The New York herald., 1921-02-18
GERMANY COUNTS
UPON HARDING TO
AID HER PLIGHT
France Sees Berlin Foreign
Minister as Expecting New
President to Save Her
From Allies.
LATTER ANXIOUS ALSO
Pertinent Inquiries Likely
to Be Addressed to Wash
ington Calling for An
swer at Once.
ASK GERMAN PROPOSALS
British and French Seek to
Learn Berlin Views and
Latter May Refuse to At
tend Conference.
ASK GERMAN PROPOSALS
By LAURENCE HILLS.

By LAURENCE HILLS.
Special CobIs to THE New YolK HxaALp.
co0yrsoht, 1891. b. THE NEW Yosx HmAIp.
New York Herald Bureau.
Paris. Feb. II. (
The recent discourses by DR.. Walter
simonA German Foreign Minister. on
0ermany's inability to meet the Allies
reparations demands. and particularly
DR.. Simons's Stuttgart speech last
week, are producing a violent re-
action in France that is more and
more having the effect of fastening
all eyes on President-elect Harding.
This fact stands out in all the latest
discussions provoked by DR.. Simons's
reference to America, wherein French
opinion sees the German Foreign Min
ister as envisaging the new President
Of the United States as arbiter in the
situation expected to develop In Lon
oon wnen the Germans present their
counter proposals.
That pertinent inquiries are to be
dQui c5ScQ W tiic <1lACS SOiiCCtANCly
and individually to Mr.. Harding all
most on the very day of his Inaugural
ton as President now appears certain.
These inquiries will be addressed to
the Washington Administration while
the London negotiations are on and
will show the desire on the part OF the
Allies for a more or less immediute
answer. and, therefore, II would be
we'll for the new Republican Admin
istration to be prepared
pranoe Forced to Act.
DR.. simons's attitude is seen here
as virtually forcing this step, il not
upon the Allies collectively. certainly
upon France individually.
The main question to be asked is:
What IL to be the position of the
United States Government toward the
Allies vis-a-vis Germany concerning
separations? Is she to be regarded as
neutral. or must the Allies count upon
her moral support al least being on
the German side II the Paris repara-
lions terms are adhered to? Also. as
an evidence Of her attitude. does she
intend to keep an American detach-
ment on the Rhine In one OF the key
positions should the military sane
lions contained in the Treass Of Ver-
sailles have to be appued7
II Is clear that President Wilson had
few graver decisions 20 make than Mr.
mill ha railCd mako
soon. s.-
Following Evasion Tactics.
D. The Temps says tonight that lit Is
upon Gott und Harding that German
Diplomacy counts Continuing. It says:
.pr. simons, who has retained Count
Ir,rich Won Brockdorff- Rantzau tfor-
marty German Foreign Minister and who
headed the German delegation to Ver-
saiIles) as a collaborator is merely fol-
lowing. under another form. the policy
OF his predecessor in arriving at the
Versailles treaty. lie opposes the En-
.ente and is relying upon America
ssainst the Paris decision which Pre-
mier Lloyd George signed, and he is
appealing to Washington. When the
new washington administration comes
the Allies London decisions, Germany
believes she can inaneuvre then between
.he British and the Americans Just as
she did between the British and the
Russians before and during the Russo
Japanese war
The latest news received here seems
TO confirm reports that In situation
which mas grown tenser since DR.. Simons
started his speechmaldng tour In Ger
urttfuI M the French hQVS
asked the Berlin Government " II were
disposed to communicate TO them the
terms OF the German counter proposals
IN advance OF the London meeting. be-
ginning on March l. The consensus
here is that there ia little likelihood of
the Germans doing this
France May Quit.
In the present state Of French opinion
If the German counter proposals are
what they are reported to be--the French
might even refuse 70 attend the Lon
don meeting
The Journal even goes 30 far as TO say
'it would not be surprising II the con-
ference should become unnecessary be-
cause OF the derisive character OF the
German offers" \ Mayence despatch
70 the Echo de Parts says the German
proposals will be Intentionally de-
risive" To influence the piebiscite to be
heid IN Siiesia
Accepting 4 as certain that the two
runns--that demanded by the Allies and
that which the Germans are willing 70
agree 20 pay--1vili be far apart "Perti-
Yax.' writing In the Echo de Prris
stresses tho Importance OF .he Aneri-
can position in German eyes, the Ger.
mans feeling certain that the Entente
Allies will not resort to occupation OF
additional German territory In the event
~ q German refusal to meet the repars-
lions demands. because they think
Conttwued OF Thtrd Pdos.
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