The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-30
ACTION OF j. s.
ON GERMAN Note
SUITS ALLIES
CONTINUED from Page One.)

CONTINUED from Page One.)
is. Therefore, the German maneuv-
or of mediation through the United
States government has Temporal
lily, at least, fallen through. An
eleventh hour attempt to stop the
occupation of the Ruhr can still
be made by Germany either through
the United States or directly
through allied diplomatic repre-
sentatives in Berlin, but it is hard
ly expected.
The. original German proposal,
however, lies on the desk of Sec
rotary Hughes Enacted upon. The
cabinet meeting here cannot ad-
wise any affirmative course but SIM
ply must wait developments. There
has been a good deal of talk to
the effect that the United States
government has not from the be-
ginning been DESTROYS of finding
out whether the German proposal
was acceptable but whether It
would afford a basis for negotia-
tons. Inasmuch as officially the
American government has not yet
transmitted the document to the
allies, the chances are that the su-
preme council will not comment
on the German proposal either as
to its merit as basis for negotia-
ton or anything else.
| Chance Still Open.
One important fact remains, how
ever. And the allies are deeply
sensible Of that fact It is that
the Germans have formally placed
before the United States govern
ment a document which the Amer.
lean government can answer il Il
chooses either now or next weel
after the Ruhr valley has been oc
cupied. America, in other words
has become a means of communica
ton between Germany and the al
lies and if the United States wishe'
ito adopt the role Of mediator mex
week, that position is still open Il
the Washington government.
But the allies view such q con
tingency with peculiar emotions
They insist that II the Unite,
States acts as an Intermediary tn
Washington government automatic
ally deserts the allies and become
more or less neutral as between
the allies on the one hand and tn
Germans on the other hand and l
no longer a party in the PREPARATION
question ON the side of the allies
This the allies declare means ais
that any proposition made by Ger
many and transmitted by the Unit
ed States will eventually have I
be underwritten by the Unite
States. Will the United States b
ready to furnish military or ecc
nomic support to the allies II tn
Germans after agreeing to pay de
! eide to repudiate their promises
The allies amagine that an admin
istration which has repudiated th
League Of Nations and entangle
ment in European affairs will de
cline to take the responsibility {
mediating in a European affair, a.
though to be sure the allies woul
be happy to have the United State
underwrite. German promises eithe
financially or otherwise. In othe
words, will America as a negotial
or for Germany accept the respons
Utilities which any agent assume
in carrying on any transaction fc
his principal?
U. s. Perplexed.
The department of state
weighing these considerations cart
fully and the entire administratio
is disinclined to get mixed up !
the reparations controversy at al
and II Germany imagines she hs
pleased the American governmeI
by dropping the reparation prol
lem on the doorstep Of the Whit
house she is much mistaken. n
United States government has rar,
ly been SO perplexed. On the or
hand. the Germans ask the Unite
States to mediate. On the otht
hand. they publish all the doc
3 ments and automatically prevel
diplomatic conversations and n
lgotiations. The United States 20
, eminent for the moment il doir
l nothing but following the wish,
of the allies and thus far the ID
ter. have expressed no desire
receive officially the terms Of Il
German proposal. Next week. Il
Germans may make q new offer n
the allies may be ready to di
: cuss terms but the only langua,
which the allies believe will
2 effective in causing the Germa.
to clear up the reparations tang
Is the language Of the military
Tho Wealth-coyered coal fields