Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-04-22
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An Appeal and a Reply.

I6THidHy eAtfdOl ulIidiy Dlcd "
President Harding. praying him ito
mediate in the Preparations question
and to fix the sum to be paid by Ger
many to the allied powers" has had
its answer. There are many to whom,
in view of the preposterous character
of the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. proposal, a
more pungent rebuke than that ad-
ministered would have appealed. But
when all is said and done the reply SO
promptly forwarded by Secretary
Hughes to Berlin will serve very effec
lively to disabuse the German mind
Of the theory that the United States
could be prevailed upon to attempt to
usurp the functions Of the Preparations
commission. 1t may even bring home
to the astoundingly sluggish German
mind a realization Of the fact that the
only way to avoid forcefuI enforce
ment of the terms of the treaty Of
Versailles is to make a sincere effort
to live up to the pledges made to the
allies.
The German petition takes it's place
as one of the most astonishing of state
communications. Addressed to a ma
ton with which Germany is still in a
technical state of war, it declares that
she lis ready and willing to agree
without reservation or qualification to
pay to the allied powers as reparation
such sum as the President Of that ma
ton, after examination and investiga-
ton, may find just and right" After
which none-too-subtle f1attery of the
President of the United States, it pro-
poses that, because of absolute Ger
man confidence in his sense of JUS
tice. he be led into a course which
would connote disbelief on our part
Of the justice of the demands of the
allies; that we say to them, in effect,
Since you cannot be fair in this, how
about turning the matter over to me?"
No more excellent example Of that
combination Of German duplicity and
credulity which is leading her to bitter
consequences could be afforded. De-
spite all that we have said, Germany
apparently still believes that there is
a difference between the United States
and its former allies as to the justice
OF the latter's reparation claims. There
il no such difference. Nor has this
government been given sufficient evil
dence Of Germany's sincerity of pur.
pose, Of her honor in fulfilling her
pledge. to incline it to place much
weight in new pledges. however sol.
snanly" made. On it's face the appeal
looks like an effort to substitute, for
q judgment duly rendered and en-
forcible. one not duly rendered and
probably not enforcible.
The reply of Secretary Hughes, for
all its moderation. leaves no doubt as
to where we stand. It informs Ger
many that we refuse to mediate a
matter as to which the victorious sig
natories of the treaty of Versailles
have the final word. 1t expresses the
earnest hope that the German gov
eminent will avoid the imminent con-
sequences Of its bad faith by promptly
formulating such proposals as would
present a proper basis for discussion"
the implication being that none Of
the many proposals it has made up to
this time offers, in our opinion, such a
basis. And 1t says that if the German
government prefers to have us sub
NIT those proposals to the allies, rather
than to do so herself. we may do so.
Germany's last shifty maneuver has
been blocked. 1t now remains for her
to evidence a real desire to meet her
engagements. or to suffer the con.
sequences.