The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-12-21
MAY Name BASIS
Germany Asks American Aid I'm
New Preparations Plan.
Wants Commission, Headed by
Hoover, to Make Survey.
0ETrnNHIuF anuITu IN nav
DETERMINE ABILITY TO PAY
Invitation Throws First Light
Upon L. S. Intervention.
England Agrees to Plan But
French View is Awaited.

New York, Dec. 21.-Julius Barnes,
president of the United States Cham
Der of Commerce. today officially con-
firmed that the United States govern
ment is exploring all avenues in an
efforLxO assist the allies to solve the
q iaian PREPARATIONS issue He denied
that the initiative to have the United
States intervene had originated with
Chancellor Wilhelm Cuno OF Ger
many, as reported.
THE whole thing is in the hands
of the United States government at
Washington. and the United States
Chamber Of Commerce is interested
only as a means of stabilizing the
worlds business" said Barnes.
CBy the Associated Press.J
London, Dec. 21--The request
made by a German trade commission
that a committee of American bust
ness men, headed by Herbert Hoover.
Wis { Germany to unGertake thoro
survey of economic conditions that
would be used as the basis of a new
separations treaty, was seen here to-
day as perhaps the starting point OF
the rumors as to American interven-
ton in the reparations problem.
Great Brita n, IL is semi-officially
learned. has informed the American
state department of its consent to
such a pan The British govern
ment's message sent In response to an
said. it was expected to be followed
by the assent of France. to which the
American government also communi-
Gated the German suggestion.
The proposal was made by a Ger
man commission headed by Chancel-
Tor Cuno to the United States cham
Der of commerce, which in turn is
understood to have asked Secretary
Hoover to present the pans at a cab
inet meeting. This was zone and the
matter passed into the hands of Sec
rotary Hughes.
The Germans propose that the
American commission determine the
extent OF Germany's ability to pay and
assert that they would agree to meet
this amount If France and Great
Britain approved of the PLAN To this
end Secretary Hughes opened negota- !
lions with the London and Paris gov
srnments
First Light on Plan.
(BV the Associated Press.)
Washington. Dec 21.-German over
.ures thru informal channels for
American intervention to obtain a re-
rision of German reparations schedule,
in London dispatches of the
Associated Press, throws the first def
mite light on the method by when
nto a new attempt at final adjust
nent of the vexing reparations prob
am. The next step to be looked for
obviously. is an indication of the
trench attitude of the German pro-
osal that an American economic COM
Mission review Germany's present sit
lation and estimate her capacity TO
ay as a basis for a new PREPARATIONS
realty
There is reason to believe that pre-
ious government reports from Berlin
re of a character to Justify hope that
{ the French should prove agreeable
o the proposed plan for reparations
evision, no insurmOuntable obstacles
al In IN 2 he TaE NJ = ~ a
nent as to the specific amount. Ger
many could and would pay.
America the Channel.
a stumbling block to such an agree
nent up to this time. officials here and &
n Berlin are understood to have felt.
Normal preliminary exchange of view
etween Berlin and Paris British
gencies hardly could offer their serv-
ces as Great Britain is too fully COM
nitted on reparations view in oppo-
ifion to the French position to be ef-
ective in negotiations to the Paris
Overnment- II
AS the proposal approved by the
'uno government is seen here, it rep
esents employment OF American COM
lercsai and governmental agencies to
ring German and French views into
aFmony. It is known that view
aken in official quarters in Berlin
; that an unbiased reconsideration
now that figure to be not as remote
5 might be expected from the lowest
stimate to the French authorities as ]
, what reimbursement they must re-
Give from Germany for damages in {
icted during the war.
The share of the Chamber of the I
ommerce of the United States in the
naming of the new proposals for ad- !
Istment of the European tangle, 1t ,
as learned today, dates back to eX- {
Cecutive discussion of the subject by !
Irectors of the chamber with Presi- i
eut julius Barnes. at the Galveston
leeting of the board. last month !
nouEh promise of success in bringing :
bout a compromise Preparations pro-
ram developed at that meeting TO ,
arrant a grant of fun powers TO
r. Barnes by the board.
whether the board then had pro- I
osaIs Of similar business organ "a
ons in Germany is not known but
r. Barnes and Elliot Goodwin. sec {
.tary general of the chamber. con- i
rred at great length with Secretary
ughes last week, their visit synchro- I
zing with the many other incidents a
at served to make il GEAR that the I
-ashington government had before II i
me project for settlement OF the I
partitions tangie-
Business Interests Involved. I
II is recalled here that the Cuno :
,vernment in Germany rests very {
rge'y for its support on the indus
lalfStS group, WhiCh presumably III =
udes the commerC-aI and business
terests now moving for Intervention e
American business representative
the reparations problems As the p
SIX of actual payment of GermanyS y
parat,ons must OF necessity faii L
rgely upon this political group, add
weight is attached to proposals e
pm that quarter IL
American observers nave reported
at without support OF the Industrial c.
8 the Cuno government could not e
and and that a socialist ministry
1st replace it. probably to be fol- r.
we'd by political upheavals a.
If the Cuno government is support
3 the informal efforts toward new e
reement with France on repara- al
ms, therefore the view is taken IN D.
me quarters that it means recogni-
N In GermanN that she must paw &c