Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-12-19
Ask Conference
On Reparations
Suggestion is Formally Made by U
5. to Poincare Of France
Great Financiers.
(By Isaac Gregg

10y 4SUuC OFt9J'j
Washington, Dec. 19.-The United
States government has suggested m
formally to Premier Polncare OF
France the establishment of an inter-
national commission TO mediate on the
question of German reparations and
10 determine to the satisfaction of
all nations concerned the amount OF
reparations Germany will be able to
pay.
Although the identity of the mem
berS OF the commission and the coun-
tries from which they would be drawn
are unknown, the Gazette correspond
ent learned from authoritative sourc-
es that the commission would be COM
posed of the greatest tinanciers IN the
world. Sounded out the proposition
Of such an international commission,
it is understood that the German gov
ernment, through Ambassador WED
feldt, has communicated to the United
States its willingness 70 abide by the
decision of such a commission provid-
ed that the United States is satisfied
the commission will be formed in such
a way as to assure just and fair treat
ment for Germany. This tentative
acceptance by Germany is made IN
the face of the fact thIt the United
States is strongly committed to the
principle that Germany must pay up
o the extent of her ability to pay.
Negotiations between France and
the United States have not been COM
pleted concerning the proposed inter-
national commission, but, although
France has not given any assurance
whatever that the mediation of such
commission would be satisfactory to
her, she has countered with Informal
queries to this effect; Supposing such
a commission should fix Germany's
liability, what assurance would we
have. any more than we have now,
that Germany would pay the amount
determined by the commission as be-
ing Just and fair.
Without pretense of revealing inI-
mate details of the French-Amerlcan
negotiations. it may be said that the
United States is under no clrcum-
stances in a position to guarantee
that Germany will pay even should the
international commission scale down
the total amount of Germany's liablll-
ties as we'll as the annual payments
REQUIRED.
The only possible Kind of assurance
the United States can give are econ
omic assurances. In other words, the
United States, for traditional reasons
of opposition to entagiing alliances,
cannot possibly put herself in posi-
ton of guaranteeing tb? use Of force
to make Germany nay, but the United
States can help Germany pay. TO
helm Germany pay. the United States
can. with other nations fortunately
situated, raise money TO help nut Ger
many IN = position o. productivity.
The recent visits to Washington OF
]. p. Morgan ard Elihu Hoot has
tsken on a different iOht since news
has come of the proposal for the estah-
liShment of an International commits
sion of reparations. The presump-'
tion now is that both Mr.. Morgan and
Mr.. Root were called to discuss the
formation of an international COM
mission and possibly were approach
ed on the subject of serving on 1t. Mr.
Morgan at least, comes within the
category of "the greatest tinanclerS
in the world" which is the term used
by the Gazette's authority IN describ-
ing meagrely the makeup OF the com
mission.
There is no information here as to
whether the commission would be rep
resented by citizens of the Allied and
German governments or not. The sup
nosition is that only men from nations
not now represented on the Repara-
tions Commission or signatory to the
Versailles treaty would be asked to
serve, but there is no verlflcatlon OF
this and no indication that the French
would be willing to accept the declS-
ions o fsuch a commission.
1t is pointed out, however tha'
should countries termed other than
'nutrap" in the reparations contro..
versy be asked to name members OF
the commission, nothing would be
gained inasmuch as the same state
ments have been reached in previous
discussions of the Allied premiers
would aagin inevitably be reached ny
tho international commission.