The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-12-27
REIPARaI0n
I'D
Many mo ors l1rcll-
lated But b Facts
TleVel ped Indiea
ting Hope of Settle
naent

ISSSJ - -. = SSt
relative to- extension of Ameriean
aid toward an F,ssIrep epean reparas
tions settl element continued today
TO present a had dly bec caoAded PIC
ture. on Which little nglat was
thrown from any sllarfers
American ofacials reiterated
their deniais Of cove eminent back
ing at the present stage for ne
American com mission plan spons
sored by conanaercIal eaders; ana
OF various published :statementsre re-
garding the direction in which
American Official opinion was tend
ing
Bnt there was no cleaF-eut eieS
NAL that high officials IN Wash
ington. had discussed the oHlnis-
sion. s proposal among themselves
and with others, and no one at.
tempted to give the apresslon
that the UnIted States govern
nnent would be displeased sffouass
The discussions now in progress re.
suit in an agreement. S. - ssss
Neither did any Official come for
ward to explain the true character
of the mysterious n1ovings behind
the scenes OF world diplomacy 20
which allnsion has been made re-
peafedN in official ouIgivings both
IN washington and IN the capt. fals
OF Europe $
IN all Of their negative comment
on the subject. state department
authorities seemed most anxious 20
deny that the government Itself,
desnife the close touch il is main
stainmg with the situat was in g;
any sway a party at presellt Sme 90
the plan for a survey commission,
suggested first in this country by
ofleials OF the chamber of COM
neree of the Gnited States. q was was
said fatty that the american gov
ernnent, at. the present stage soa
the discussions, has no connecticE
with the commission plan which
.eontennplafes creation Of a BODY Of o.
experts TO inquire into the ability
=of Germany to pay reparatioEs
Furthermore one official indicat-
ed that IL the conamiss plan ever
came to the point where a proposal
for its acceptance could be made
through Diplomatic channels the
Dnited States would not be the
proper power to make that pro-
posal. It was pointed out that
treaty rights are involved in the
reparations slifference, and that no
forna offer to mediat would be in
place from any government except
On The solicitation of the, govern
naenls involved IN the controversy.
AS the commission plan now is
|eyTlained here, the commission
Would be q wholly unofficial body
so far as the washington gov
ernment is concerned and would
have to do. only with reporting
|its findings as TO Germany rs eco
nomic ability to pay. bat actual
figure would be fixed on a repara-
lions total would of course be a
matter that the allied govern
,llents must decide for themselves.
But with the economic report on
Germany available, known TO rep
resent the views OF Industrial ex-
perts without any national bias, 1t
has been the hope Of sponsors ef
the American commission plan that
there could be an agreement as to
the amount and form Of German
payments which would finally set-
tie the question. s.
The only mixing as to the hopes
of the American government in its
efforts 10 find a way to a repara-
tons settlement was a prediction
made today that If it ever became
possible TO announce any Official
plan, it would be- found to be a
very practical prop posal,, lacking in
any sensational quality. Anything
that is being done officially IN: the
way Of getting clear understand
ing OF governmental attitudes
abroad. It was indicated, was aim
ed at such a conception OF the
pcoblem to be solved.
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