The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-25
UNEXPLAINED DELAY IN
TRANSMISSION OF new
COuNTER-PR0P0SALS
Document Said to Contain
Offer More Acceptable
Allied Countries.

Washington, April Ss-There
has been an unexpected delay In
the transmission from Berlin Of
the German counter.proposals
on reparadons which were
handed last night to American
Commissioner Dresel at tho
German capital State depart
ment officers had expected to,
have the document before them
At the beginning Of business to.
day, but when they reached
their Offices they found that 1t
had not reached the depart.
ment
The German memorandum
was understood to be = long one
and II 80 1t probably was not
put on tho cables until Late last
night as considerable time
would have been required for
coding II. Probably an equally
long time will be necessary for
its DECIDING after Its arrival
here.
In advance Of the receipts Of
the document administration
officials declined to comment on
its reported contents, nor would
they indicate whether it would
be made public i'm .ediately
after Its arrival 1t was gener.
ally expected, however, that
the text would be withheld m.
til Secretary Hughes could con.
fer with President Harding and
with the French aud British
ambassadors.
As the forenoon woro away
without any sign Of the German
note, officials began to be pug.
xled regarding the delay. They
could offer no explanation as
NO word had come from Com.
missioner Dresel.
1t was indicated that the do.
partment was without inf0rnla-
tiOn rs to the contents OF the
German communication.
Washington, April 25.-Presiden
Harding and Secretary Hughe
were expected TO give immedlat
consideration to Germany's cOun
ter-prOposals regarding reparations
which were dispatched from Berlil
last night. The communication
embodying them, was forwarded b,
Loring Dresel, American commits
sioner at the German capital, AMI
was understood to be of grea
length. 1t was believed, however
that it would be decided In time TO
early study at the executive de
partments.
Any action the American govern
ment may see tit to take in the mat
ter of transmitting the proposal
to the allied powers, it Is under
stood, will be determined only afte
conferences between Secretar
Hughes and the allied diplomat
representatives here. This cours
has been decided upon in order tha
the transmission will be in a man
ner acceptable to them, and at tn
same time will guard against tn
assumption by the United States o
obligations which might prove EN-
barraSsing.
Secretary Hughes has made clea'
that the American government doe
not propose to act as mediator II
the matter, but only to conside
calling proposals TO the attention
of the allies.
Keep Note Secret.
Berlin, April 25.-(Associate'
Press The German government
is refraining from making publ
today its note to the United State
on reparations, in order TO Civ
President Harding. it is explained
an opportunity to consider an
make inquiries concerning it If b
desires, before forwarding it to tn
allies.
Germany's contemporaries o
reparations, 1t was learned toda.
refrain from proposing the a
sumption by Germany OF the allie
debts to the United States.
The payment by Germany Of tv
hundred billion gold marks for rel
arations is. roughly. the propos'
submitted by Germany for tran
mission to the allies, according
sources close to the government
The payments will be spread ov'
a period Of from 30 to AZ years,
less, according to Germanys &C
nomic recovery. Economic pledg
As- 4 ~ sexkx