Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1921-04-07
GERMANY MUST
SETTLE.IN FULL
Attitude Of Harding Administra-
ton Toward Preparations
Learned Officially.
OBVIOUSLY VVIANIS ANSWER
Berlin Must Be Forced to Accept Full
Moral Responsibility for War
and Pay to the Extent
of Her Ability.

Washington, April 4.-Rene Viviani,
envoy extraordinary from France seek
Ing light on Americas attitude toward
German payment of reparations, got
his answer when the United States
governments position was specifically
stated as being one of firUness on
Germany's paying to the full extent
of her ability.
That statement was not made pub
lie to the French envoy, but coming
as 1t did on the heels of his official
conferences and coming officially, 1t
was accepted as the reply. The ex-
act statement of the administration
policy was as follows:
"This administration holds firm to
the position that Germany should be
forced to accept the full moral re-
sponsibility for the war and should
pay to the full extent Of her ability,
that amount to be determined by a
fair and just process"
Then in the same breath the high
official of the government who pro-
claimed the Harding policy, added
that it was absurd" for anyone to
figure that, after participating in the
prosecution of the war to success
full conclusion, tive would even consid-
er taking any other position"
Furthermore, this declaration in
behalf of the administration came 81
simultaneously with the news that Ger
many, evidently aroused by the Viviani
mission, has been striving to get some
reparations expression from this coun-
try. 1t was admitted at the State de-
NAL notes received through American
Commissioner Dresel at Berlin.
However, would not dignity
them by styling them formal pleas for
action on our part in connection with
the reparations settlement" said an
official at the State department.
The statement of policy is taken to
indicate that the administration will
not press for passage Of the Knox
separate peace resolution without
amendments which will clearly define
the American position alongside the
nAAAOo Az VIC AAultCA VI 1OpdldIAOu6s
At the same time it has hushed talk Of
Immediate withdrawal of the American
army of occupation from the Rhine.
In the conversations he has had
with administration officials and lead
ers of congress, NJ. Yiviani, 1t was DIS
closed, has revealed that France is
preparing to adopt measures tar more
drastic than any she has taken thus
far to exact payments from Germany,
for which the French people have
been making an insistent clamor.
In the enforcement Of these meag-
ures. France is seeking the co-opera-
ton Of the United States. According
to M. Viviani this does not necessar-
lily involve material help, but simply
the assurance that the United States
is in complete accord with the French
demands and the action she takes to
compel Germany to meet them.
If this can be accomplished, 1t is
the opinion of the French that the
moral effect of it alone will persuade
Germany to withdraw its protest
against the terms of reparations, and
at the same time serve to stimulate
the morale of the French people. 1t
is no secret that the French as we'll
as the OTTER allies have regarded the
refusal of the United States to par
ticipate in the reparations demands as
direct encouragement to Germany in
her attempts to evade damages.