Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-16
CONFERENCES
Continued from Page One.)

York without announcing the object
! of his journey. In diplomatic and
! other circles, however, it was re-
| called that J. p. Morgan, New York
! 1inancier, had conferred here re-
Gently with Mr.. Hughes and there
was an inclination to associate these
| two conferences and to link them
with the project for a loan to Ger
! many by American bankers. When
! it became known still later that the
German question had been among
| the subjects discussed in q two hour
session of the cabinet, added signi-
ficance was attached to this phase
of events.
1t was indicated authoritatively at
the State Department late in the day
that the loan question had not come
up there in any official and formal
way. Comment with respect to the
project was refused beyond that in
timation. The State Department waS
equally reticent regarding the sum
moning home of ambassador Har-
.vey, although it was admitted later
at the White House that his first
hand knowledge of the developments
during the meeting in London of the
council of premiers was expected to
be helpful. The admission was
coupled with a suggestion that too
great significance should not he
given Mr.. Harvey's trip
In that regard, it appeared pos
sible that the ambassador himself
lacked precise knowledge of what
had prompted the call to Washing
ton. 1t was indicated that in view
of the recent illness of Mrs Harvey.
officials here believed it might be
timely for the ambassador to run
over" for conferences during the
Christmas holidays and it had not
been learned officially. apparently
that Mr.. Harvey was not to accom-
pany him.
With all the events of the last few
days indicating that something of
Importance was in prospect, the key
to the puzzlc-the specific thought Of
the Washington government as to
how its influence could best be
brought to bear on the Preparations
contrOversy-still was lacking to-
night. The impression was that Off
Gals were feeling their way care
fully towards decision in that re-
gard.
White House spokesman would
give no inkling Of the road along
which the government was moving
1t was said very definitely, however
that President Harding and his ad-
visers recognized that the United
States as the great creditor nation
had an influence in European affairs
that could not be avoided, and it
was declared with equal authority
that the administration had no de-
sire to escape the responsibility that
grew out of that influence.
1t is ..nown that some officials
have been impressed by the thought
that there should be available to any
European conference of an economic
and financial nature Very complete
information as to the actual situa-
ton in Germany. There appeared
tonight to be a possibility that it
might be along this line that an an
proach to a solution of the repara-
lions question would be sought.
There vas little Of an affirmative
nature to be obtained in official
quarters to throw light on admins,
tration plans or hopes. 1t was said
officially at the State Department,
however, that the American attitude
as to cancellation of war debts had
undergone no change. In any event
it was indicated on every side that
there was no reason to anticipate
any early action in Washington. the