Evening star., 1922-12-22
NEXT STEP AWAITED.
Hope Expressed Here to Get Ele-
ments Together.
Bv the As,ociated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Despite what progress may have
been made toward extending Ameri-
can aid in composing the reparattons
disagreement in Europe. there was
evidence here today that much re-
mains to be done before all the in
1erested elements can be brought into
agreement.
There is no assurance so far that
France. whose interest in the repara
tions settlement is very direct one
will find it possible to agree to pro-
posal for an American commission to
survey German economic conditions
and fix basis on which d new repa =
rations program might be framed.
Acting Only Cnomcinlly.
In this situation officials in Wash
ington are seeking to minimize as
far as possible any direct connection
with the discussions in which they
have taken part. and to emphasize
that in what has been done they have
acted only in an unofficial" capacity
At the State Department again to-
day a sharp demarkation was laid
down between the activities of Amer
lean and other industrial leaders. on
the one hand. and the official posi-
tion of the government, on the other
There was no clear-cut denial, how
an American commission had been
talked over by Secretary Hughes with
outstanding representatives of in
dustry in the United States and
abroad. or that those with whom he
conferred had gained the distinct
would meet with satisfaction here.
Hope for French Aid.
Neither was there any attempt to
interested IN the plan had satisfied
themselves that it was acceptable also
to Great Britain. There is every hope
that France also will give the sug-
gestion her backing. making it pos
sible for the formal stages of the
negotiations to begin.
Meantime many conflicting reports
have gained currency as to the pre-
else origin of the commission plan.
which appears to have taken form
only after an extensive exchange of
ideas among industrial leaders and
officials here and abroad. So far as
the United States Is concerned, the
proposal appears first to have been
suggested to Secretary Hughes by Of
flcials of the Chamber of Commerce
of the United States, who still are in
touch with State Department officials
regarding it.
Disturbed by Disclosure.
There is every indication that high
administration officials are much dis
1urbed by disclosure of the commits
SION plan before IT reached the stage
wnere public and formal diplomatic
exchanges could take place on the
subject. Preliminary discussions al
ways precede any written diplomatic
correspondence in negotiations on del
icate questions. and until the attitude
of all the parties concerned has been
ascertained the government as such
ordinarily does not move.
1t was reiterated authoritatively at
the State Department today that the
American government had not pre-
sented to the allied capitals any pro-
posal for an American commission,
and it was added that no such sug-
xestion had been made formally or
informally. directly or Indirectly"
sugEestions Considered.
At the same time 1t was pointed out
that the government spokesman was
speaking strictly of fntergovern-
mental matters and not referring to
suggestions upon which there might
have been exchanges among business
men and any of the countries in
volved. Such tentative suggestions of
ways and means to deal with the
separations problem. which was
again described as the most acute
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