Evening star., 1921-04-24
BY ANDRE TARDIE:U,
Former Head Of French High COM
mission to America.

mission to America.
BY Cable to The Star
PARIS, April 23.-We are now ira
Sersing period of waiting and
preparation. The course of events
lacks definite direction. Yet sew
eral salient points stand out.
First, We are awaiting a con-
crete decision which will determine
American foreign policy. The new
exchange of notes between Berlin
and Washington has been at least a
step in that direction.
Second, We are awaiting a deter
mination of the reparations commits
sion concerning Germany's total debt
NhiS has been promised for May. Per-
haps the new negotiations centering
on Washington may mean delay.
Third, We are awaiting such further
proposals as Germany may make be-
fore May l. particularly in view Of
the plain intimation to Berlin from
Washington that something definite
must be advanced by the Germans.
Fourth. We are awaiting final de-
cislon as to the coercive measures
to be taken if the new negotiations
fail and it becomes necessary to
handle refractory debtor.
This uncertainty makes comment
difficult and forbids definite con-
ClOSlOnS.
Germany obviously has intended to
profit by this uncertainty and to re-
sumo her old game of attempting to
divide the allies.
Won Simons, the German foreign
minister, with the aid of the chan
cellor, in his latest move on the repa-
rations chesSboard. seeks mediatorS
in a situation which requires none.
> Czechoslovakia fatty refused to in
tervene. The Pope has failed to heed
similar appeal.
Modification Of Treaty.
And now the American Secretary of
State, Mr.. Hughes, acting for Presi-
many's hopes of mediation" He
says, in effect. that the United States
will be glad to call to the attention
of the allies any definite proposals
inference is plain that the United
States will consider these proposals
in company with the allies. The
Hughes note shows anew that the
United States is not willing to annul
the sacred claims of our war vic
Tins against Germany.
In this connection let me point out
that the United States, by following
q course outlined in President Hard
ings message to Congress, can play
and 80 of the treaty of Versailles
contain a formula permitting the
United States to play such a role.
The formula reads:
This article shall not apply as be-
tween the United States on the one
hand and Germany on the other
BY applying this formula, through
agreement with the allies, to such
other articles of the treaty to which
the new administration at Washing
ton does not wish to subscribe the
whole of the remainder can promptly
be put in force and the group of
nations which won the war against
Germany be reconstructed.
Some Americans recently have writ
ten that the Knox resolution, more or
less completed by a declaration of
general principles. would satisfy
France ] cannot allow this misun-
have cabled several times. what
Francs asks Of America is just what
Mr. Harding's presidential message
proclaims, namely. the ratification Of
the essential bases of the peace in
conformity with the essential bases
of the war. French public opinion re-
mains unanimous on that subject.
Our meaning is far from the meaning
of the Knox resolution.
Cost of Reconstruction.
have just returned from a three
day visit to the devastated region of
the Chemin des Danes. a theater of
war during ffty-two months of con-
slant battle. 1 examined scores of
villages in detail All Of the inhab-
itants-are working. but they are liv-
ing in huts, for no houses have been
rebuilt. I also examined contractors
books 1t is undeniable that con-
struction which cost 10000 francs in
1914 would cost hundreds of thou
sands today. This comparison. which
is general throughout the destroyed
zone. will explain the high figures at
which the reparations commission
necessarily must arrive. Some per-
sons expect lower figure because