The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-04-22
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
TURNS DOWN PROPOSAL
Urgent Plea F rom Germany
Received-U. M. May Take
Some Action Yet

Washington, April 21.-The American
gov, rnnent refused today IN urgent
REQUEST Of the German government that
President Harding mediate tho question
Of reIarationS between Germany ana
the allies and fix 'the sum Germany is
20 pay.
The United States agreed. however
that if the German government would
formulate promptly such proposals rr-
harding rcparitionS "aS would present
4 proper basis for discussion, II would
consider bringing them TO the attention
of the allied governments in 4 manner
acccptable TO them in order that IN"
negotiations may speedily Ie resumed.
Cicrmany'.s appeal. Signed by Chancel'
ior Fehrcnbach and Foreign Minister
SimonS WAS directed 10 President Hard
ing and was transmitted through Amcrt'
can Commissioner Drescl At Berlin. II
was answered BY Secretary Hughes AZ
ter 4 conference late today with the
president at the White House.
The texts Of both the appeal and The
reply were made public tonight ~ Il"
state department. The communication
from Berlin said the German govern
mcnt was ready and willing to agree
to pay such sum rs the president after
examination ind Investigation might
find just and right" and TO fulfill in
letter and spirit all tho provisions Of
any award that may be made by him.
In reply, Secretary Hughes said:
This government could not agree to
mediate the question OF rcInration9
with 4 view 70 acting as umpire III is
settlement Impressed. however, with
the seriousness Of the issues inNor'
as they affect the whole world, the
government NJ the United States feels
itself 10 be deeply concerned with the
question Of obtaining an early and JUST
solution. This government strongly dc
s!rvS that there should be an Immediatc
resumption OF negotiations and relter'
:Ltes It's earnest hope that the German
government will promptly lorlnulaie
such proposals as would present &
proper basis for discussion Should III"
German government take this course
this government will consider bringing
to matter to the attention OF the 'liitI
governments in q manner acceptao!"
To them in order that negotiations may
speedily be resumed
Germany'S appeal was regarded III ol'
fetal and diplomatic Washington as Il
rtIlHFkADla one. II "tS I"'IHI'I p4t
that it WAS directed TO tn head "C 4
nation with which. Germany still! Is tech
n!caIy at war and which ha' troops on
its soil. reference to the state OF W.
was made in the German Commun!t;t'
zion, the chancellor and foreign minis
tor declaring that notwithstanding this
th,r ,petiIivncd the president in Ia"
numc :ot the German government and
the German people" with tho confident
hop" that the appeal would be granted
THIS was the second communicable Il
1. aling with III" rcparationS addressed
10 the United States 10y the German gCv'
crnmtnt and apparently it was not un'
expected by administration officials as
tn. reply went forward IL few hours
alter II had been received at the sta :
department. The German memorandum
was handed to Commissioner DrcSrl YES.
tcrday and reached today. Secretary
Hughes considered it and lalc in thc