Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-22

government refused today an urgent
request of the German government
that President Harding mediate the
question of reparations between
Germany and the allies and fix the
sum Germany is to pay. The United
States agreed however, that if the
German government would formu-
late promptly such proposals regard
ing reparations "as would present a
proper basis for discussion" it would
consider bringing the matter to the
attention of the allied governments
in a manner acceptable to the in or
der that negotiations may speedily
be resumed.
Germany's appeal, signed by Chan
cellor Fehrenbach and foreign Min
lister Simons was directed to Presi-
dent Harding and was transmitted
through American Commissioner
Dresel at Berlin at Berlin it was
answered by Secretary Hughes after
conference late today with the
President at the White House.
The texts of both the appeal and
the reply were made public tonight
by the state department. The COM
munication from Berlin said the Ger
man government was ready and
willing to agree without qualifica-
ton or reservation to pay such sum
as the President after examination
and investigation might find just
and right" and "to fulfill in letter
and spirit all the provisions of any
award that may be by him. ,y--
, In reply Secretary Hughes said.
This government could not agree
to mediate the question of repara-
tons with a view to acting as UNI
pire in it's settlement. Impress,
however, with the seriousness of the
issues involved as they affect the
whole world, the government of the
United States feels itself to be deep
/ ly concerned with the question of OBJ
tanning an early and just solution.
This government strongly desires
that there should be an immediate re-
sumption of negotiations and reit-
crates it's earnest hope that the Ger
man government will promptly for
/ mulate such proposals as would pre-
sent proper basis for discussion.
Should the German government take
| this course, this government will
| consider bringing the matter to the
| attention of the allied governments
| in a manner acceptable to them in
order that negotiations may speedily
| be resumed
Germany's appeal was regarded in
! diplomatic and official Washington as
a remarkable one. 1t was pointed
! out that it was directed to the head
| of a nation with which Germany
| still is technically at war and which
has troops on it's soil.
| Reference to the state of war was
made in the German communication,
| the chancellor and foreign minister
| declaring that Notwithstanding this
| they petitioned the President "in the
name Of German government and
the German people" with "the con-
! fident hope" that the appeal would
| be granted.
| This was the second communication
| dealing with PREPARATIONS addressed
| to the United States by the German
government and apparently it was
| not unexpected by administration
| officials as the reply went forward
a fe whours after it had been re-
! ceived at the state department. The
German memorandum was handed
/ to Commissioner Dresel yesterday
and reached Washington today.
! Secretary Hughes considered it, and
| late in the day conferred with the
President at the White House. His
visit was brief and soon after his re-
turn to the department word came
| that the texts of both the German
note and the American reply would
| be made public within a few hours.
Germany has until May ! to meet
| the demands of the allies that the
1 first installment in cash on the
| reparations bill be paid. Premiers
! Lloyd George of Great Britain and
BRAND of France are to meet Sun
day in England to discuss measures
to be taken if Germany fails to meet
the allied demand.
| 1t has been reported that France
would insist upon the occupation of
additional German territory and
! other penalties in the event of fail
| ure to comply
| What steps Germany has taken to
meet the allied demands or to what
extent new proposals regarding re-
parations have been prepared are not
/ known here. From the urgent nature
of the German appeal it was the be-
! lief Of some officials and diplomats
! that the Berlin government found it
self in an extreme position. In it's
! first memorandum to the United
States with respect to reparations
which was drawn on last March "a.
Germany said she was ready to meet
any proposal which appeared feas-
| ible "for the solution of the economic
and financial problems of Europe
and that she invited the examination
by unbiased experts of her own abil-
] ity to make payment. 1t was added
that It was entirely clear to both the