Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-03
LET GERMANY PAY
j. s., ALLIES SAY
By DAVID LAWRENCE
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal.)
DOWNRIGHT 1921


WASHINGTON. April 30.-Al-
though the United States government
has thus far avoided any comment
On the merits Of the latest German
proposal on reparations. there is one
paragraph in the note upon which the
allied governments would like an an
swer from Washington. be it official,
unofficial, informal. oral or couched
in any other diplomatic language
available. 1t is the paragraph in
which Germany formally expresses
her willingness to assume the allied
indebtedness to the United States ap-
proximating 0,000,000,000. Germany
says on this point:
"In case the United States and the
allies should so desire. Germany
would be disposed to take over to the
limit of her capacity the payment of
the allied obligations to the United
States on account Of their debt to the
latter"
The allies are perfectly willing.
They always have been. They would
gladly transfer the debt they owe the
United States to the backs of the
Germans. The preceding admln1stra-
ton agreed to submit similar prop
oSition with respect to the Belgian
debt, but it has never been acted
upon by our congress. Now the ques-
ton arises whether the German Sug-
geStion meets with the American gov
ernments approval.
The allies have insisted that the
United States in transmitting any
German proposal acquired certain
responsibility for the fulfillment by
Germany Of her promises. Now 1t is
declared if the United States trans
mits the German note as "a suitable
basis" for negotiations, America
tacitly admits that she will consider
owed America to the Germans for
payment. :
strongly against any such trans
ferance and President Harding has
been known to hold the view that
the foreign loans made by the Unit
ed States to the allies were a valued
asset. There isn't the slightest
chance of America agreeing to the
German proposal for transferance
of the debts even though the allies
may so desire. On the other hand,
can America avoid saying so and
thus puncturing as unacceptable at
least one clause in the German repair
alton proposal?
That's the question which is be-
ing discussed among diplomats ana
it would not be surprising If this
particular dilemma had as much to
do with the hesitation of the depart
ment of state to forward the Ger
man proposals to the allies as the
apparent unWillingnesS of the allies
to receive the German note at this
time.
The more the situation develops
the more the allied governments are
pleased with the apparent recognI-
ton by the Washington adm1nlstra-
ton that the problems of the world.
To-, 81 o1-nt ~ of
avoided by America. The vote on
the Knox resolution declaring state
of peace with Germany comes at the
very moment when Secretary Hughes
is hoping the influence of the United
States may be properly eXerted for
the resumption of negotiations over
the entire reparation question. In
fact, he is in the position of court
ing new proposals from Germany
which he may present TO- the allies.
After the supreme council has acted
and France has ordered her troops
into the Ruhr valley such proposals
will unquestionably be made by Ger
many and the discussion will pro-
coed. Germany is not in position
to resist. She therefore must con-
tinue to bargain, negotiate, discuss
and finally yield.
Reparation negotiations probably
will go on for several weeks and ul-
timately the allies expect the United
States to have definite voice in
the settlement. Few of the diplo-
mats here see how the United States
can maintain silence while her big
gest debtors arrange for payments
with Germany which may affect the
export trade of the United States.
1t was the determination of this
administration to keep out of Eu-
ropean affairs as much as possible.
But events are much more COMPEL
ing than it ever seemed they would
hbe when the political campaign was
| in progress last summer. The Har-
ding administration finds foreign af-
fairs a thorn in the side of every
attempt to concentrate on domestic
nrOhlnnlS