The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-04-27
Allies Will Refuse
The German Proposal
To Pay Indemnity
~ DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright by the lntell!gencer)


Washington. April 2G.-Trcat Britain
and France viii refuse to accept the
new German proposal for the payment
OF war indemnity.
Although the United States govern
ment has not yet officially transmitted
the German note to the allies. complete
copies OF the document ara in the
hands Of Prime Minister Lloyd George
and Premier BRAND.
Both the French and the British re-
gard the proposal as unacceptable and
as simply diSingenuous way OF re-
opening the entire treaty Of Versailles.
with the United States as party to
the transaction.
The new proposal differs from all
that have preceded in that it apparent
ly meets the sums asked by the allies.
but under such conditions as TO make
II impossible from the allied viewpoint.
to collect the amounts promised.
The Germa ms. for example. completely
wipe the state clean Of all propositions
previously made and approach the sub
ject from a new angle by asking that
all occupied armies b. withdrawn. and
that when the PREPARATION amount is
definitely fixed that there shalt be no
more Sanctions or penalties This
would mean the abrnGation OF that
clause OF the Versailles treaty. for in
stance. which provides for allied occu-
patton OF the Saa- baS.n f. fifteen
years.
Critical Position Of United States.
Both the French and British govern
ments rcaliZ" the critical position in
which the United States government
has been placed by the attempt OF Ger
many 10 use President Harding as
rnAdiatpr .llie. in
tice TO America. they should inform
Washington in advance their views on
the German proposals. that rresi-
dent Harding will not fall victim ["
the German plan OF ranging America
against the allies N the reparation con-.
troversy.
Before President Harding or Secre-
tary hughes actually consider 4 course
OF action. the French and British view
win have been given them. within the
neNt twenty-four hours they will have
the full details Of the allied position.
Analysis OF the German note has al
ready been made In London and Paris
and our own diplomatic representatives
abroad know in general way how the
allies fee about Il.
Tho German prrpoSa, starts out with
expressions OF good Will and 4 tone Of
hopefuineSs that America may help
solve the problem. Concrctely the Ger
mans admit a liability to tho allies OF
10000. 100000 gold marks. or approx
rately ten billion dollars. They. OF
course. cannot pay this sum at the
present time. 50 they propose deferred
payments extending over period OF
forty wears. With interest accumuiat-
ing. this would maxi tAc total German
liability about 20".o0p.o"0.0o0 gold
marks or approximately $4,000. oo0. 900
70 m This no
propose 4 world Liam.
Aniss Indignant.
NN",hnr thing. however. in the new
proposal which lta> aroused the indign&-
riuu "f 10" allie, is the suggestion thu.
'icrlnar Industries be permitted 20 re.
store IL" devastated areas OF Franc
under a contract between those indus
tries and tn" German government. In
other words Germany would at one
Civ her business men a huge order
which w"ull mean quick restoration ~
German industry and would prevent the
restoration "f French industry. X would
give III" Germans promptly revived
export trad" which would be 1 splendid
basis for hnr own reconstruction. II,
there is any restoring TO be done with
German money. that money ought in the
viewpoint "t the French government to
10 10 Z rHn'R iEIUS Us - means Oh en-
couraGinG French industry.
The term "fatuouS" Is applied by the
allies TO these suggestions from Ger
many AMI America will have no doubt
where the allies stand when thcir view
point IS solicited by Secretary Hughes
either formally or informally.
The French and British see in the
new German proposal an attempt to In
veiSlc President Harding into the role
Of negotiat"r. The last paragraph Of the |
German document for instance. is a con-
feSSion that the Germans themselves !
know tn" reparlton proposal will be !
unaccc ptable for they ask the American
president To fell fire. 10 make any suS-
geStionS or any notifications which he +,
may desire in tn" interest OF Il world |
settlement. lie Germans appeal 10 AIR !
Harding in a way that they believe will
also appeal 70 American public opinion !
when the tent OF the note IS published
But the allies believe the United States :
cannot act merely as means Of trans
mission and Keep from commenting on !
tho proposals. tn" French and British :
would like u So" America express :, ,
viewpoint th,,, viii discourage the Ger
man thcorjr, n! friction between the
United States and her associates in the :
war. II would not he surprising if The !,
the poS,ponem"nt Of action on the Knox !
resolution.
Not Indemnity Proposal.
Briefly. the French and british do not
regard the new German not" as a SER /,
Gus indemnity proposal At AL but Il cur ,
ming attempt To reopen regulations tpr
a modification "f tn" termS Of the entire
Versailles treaty. 4 proposal mad" under
the impression that President Hardin =
Is friendly 10 surh a revision and tnat
tho allies cannot afford - turn down i,
Mr.. IIardinE'> suggestions. Eut the /;
Germans are mistaken The pot!cy "
alli"d s"liha .jty has already been pro.
claimed and IA" United States will give
her moral support 10 the allies in the :
rcpa "a ton controversy. The Germans .
must ACCEPT the allied proposals origin |
Ally made or suffer further occupation !
90. L.