Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-27
GERMANY AT HER OLD TRICKS

TERMANI is playing for position and
" time. Lest any doubt should be enter
tancd on this score. the Berlin Government
is unashamed TO confess this major prin-
ciple of its diplomacy
The latest reparations program dispatched
TO Washington contains this significant
clause: "If it is believed by the American
Government that another form of proposals
would make the matter easier to handle. the
German Government asks that it be notified
on the points on which modification appears
desirable to the American Government"
in other words. while sparring for place.
Germany is pleased to make extrnvagant
and fantastic propositions upon the theory
that something may be saved from the
wreckage after revision has been applied.
Reasoning of this type was evident in the
German peace offers of the autumn Of 1918,
II is worth noting that while such tactics
did not prevent progress in the negotiations.
these were carried to point which meant
the surrender of the original German posi-
tions.
There arc indications that history will
repeat itself. 1t is inconceivable that the
Allies will listen TO reparations plan
based upon the condition that the regime
Of penalties must cease. The occupation
OF the Saar valley and the Rhine district
gumcnt in support Of the execution Of the
Versailles treaty. Under the new proposal
Germany pledges herself to pay 10000 000-
ono gold marks. a sum approximate to the
financial demands of the Allies, providing
that the international pact shall BE- re-
opened and reargucd. In this case the Allies
would forgo material advantages for the
sake of German promise.
Such portions Of the scheme as directly
affect the United States are equally remark
able To begin with. Germany suggests
the appointment of an unbiased commission
10 tiS the total sum Of her war rcparations
which she pledges 10 accept as binding and
10 carry out in good faith.
l. is not easy to reconcile this proposal
with that Of the specified total of indcmn.
ties. Neither does tho suggestion bctraN
the least comprehension Of the categorical
"No" uttered by Secretary Hughes when he
informed Germany on April II that "this
government could not agree to mediate the
question Of rcparations with view to acting
as umpire in its settlement
TantamOunt 10 acting as mediator would
he the acceptance by the United states of
the role in which the responsibilities OF
naming an unbiased commission would be
assumed. As she has often done in the pas' :,
Germany still clings to proposal after 1t
has been fatty rejected.
The offer to accept the allied financial
obligations to the United States to the limit
Of Germany's capacity is illuminated in Il
dispatch from Berlin which declares that
payment will be made in goods. The pros
poet Of grand dumping carnival is ono
which decidedly lacks appeal for most
Americans II is. indeed. another form OF
tho bogic which has been alarming the Eng
lish. II appears that Germany wishes to
transfer the scare to this side of the At
iantic.
But perhaps the most extraordinary no.
ton advanced by the Berlin foreign Office
is 70 be found in the insisrence that once
the indcmnities scheme is adopted. Ger
many's other rcparations and obligations
will be annullcd and all German private
property in foreign countries be released.
should the State Department view this
idea with any favor. Mr.. Knox would dc
we'll to treat his peace resolution to ar
transformations interment, Stupid and H.
logical as is his plan for disposing OF th'
international situation. the scheme is for
tifcd by American possession OF German
property. which thus became a bargainin:
asset. If this pawn is 10 be given up, th'
| United States will be entirely without any
means Of cicrting pressure on German!
should action ever be taken upon separate
| treaty nonsense.