Evening star., 1922-07-30
HUGHES AGAIN HITS
GERMAN DEBT BILL
Declares Passage Would
Embarrass Administration
and Halt Treaty.
ASKS MIXED COMMITTEE
Secretary Says Banning Of Ger
many From Commission an
"Unfortunate Preoedent,".

Secretary Hughes. in a long meme-
dietary committee. again expressed
dfsapproval yesterday of the bill In
troduced by Senator Underwood of
Alabama. the democratic leader. for
establishment of an all-American
commission to adjust German war
claims
Enactment of such a measure, the
ing to the administration and would
force abandonment of negotiations
now under way for the establishment
of a joint German-American commis-
sion to deal with the claims. = T.
To undertake a settlement without
representation of the German inter-
ests, the memorandum continued,
would seem to be in contravention of
well established principles of inter-
national practice, tending to estab-
lish an unfortunate" precedent.
Objects to "Confscntory Pian."
Mr.. Hughes also took exception to a
provision in the bill under which
American claimants would be paid
out of tho proceeds of property now
Thus TO establish "a confscatory
policy" the Secretary's memorandum
said, would be to reverse the prin-
cJple already laid down by Congress
and the State Department.
Senator Underwood disclaimed any
Intention Of embarrassing the ad-
rpinistration negotiations for a mixed
claims treaty, stating that he did not
know when he introduced his bill that
there were any negotiations in prog
ress.
1T certainly was not generally
known at that time" the senator
added. I'VE had waited patiently for
the government to act for more than
a year after the signing of the Berlin
treaty, and it certainly was reason
to protect the rights of American
citizens"
Wants Prompt Settlement.
1T is hardly necessary for, me TO
say. Mr.. Hughes said, in his memo
randum. that l am most anxious
that a settlement of the claims Of
American citizens should be promptly
Effected. You undoubtedly appreciate
that in addition to ths difficulties
which, as a result of political and
economic conditions. have confront
ed the nations with which the United
states was associated in the war in
cffecting settlements of claims agar st
ment of the United States was Obliged
10 deal with conditions incident to
the conclusion OF treaties with Ger
many. Austria and Hungary to re-es-
tablish friendly relations with those
nations.
Following the conclusion of such
treaties, negotiations were entered
into with Germany looking to the ad-
Justment of the claims of our citizens
pursuant to the right of the United
States recognized under the treaty
concluded August IS. 1921, with that
country 1t is contemplated that a
mixed commission on, which Germany
viii have representation will be es-
tablished to determine the amounts
OF these claims in accordance with
the procedure usually governing
matters o. this kind.
Expects Action Soon.
L am glad to say that despite the
recnt difficulties in Germany. which
apparently have delayed the COM
pietion of the arrangements, gratify
ing progress has been MADE and I be-
Heve that a satisfactory convention
VIII shortly be signed. The nepotia
tions with the German government
Indicate desire on it's part to move
as expeditiously as possible with a
view to the consummation of the,
plans under consideration. II is
manifest that legislation such as that
contemplated by the bill in question
would be embarrassing to the ,ex-