The New York herald., 1921-04-23
GERMAN CAPACITY
CALLED VARIABLE
Plea to United States Ad-
mission Country Can Pay,
London Times Says.
AMERICANS SEE WILES
Offer Depends on Whether
President or Allies Fix
Amount.
REASON FOR DISTRUST
Paper Asserts Harding Cannot
Afford Either to Arbitrate
or Mediate.
AMERICANS SEE WILES
REASON FOR DISTRUST

LONDON. April % saturday. In its
editorial this morning on the American
Governments reply to the German
note requesting mediation on the repa-
rations question, the London Times
says the reply was what might have
been expected. 1t observes that Presi-
dent Harding declines altogether to
arbitrate or mediate.
He could not. indeed. we'll afford
TO undertake either task after he had
just adopted the attitude toward Eu-
ropean entanglements taken in his re-
cent message to Congress" says the
newspaper.
The Times notes that DIR. Simons, the
German Foreign Minister. in his speech
in the Reichstag. professed to see in the
reply qualified acceptance Of the proposal
that president Harding act as mediator,
and also that the Reichstag docs not
appear to have agreed on this remark
able Interpretation of the Presidents fiat
refusal 10 undertake the Office
Abiding to the general distrust' of
Germany's calculations of reparations to
which DIR. Simons referred in his speech,
the Times says
Those cynical Americans, with their
long and intimate knowledge Of tho wiles
of fraudulent bankrupts on a grand scale,
are suggesting. it will be seen. that the
appeal In itself is a virtual admission
that Germany's capacity is variable
factor. depending on whether the Presi-
dent or the Allies fix the amount Of her
debt"
Like the Times, the Daily Neps says
the American reply was the only one
that could possibly have been made to
Germany.
TT would be inconceivable," the Daily
NeUs adds. that a third party should
intervene even II II desired to do so,
except on a simultaneous invitation by
both disputants, and the German pro-
posal speaks i'll for the political judg-
ment OF Fehrenbach and Simons."
This newspaper. which has been
strongly combating what Is has termed
Frances warlike plans, continues that
the American reply sounds note to
which the Premiers at Lympne cannot
close their ears"
What America wants" the Daily
Neacs adds, '.is an immediate resump-
ton of negotiations and the formulation
by Germany of proposals such as Presi-
dent Harding himself might possibly be
willing to commend to the Allies. IL
would be singular diplomacy on the part
of the Allies, who have the best reasons
for not running counter to Washing
toms views. to meet that suggestion with
q prompt occupation OF the Ruhr."
The Daily Chronicle says:
I'm view OF the hopes freely expressed
in Berlin that America might be in
duced TO take a line adverse to her
wartime associates, the timely signifi-
canoe Of the reply scarcely needs 10 be
underlined"
"Germanys was a forlorn hope" the
Daily Mdips editorial says. There
never was any doubt that the United
states would see through all the trickery
of the Boches. In the recommendation
promptly to formulate proposals pre-
senting a proper basis for discussion the
Germans got sound advice from Presi-
dent Harding which they will do well to
heed--after they have paid what they
owe UP to date"