval.
| without indicating what course the
washington government will pursue
! win respect to aiding their enforce
!neht. Inc note does little to clarity
! the unknown attitude of the Harding
| administration with respect to the
part the United States is to play in
settlement of the issues growing out
: of the war"
Firmly worded the Norfolk Ledger
Dispatch independent demoorat1
grants the note to he. "and good
! enough as far as it goes" but, it adds.
| II doesn't go very far for it is only
gesture. and the indianapolis News
| ,,!'nuePehdent Feels that '.it throws no
! light on the future To the Houston
chronicle independently. which sees
| the document as n more positive in
sIrument. it is not satisfactory for:
! me upshot of the situation seems to
| be that our government intends tn
| d'sa associate itself from the allies with
! smile and = platitude, while gruftiv
shaking hands with Berlin"
In itself the State Department COM
| munication can be read only with
; s@atiSiactlon @ by the American people.
| the New York Post (independent) de-
clareS but taken in conjunction with
| the proposed Knox resolution If re
| suits IN "yea-and-any policy" which
| may confirm Germany in the belief
that as far we are concerned she
may g" as far as she likes
! quite the opposite view is taken nv
a number of writer's who agree with
| me st Louis Star independently that
,he Hushes letter makes it possible
a sting" The Pittsburgh Gazette
! Times republicaD remarks: This
| ofhcial though informal correspond-
! ence backs up the assurances which
! hav| b,en given to Envoy Viviani and
I: which have removed ali fears which
! were previously entertained with re-
/; gard TO the Knox resolution of peace
! with Germany
| Assuming that the peace resolution
rs good, the Cleveland Plain Dealer
| tinaependent democrat) believes for
IT strengthens the allies and depriyes
the .iermans of long cherished
hope. 1neeed. IF the Germans have
!
! America refusal to accept the treaty
! Mr.. Hushss'S note" says the RuT,io
| Express independent republican, will
/ morn them that they have judged
| facts" '' '"'
! The mote is a telling blow" asserts
! me fioVidence Journal fnde endent
! d' 'ht hopes Germany has been en-
| atrtalnlng ~ since the peace conference
| at Paris.' and the New York Tribune
| trepubiican) considers that 1t throws
4 lhe weight of the United States in
1av0r or the vital reparation clauses
| Of the allies"
! The fact that the Hughes note
makes possible the reopsning of ne
gotiatioHs means that 'the American
! brand of diplomacy scores" once more
as the Boston Post Independent dem,
ocrat! puts it. and cit is a mastery
piece Of work. in line with the best
,rad'!1ons OF recent years" The Co
| Iumbia Is. c. State (democrat also
| ietis that the diplomatic exchange
may result in good. by expeditine Or
| even by patching up again. the con
| ierence broken off between Berlin ana
the allies though it characterizes the
! Incident as "of questionable TASTE
and rather indelicate diplomacy
| The Philadelphia Public Ledger lin.
aependenD thinks that the score
tary's memorandum Ought fo he
helpful in bringing about an APPROACH
az a. least. TO genuine settlement of
the deadlock now existing between
ments." IL
The Manchester Union (fndependent
repuplican) feels that the Secretary
OF state has made clear that "anv ne,
EQUATIONS that shall meet our an
nrosa,.n provai must be based upon German
acuep,ahce war aaa e. OF the responsibility Of the
causing the war" III
The Allies and Their Debts,
! italy entered the war -