The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-02-24
No Action Now On
Proposal to Accept
German Obligations
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright by Tho lctcllsSenccr

WashiagtQn. Feb 2& - Congress W.!
not act az this time on President WIZ
sons message submitunE IN" proposal
that the United States consider the ac-
reptanCe Of German rcpArAtionS bonds
N exchange for BelGiu:u'> dcOt t. Am
erica OF $lGlsNO.UpU. NUC does n" eN-
ccut'EH expect any aCtiun anti America
= convinced that the German r"paratlon
bonds are worth something.
This brings up The rCllre question OF
whether the recent decision OF the al
t.Cd prcmlerS 10 saddle Germany with
su enormous debr is wise and whether
america Will accept German rcparation
bonds as payment for anything II tn"
future
The United States diScrectly rcfraincd
from participating in the all"d council
AT which the reparatlon settlement w;lS
agreed upon and has even hrS!tat"d 10
express approval or diSapprQNal after
wards lest the present administration
he drawn into a diScuSslo'. OF rrpara-
ton questions which might b. enhIr-
uSS!nC 10 the Harding administration.
On tho other hand. the presentation 20
congress OF the proposal that German
rcparation bonds Dc used in exchange
:nr BclG;um'S war iHdebt CGaeSS 10 th'
United States involves u precedent OF
considerable importance.
Matter Of consistency
II America accepts German bonds a.,
a paymcDt for even - small :. debt. rci-
l.IN
| De cOu$!Stent for the United States u
refuse - accept German reparatiu1
bonds a. payment for the entir" allied
war debt: That - the question whIcn
members ot congress a~e aSk:n@ Th'
British and French poin' out that th'I
would be- even SuOr" generous than tie
United States for England and France
stand ready TO accept GcryaIu r.para-
tiun bonds amounting tN lfi.0nO, 0up
rounds or about $SUG. .OO0. 300 which iS
D., l..ls
adj Britain. II tt. British and French
Nthink IN" German repIr,Liiun bonds VII!
be worth $500 Doom Why can't tho
United States. u IL argued. aCcep; Their
Judgment
But tn" answer g,y"r here j. that
England md Franc" would fare rucn
better - tine end even If Germany r"par-
alton bonds were accepted 10 the amount
CC $500. 0n9. 600. because IN" transfer
from the allies o. the entire ?ndCbtcd-
ness - tn" United States - the backs
OF III" Germans would relieve Great Br!-
tain and France Of the greater part Of
Their .tnaucia: burdens to-day. Even
such :, course j. not considered 0UtSids
m" range OF roSs. b;ii.y ic tNe German
-nparr,t'ou bonds can bc made - pay.
BuJ America has STAYED out 0t tho lea
Suc o: nations and has thus far given
no intention that she wants to partirj-
pate IN the enforcement OF terms Of the
peace treaty OF Versailles or in the COL
lection Of the war Indemnity from Ger
many. Europe. OF course. would like
America 10 accept Germany repa ra tion
bonds because il would max" IN" United
States 500 more clearly tho necessity of
making Germany pay and would bring
america closer 10 European political az
fairs.
Srangulation Policy.
IN the other hand. American flnar-
rIcrS and men who have been advising
the United States government ever since
ne Paris copfercnCc, insist that IL !s
,hN allies and not Germany who mus:
be regulated. Cor in the mad scramble
10 get money out Of Germany tho allies
thus far have adopted policy ot
viewpoint. is bad business for the world
irrespective OF WhetHrr II attacks the
N,iu" Of German reparatlon bonds,
Americas position ~ expressed her" =
taar Germany must b" given - chance
to got back on her s"ct and that II tn"
e'nrS persist N u" policy OF draining
O. rmaHy ot uer capital and !eVE!ng an
export tax. for Instance. that Will In
In~trrr seriously with German trade op-
3o-tunltirS. ;he allies may as well ahan-
don any hop" that America Will believe
the ti"rDlaN PREPARATION bonds are worth
tho paper or which they are written.
. Th"r" - substantially no difference
"f opinion OF thiS question between Re
puh.ICanS and Democrats here. II - an
economic and not - partisan question
President Wilson pComtS"i TO present
IA" matter 20 congress when he was in
Paris n" could not refuse 20 do 50
without being dIScourteouS N Belgium.
Bui Nj Wilson'S OwE message 10 con-
gross contains significant phr:l SeS which
ndiCat, that he does not believe the
present ~ any rate :, faTorah bic moment
cor IN" acceptance hE congress OF the
proposition hH is submitting. Mr.. VIII
sons message says in part:
Il recommendation At this time that
Nu.tlh.c legislative action Should be
.Lkcu - somewhat premature. hut IN
N:ew - thr approaching termination "c
my adm :niS.-ut;oG. 7 have brought m"
matter 10 your attention.. hopir :hat
Suttahl. action may DC taken at the a1-
yro?rGltc time"
~" las; phrase "ut tn" a3prnrriatr
rtr,.." means when Germany and III"
allies ~"acu SOmS. agreement as I" tho
.>>uai;y, o: r"iE,rLtion bonds that VIZ!
satisfy the public oplujon of thc United
States M Wilson'S message to COR
;rrSE is I h3rt 20 tn" aNirS that even
though the United states may never
enter tie league OF nations. the r"pAra-
tion Ssrtl"rurUt must y" along economic
i.u,S that inspire confidence" n thc Glti-
mate ability 90 Germany TO pa! those
bonds pthcrw!sc IN" I3itcd States
VIII CONTINUES 10 .ooH 20 III" allies for
payment.
Rm~RF@ ALMA Rh@