The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-05-10
BUSINESS REVIVAL
PLAYS BIG PART
IN u, S, DECISION
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright by ,ae Inteil!gencer.)
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Washington. May o.--America's de-
ciSson to enter thc allied councils ami
20 uSc her moral support 10 compel
satisfactory adjustment OF the German
rcparation controversy is as much
based upon economic reaSOns--a de-
sire TO hiring about 4 revival or bust
ness in tho United StateS--as upon any
thing political.
The ripples Of complaint which have
cmanatcd from. those on capitol Hill who
are inclined 10 see European affairs
from the political anglo. particularly
as something consistent or inconsistent
with campaign speeches. have failed 10
SwcrVo the executive branch or the GOV
eminent from its determination to bring
about an era of business prosperity ir-
respective OF how the formula Affects
tho purely political side OF things here.
The commonly reported statement
that Secretaries Charles Evans Hughes
and Herbert Hoover arc influencing the
policy OF President Harding Is only
partially correct. There arc others IN
the cabinetwho fcel that the big thing
before the Harding administration to-
day is the revival OF husineSs-the re-
turn 70 normalcy. Therefore when the
question came up in the cabinet as 70
whether tho invitation OF the allies 10
join In their councils should be accept
lection would affect the future OF AM
ericap business.
Allies Can't Pay XOt
Officials recognize tnat until the al
lies have i satisfactory adjustment or
the reparation owed them by Germany.
the allies will BE- unable 70 make salts
factory payments on the money they
owe the United States. Our government
refuses formally to recognize the re-
lationshlp and will not consider any
tranferencc OF the foreign debt from the
allies TO the backs Of the Germans out
nevertheless the Washington govern
msnt is not ignoring the relationship or
GermanS's payments 10 the capacity oA
the allies 20 pay America.
The Harding administration con-
Sidercd seriously the embarrassing po-
sition in which America would be
placed II she declined 10 use her moral
force alongside the Lies when Ger
many made her proposal 10 mediate.
II the United States had taken po- ,
sition which the allies believed was en- |
couragng the Germans 10 evade theif
.pbligation<. II might have resulted in n !
sentiment among the allied governments !
IN tho effect that America had corre~ !
spondmgly prevented the allies from !
meeting their obligations. To collect I
from the allies in other words, 1t was /!
necessary for America TO help the al
lies get their money from Germany.
Such. in brief is the Harding policy
aud whether or not il pteaseS the r-
reconcilable eleme-' IS something that
has been BY force r circumstances been
mada a secondary consideration. Pres
ident- Harding naturally wanted the
complete support OF his party but III
casos Of division he must rely upon
public opinion. The feeling In execu-
two quarters is that the country IS
back Of Mr.. Hardng in his efforts to
bring dbout return OF normal business
conditions. lie is still as tnsistent as
ever that the course OF our govern
ment will be so carefully stored that
involvement in European political !
rangles will be avoided. But against
thcso who claim that tho participation
in allied councils IS a step toward the
entry OF the United States into the
league Of nations, the answer IS mace
thar for the present the Harding ad-
min!stration is looking at things pure
w from an economic basis. TO reduce
taxes, Cor instance. there must De
moro revunue available from more
sources, To make the American peo-
ple better able TO pay their taxes they
must be in 4 position to make money.
To make money. they must have be-
sides their domestic markets place TO
sell their goods abroad. To sell profit
ably they must put their products
within the reach OF the foreign pur-
chaser. Until international exchange
~ stabilized. would European pur-
chaSers cahnot buy. That's the cTcie
OF present day economies ard the HARD
jnr administration is trying BY every
means possible TO bring. about staoh-
zation OF international exchange, which
II is expected. would be followed by
revival Of export trade and the re-
ooenine Of American factories that
now are shut down.
Good Business.
The Harding administration hcneVeS
that the policy OF making tho Germans
pay their debt Is good business poi'rH
for America and that the assistance
given the allies BY sitting IN tneir couh-
ellis prevents at excuse that America
herself is preventing the atiieS from
having the ten bilious OF d. lars tney
owe the United States. Sound business
policy-not campaign poIiticS'~ls oaEk
al the Harding policy and that why
Mr. Hughes in the dcpa Ctrnent ot state
and Mr. Hoover. n tho department. OF
commerce. who arr most concerned win
rorrizn trade are considered the chaet
influences in tho situation. but behind
them is the practically unanim sent
rpen- OF the cabiret--ths secretary OF
the treasury who feels that business
will be revived WIN European uueS-
lions are settled. the vice president VINO
N 4 public speech said the property tot
America was dependent 10 large cN-
,-,t on the settlement OF international