New-York tribune., 1922-12-31
The American Approach

kecrCtdIN Iukuth sNN 80
.p4ech discloSes the Administra-
ions line Of approach toward
reparstion settlement; and, since a
puaration settlement must preeede
economic adjustment in Europe, the
Administration suggestions arc
first move toward that economic re-
hsbilitation Of which the whole
world stands in need.
What America can do is deter
mined by conditions which Mr..
Harding and Mr.. Hughes did not
create. They have to take account OF
the tragedy which debarred the
United States from direct participa-
ton in the execution Of the Yer
ailles Treaty. We were detached
from our former associates when
ne Senate failed TO ratify. Mr..
wilson strained unduly at few
iservations of merely domestic i'm
wtance. He slaughtered his own
work rather than tolerate person
ally dista2teful emendations TO it.
The reparation question was there
By Europoanized. The major Allies
we're left to fight it out among them
selves and with Germany. We have
only a reversionary interest, kept
alive by our separate treaty with
Germany and our Rhineland occu-
patton bill. France, Belgium. Great
Britain and Italy have apportioned
the German indemnity. and France
and Belgium, at least, have an enor-
nous stake in collecting II. How
ever anxious VIC may be to get rid
Of the reparation incubus and what
ever solution we may ourselves think
Just, VIC cannot impose our views on
the nations Of Europe. They must
consent. As Mr.. Hughes justly re-
marks: "We cannot consent for
them. The key 20 the settlement is
IN their hands, not in ours"
We can. however, in our own IN
teYen and in the interest Of the
world at large. make friendly pro
poals and offer our cooperation in
Ringing order out Of chaos. The
Administration has always held that
Germany ought to be made to pay
70 the limit Of her capacity. That
is ;he French view and the Belgian
view. 1t is Mussolinis view also. It
is somewhat moro distinctly Bonar
Laws view than it was Lloyd
Georges.
But what is the rational limit Of
German ability to pay? No one can
sag absolutely. For one thing Ger
many has never shown any real
Tlingness TO pay. Nor has any
body yet taken her BY the scrufr Of
the neck and tried to shake her
wealth out Of her pockets. Short Of
his method, which would certainly
reawaken fierce national jealousies
within the Entente, it is clear that
political consultation can bring no
convincing results. Political consid-
erstions will continue TO outweigh
economic ones and what the world
o. industry. commerce and finance
is looking for will be only imper-
iectly attained.
The Harding Hughes proposal is
. take the reparation question out
dpolitics. A purely economic body
would be asked 20 estimate German
eapacity 70 pay, and the govern
nents most deeply affected would
nave the option Of accepting the
ending or not.
Such plan gives Europe the last
Eord-as it ought to do. But a con-
ension fortified by expert economic
knoEledge would have an enormous
moral effect. It would impose on
ne imaginations Of the politicians. /
Fsrhaps il might sweep away all /
0osiaeles, as the dramatic announce /
nsnt Of the naval holiday and capt /
- ship scrapping program at the
Washington conference carried the
world Of its feet.
me Administrations first move
Practical and persuasive. And
'D' rspsrs;ion problem can be solved