New-York tribune., 1921-04-18
Germany Drops
Idea of Appeal
To Neutrals
Berlin Doubts That Any
Definite Plan for Pay
ment of War Debt Will
Be Offered Tomorrow
Two Proposals Suggested
Financing of Reparations
i'm u. S. Still Figures in
Program of the Cabinet
By Joseph Shaplcn
Ru Wirclnaato The Trihun1c


Copyright. 1921, New York Tribune Inc
BERLIN, April l7.-Dr. Walter
Simons. German Foreign Minister, will
be ready to present preliminary
statement regarding Germanys war
bill on Tuesday, the Tribune CORE
spondent learns, but doubt is expressed
whether any definite new set of pro-
posals will be Forthcoming at that
time. Cabinet members and their ad-
visers have been discussing daily the
questions Of what Germany can offer
to pay, but tho conferences arc still in
developmcntal stage. None of the
economic and financial experts have
yet been called in.
1t is learned authoritativcly that the
various predictions of what the next
German offer to the Allies will con-
tain, printed both here and in the for
eign press, are all without foundation.
This may be regarded as the govern
ment's way of saying that it has aban-
doncd all idea of seeking mediation by
some neutral power and of the trans
fer of the French and British debts to
America to Germany's shoulders.
In Berlin it is denied that the gov
ernment has specifically sounded out
the Harding Administration as to
take over the Allied debts would be
acceptable to the United States.
Two Proposals Suggested
BERLIN, April II (By The Asso-
tions evidently is giving the German
Cabinet great trouble. No official state
ment has been made concerning the
matter, but two proposals are being
favored.
The first proposal contemplates Ger
many assuming the Allied indebted
ness to the United States, and the
second that the Allies should be given
something like a onethird share in a
number of the principal German indus
tries.
The Tagliche Rundschau thinks the
second proposal would be acceptable to
the German industrial leaders and that
it might be realized by an issue of pre-
ferred shares carrying definite mini
mum dividend and priority over all
existing shares or debentures.
PARIS, April II (By The Associated
Press).-A military and civil general
termine the precise manner Of action
in the Ruhr district in the event Of
occupation after May /. The military
plans, fully completed long since by
the staff of Marshal Foch, are quite
elastic enough, it is learned on good
authority, to adapt themselves to the
economic plans, which the mixed COM
mission, sitting daily between now and
May 1, will definitely adopt if neccs-
sary. From military point of view
the recall of only one class, that of
1919, has been decided upon as suf-
ficent to carry out further operations.
Official Staff Selected
Marshal Foch, General Buac, chief
of staff Of the army, and General Wey,.
gand, acting as general secretary of
The staff, Will represent the military
element. Louis Loucheur, Minister of
Liberated Regions; Paul Tirard, High
Commissioner in the Rhineland, and M.
Seydoux, the financial expert who rep
resented France at the Brussels con-
ference, will compose the civil element.
Cognizance is taken by the Temps
in its leading editorial to-day of re-
ports that new reparation offer by
Germany is being transr tied to the
United States through the Vatican, a
move which it characterizes as an at
tempted diversion by Germany to es-
cape payment to the extent of her
abilities.
"There is much ado in Berlin con-
corning the offers of reparations which
the German government is reported to
have transmitted to the United States
government" says the Temps. eve
can only see in such a move another
attempt at a diversion. If Germany
were prepared sincerely to recognize
her responsibility and was resolved to
pay to the full limit of her resources,
as she was invited to do by the United
States, she would not adopt such cir
cuitous methods and try to set Amer
ica up against the European Allies.
Were Germany sincere she would
not attempt to evade the fixing of the
amount of her debts by opening de-
bate upon an international loan and
upon the amounts owed the United
States by the Allies.
Simons's Authority Questioned
"By the way" continues the news
lin? Careful observers doubt if DR..
Simons (the Foreign Minister) is mas
ter of the situation.
at is declared that the German
propositions have been transmitted to
the United States by the Vatican. We
do not know whether this statement
will bring forth denial from Rome. y
adds the Temps, but 1T declares it
would not be surprised to learn that
the Vatican in fact was taking such
action.
BRUSSELS, April 17.-Declarations
that Belgium's financial and economic
future is entirely dominated by the
question of German reparations was
made by Premier Wiart in an address
here yesterday evening. He asserted
that the problem Of Belgium's restora-
ton was incapable of solution unless
Germany paid the sums levied against
her.
The Socialist Minister Destree also
declared that Belgium was threatened
with bankruptcy unless Germany paid
up. and asserted that unless she
Welded it would be necessary to en-
ploy force to bring about settlement of
the war debt
sugO.SIcre Tur Cor,nnn