Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1921-04-28
BERLIN APPEALS
TO U. s. FOR AID
Germans Ask President Harding
to Mediate Question of
Preparations.
REQUEST IS TURNED down
U. S. Executive Refuses to Act as jim.
pire-Reiterates Hope That German
Government Will Promptly Formu-
late Proper Proposals to Allies.


Berlin, April 23.-The German gov
eminent formally asked the President
of the United States to mediate in
the reparations question.
The note embodying the request was
forwarded Wednesday by Loring Ore
sci, the American commissioner in
Berlin, to the State department at
Washington. 1t was signed by Chancel-
lor Fehrenbach and DR.. Walter Sim
ons, the foreign minister.
Washington, April 23.-In it's APP
peal to President Harding. made pub
lie here, Germany asked that the Uni
ted States set the amount of repara-
tions Germany should be required to
pay.
In it's reply, also made public, the
United States said it could not agree
to mediate the question, but If the
German government would submit its
proposal, the United States would con-
slider bringing 1t to the attention of
the allied governments, "in manner
acceptable to them, in order that the
negotiations may be speedily re-
sumed."
The following is the text of the
German memorandum delivered to the
American commissioner at Berlin for
transmission to the State department /:
"In the name of the German govern
ment and the German people, the I'M
dersigned, Notwithstanding the still
existing technical state of war, re-
spectfully petition the President Of the
United States of America to mediate
the reparations question and to fix the
sum to be paid by Germany to the
allied powers and to eagerly urge MIN
to secure the consent of the allied
powers to such mediation. They
solemnly declare that the German peo-
pie are ready and willing to agree
without qualification or reservation to
pay to the allied powers as reparation
such sums as the President after ex-
animation and investigation may find
just and right. They formally pledge
themselves to fulfill in letter and
spirit all the provisions Of any award
that may be made by him.
with abiding faith in the right
eousness of this request and with I'm.
deniable sincerity Of purpose the Ger
man people through their constituted
government submit their appeal to the
President of the United States witt
the confident hope that it be granted
to the end that final award may be
made in accordance with right ant
justice to meet the heartfelt wishes Of
all civilized nations, and to avoid the
Unreasonable consequences Of immi
nent coercive measures and to pro
mote the peace OF the world
The following is the text Of the
reply Of the secretary of state, for
warded through the American com
missioner at Berlin:
This government could not agree
to mediate the question of reparation:
with view to acting as umpire il
its settlement. Impressed, however
with the seriousness of the issues in
volved as they affect the whole world
the government of the United State.
feels itself to be deeply concerned
with the question of obtaining .an earl.
and just solution. This government
strongly desires that there should b.
an immediate resumption of negotia
tions, and reiterates its earnest hop
that the German government vii
promptly formulate such proposals a
would present proper basis for dis
cussion. Should the German govern
ment take this course, this govern
ment will consider bringing the .-,at
ter to the attention of the allied go,
ernments in manner acceptable t
them, in order that negotiations ma
j, be speedily resumed"