The New York herald., 1921-04-22
Harding and Hughes Con-
slider Urgent Plea Sent by
Germany to Fix Size OF
Reparations.
WILL NOT BE UMPIRE
But Willing to Present to
Allies New Basis to Satisfy
Just Claims and Let Pro-
ductivity Resume.
BOTH NOTES MADE PUBLIC
Americas Reply Is Based OH
Germany's Apparently Sin
cere Desire to Reopen
Negotiations.
BOTH NOTES MADE PUBLIC
BZ he Associated Press.

WASHINGTON. April 21.--The Amer.
ican Government has refused an
urgent request Of the German Govern
ment that President Harding mediate
the question of reparations between
Germany and the Allies and fix the
sum Germany is to pay.
The United States agreed, however,
that If the German Government would
formulate promptly such proposals
regarding reparations las would pre-
sent a proper basis for discussion
ii would consider bringing the mat.
ter TO the attention Of the allied Gov
ernments in manner acceptable to
them in order that negotiations may
speedily be resumed
Germany's appeal, signed by Chan,
cellor Fehrenbach and Foreign Minis.
ter Simons, was directed to Presi
dent Harding and was transmitted
through American Commissioner Ellis
Loring Dresel al Berlin. 1t was
answered by Secretary Hughes after
a conference late to-day with the
President at the White House.
Text or Correspondence Issued.
The text Of both the appeal and
the reply were made public tonight
by the State Department The com.
munication from Berlin said the Ger
man Government was ready and
willing to agree without quallfica-
ton or reservation to pay such sum
rs the President after examination
and investigation might find just
and right" and ito fulfil in letter and
spirit all the provisions Of any award
that may be made by him."
In reply Secretary Hughes said
the Washington Government could not
agree TO mediate fhe question OF
reparations with view to acting "a
umpire in its settlement. but If Ger
many would formulate such proposals
as would present a proper basis for
discussion this Government will con-
slider bringing the matter to the atten-
tion Of the allied Governments.
Germany's appeal was regarded In
official and diplomatic Washington
as remarkable one. II was pointed
out that It was directed 70 the head
of a nation with which Germany still
is technically at war and which has
troops on its soil. Reference TO the
state of war was made In the Ger
man communication. the Chancellor
and Foreign Minister declaring that
Notwithstanding this they petitioned
the President lin the name of the
German Government and the German
people" with "the confident hope"
that the appeal would be granted.
Germany's second Attempt.
This was the second communication
dealing with reparations addressed to
! the United States by the German
Government and apparently II was
not unexpected by Administration
officials. as the reply went forward
few hours after 1t had been received
at the State Department. The Ger.
man memorandum was handed -
Commissioner Drescl yesterday and
reached Washington to-day. Secre.
tary Hughes considered Il. and late
IN the day conferred with the Presi
dent at the White House. His visit
was brief and soon after his return 70
the department Il was said the texts
OF both the German note and the
American reply would be made public
within few hours.
Germany has until May to meet
I tho demands Of the Allies that the
I first iustalment IN cash on the
reparutlons bill be paid. Premiers
/ Lloyd George Of Great Britain aud
BRAND OF France are to meet Sun.
day in England TO discuss measures
to be taken II Germany fails to meet
the Allies demand. II has been re-
ported that FNnce would insist upon
the occupation OF additional German
territory and other penalties IN the
event Of failure to comply.
What steps Germany has taken to
meet the allied demands or to what
extent new proposals regarding rcpas-
ations have been prepared are not
known here. From the urgent nature
OF the German appeal II was the BE-
! lief Of some officials and diplomats thai