The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1921-04-08
VIvIhNI Wins
HARDING SUPPORT
Only Condition Is "Fair and lust"
Decision on Sum TeutonS
Are to Be Assessed.
BERLIN MUST AV0W GUILT.
Cabinet Decides Allied Loans Are Not
to Be Waived-France Asks Atti-
tude Of America on Proposal
to Extend Occupied Zone.

Washington.-Most positive assur-
ances that the United States is willing
to see Germany forced to acknowledge
responsibility for the war and CON-
PEELED to pay to the limit of her ability
to do so have been given Rene Vivi-
ami, former premier of France, by high
officials of the Harding administration,
1t was learned here.
A spokesman for the administration
assured a group of newspaper CORE
spondents, within few hours after
the cabinet meeting adjourned that any
contention that, having fought through
the war; this cover" ment did not hold
the position that Germany must ac-
knowledge responsibility for the war
and pay to the Limit of her ability to
do So" was absurd.
The statement was repeated In vary
Ing language three times by this
spoke sman. The only publication was
that the limit of Cermany's ability to
pay must be arrived at fairly and
be the only restraint imposed on the
Allies.
This attitude of the administration,
which will be at once transmitted to
the French government without wait
Ing the return Of M. Viviani, is be-
Iieved by many here to be even more
than the dist nguished French visitor
hoped to obtain.
It has been the opinion of some ex-
perienced observers here that one of
the most pressing quests of Vivianl,
from the point of view of time, was
to learn what would be the probable
attitude of this country toward France
II and when the French would begin
the occupation of Germany. This occu-
patton, scheduled to start May 1, I'M
less the German government shall In
the mean time have made some accept
able preparation about beginning the
payment of the reparations, has been
giving the French Ministry concern as
10 the effect it light have on the
United States.
It is pointed out that because of the
temper of the German answers, the OBJ
jections of the British and Italians to
further occupation of Germany by the
French have been withdrawn, although
the wish to avoid such a contingency
exists in the British and Italian gov
ernments. 1t is said that the chief
fear of the French has been that some
protest might be made by this govern
ment, which might easily rouse the
Quilted British and Italian objections
and make Frances position very diff
cult.
Now that the American government
has clearly indicated its attitude, the
only disappointing feature to the
French is that despite the v'gor and
positiveness Of the announcement, Of
ficials of the administration fatty re-
fused to make any formal statement to
this effect.
The spokesman OF the administration
quoted herein was begged by the
newspaper correspondents to permit
his name to be used as the author of
the statement, but he declined to per-
NIT even his department to be desig-
mated. If his name could be used the
statement would, 1t iG thought here,
have the most significant effect upon
thc European situation.
In this connection it was learned un.
officially, although official confirmation
was refused, that message has been
received indirectly from the Germans
making an effort to get this govern
ment interested in the question of
reparations and making some offers in
that connection. 1t was also learned
unofiicially that an answer is being
wr tten to that request and that this
answer will be very discouraging to
Berlin.
All doubt as to the position of this
government with respect to compelling
Germany to acknowledge responsibility
for the war and to make reparat on to
the limit of her ability has been swept
aside.