Norwich bulletin., 1921-04-22
Allied Governments.

vovsrnment refused today an urgent re- sr~4 of +he German government that pre~sent Harding mediate the question f,f v,enarations between Germany ana lne allies and fix the sum Germany IS GO pay The United States agreed, no"eVer, that if Nthe German government "ouio formulate promptly such proposas re gardinE reparations "as would presen. --ooer basis for discussion, 1t would ..consSder bringing the matter to the stter,ion of the allied governments m ,n.rnar acceptable to them in order that ,s~osiations may speedily be resumed:
 Germany's appeal, signed by Cnancei- ,,- rehrenhach and Foreign Minister Sl- -,.,. waa directed to President Harding .r5 vas transmitted through Amer1can S-nv,r,iesioner Dresel, at Berlin It was .n-rrred by Secretary Hughes after conference late today with the presloehV at the White House.
 The texts of both the appeal and re- niv were made public tonight by the state s.nartment. The communication rom saritn said the German government was ready and willing" to agree without oralincat ton or reservation to pay suc1i -,,ua as the president after examination ana investigation might 'hnd Just anu right and ''to fulh1 in letter ana splrn all the urCv1S1OnS OI any e be made by him"
 1n renlv Secretary Hughes said:
 sThi. government could not agree to ,,adiate the question of reparations with a view to acting as umpire in it's settle rnsnt Impressed. however, with the se- rionenes. of the issues involved as they affect the whole world. the government or Inc United States feels itself to be deep lv concerned with the question of obtain Ing an early and just solution. This gov ,rrnnent strongly desires that there rhouId he an immediate resumption or nerotiatfons and reiterates its earnest none. That the German government Will promptly formulate such proposals as urc,,I5 nresent . proper basis for discus .ion. should the German government take his eo,,rse. this government will consider hrlnr1ne the matter So the attention or he allied governments in manner ac- eeptable to them in order that negoCia- lions may speedily be rssunned. < A
 (5e~rnanyss appeal was regarded in oh- -s.i .nd diuIornatic> Washington as a re- .-narknble ono. It was pointed out that lt was directed to the head of nation which Germany still is technically at war and which has troops on It's soil Referencs to the state of war was made n the German communication, the chan ceiior and foreign n11niscer- declaring hat notwithstanding this they petitioned Inc president fin the name of the Ger man 1xovernment and the German peo- pIe," with 'the confident hope" that the appeal would be granted.
 This was the second communication deaiinr with rerarations addressed to tA1e United States by the German gov srnment and apparently it was not un- expected by ministration officials. as The reply went forward . few hours af- ter is- had been received at the state de- pzrtment.
 The German memorandum was handed 10 Commissioner Dresel yesterday and reached Washington today. Secretary auehes considered 1t, and late in the day conferred with the president at the White House His visit was brief and soon after his return to the department word came that texts of both the Ger man note and the American reply would be made public within a few hours.
 Germany has until May 1 to meet the demands of the allies that the first in staIlment in cash on the reparations bil be paid. Premiers Lloyd George, of Grea1 Britain. and Br4and of France, are tt meet Sunday in England to discus. measures to be taken if Germany fail. to meet the allied demand. It has beer
 
 the occupation of additional German ter ritory and other penalties in the even of failure to comply.
 What steps Germany has taken to naee the allied demands or to what exten nov proposals regarding reparation have been prepared are not known here From the urgent nature of the German appeal 1t was the belief of some officiah and diplomats that the Berlin govern rnent found itself in an extreme position
 In its first memorandum to the Unit ed States with respect to reparatious which was drawn on last March 24. Ger many said she was ready to meet an, proposal which appeared feasible "fo the solution of the economic and finan cizi problems of Europe" and that sh Invited the examination by unbiased ex perts of her own ability to make pay ment It was added that it was entirel, clear to both the people and the govern ment that Germany would have to pa, to the limit of her ability.
 In replying to this memorandum, Sec retary Hughes said that the Unite States stood with the governments of tn allies in holding Germany 'responsibl for the war and therefore, morally boun .. to make reparation 50 far as may b possible"
 This government" Mir Hughes con tinued. believes that 1t recognizes in tn memorandum of Dr. Simons sincere de sire on the part of the German govern ment to reopen negotiations with the al lies on a new basis and hopes that sue negotiations. once resumed, may lead t a prompt settlement which will at tn same time satisfy the just claims of tn allies and permit Germany hopefully t renew it's productive acHvities.''
 The German appeal received today an Mr. Hughes reply were made public b the stabe department without coxfrlen and high administration officers decline to discuss either of them.