The Washington herald., 1922-03-03
Reports Allied Scheme to
Reduce Zeppelin for
United States.
GERMANY ANXIOUS
TO FILL CONTRACT
Material Ready, But En-
tente May Order Teu-
tons to Hold Off.
By GEORGE sELDEs.


reliable Official sources I have re-
ceived startling disclosures affect
ing Zeppelin and submarine war se-
crets and the deliveries of war plans
and materials to the United States.
The most immediate fact is that
there will be a conference attend
ed by entente representatives short
ly to decide the fate OF Americas
Zeppelin, which must be delivered
by Germany. Unless Washington
forces the conference to yield the
United States will be left In the
cold on the Zeppelin as on German
submarines. gun bases and war in
ventions. Most Of these found their
way to the entente-especially ia
pan
Hinder American Aims.
Enormous diplomatic complica-
tions. the most important of
which Is the treaty of Versailles,
are hindering American aims and
are being used by the entente
against America, despite the fact
that President Harding has not ac-
cepted former President Wilson's
treaty.
On the other hand, the German
government. the German companies
which manufactured war materials
and German investors stand ready
to give America the preference and
options on everything. This has been
going on for two years Neyerthe-
less America has obtained nothing
and the entente everything.
From entente as well as German
government officials I learn that
Americas only hope of eating rec
ompense Is for II to insist that the
entente council sitting IN Paris leave
tie United States free TO deal with
Germany for a new Zeppelin. espe-
cially on the following points:
Points of Deal.
/. That the Zeppelin must be built
at once without entente interference,
which the treaty of Versailles pro-
vides. against the German air In
Gustry. ~.
2. That the size be increased from
10000 to 100, 900 cubic meters.
.. That America get the Zeppelin
free as a part of the reparations ac-
count. instead of paying something
as the entente desires.
am able to state officially that
the ambassadors council has linn
tied the American Zeppelin to the
size of those given France and
Itafy-70.0Oo cubic meters-where-
as the Zeppelin works at Friedrich
shafen have under construction a
ship OF 1000 cubic meters. which
Is meant for America. The American
Ambassador accepted the smaller
vessel despite the fact that the army
and navy departments desire the
newest, largest and best type. I am
able to state officially that the
greatest part of the material for use
in building the larger vessel Is al
ready at Friedrichshafen.
Waste of Millions.
1 have seen the Official report
OF the entente destruction CON-
mfttee." known otherwise as the
air-control committee. A great
part of these materials will be de-
stroyed by entente orders and the
smaller sized Zeppelin will be built
for America unless a new decision
Is made. This destruction also
would mean the waste OF millions
OF marks
Paragraph 2O2 OF the treaty of
Versailles, which the entente has
been using successfully against the
United States, provides that Ger
many must not build war Zeppe-
lins, but IL does not state which
Is q war and which Is a peace type.
I have learned that the entente Sc
cretly decided recently how IL Is
going to control Germany. but IL
has not officially communicated its
measures to the German govern
ment. so that when Germany rec
ommends building on May it win
ind itself up against these secret
and invisible rules.
Rules Hit America.
These rules will affect America,
inasmuch as the entente says that
small Zeppelins may be built for
use as commercial craft. but that
larger ships. such as America de-
sires. are war craft.
The entente has ruled that Ger
many must never build large craft.
In fact. craft of 10000 cubic meters
which have been built. were excep-
tions granted because German SOL
diers destroyed several Zeppelins,
one Of which was destined for
America The entente control COM
mission. by its decisions. Is forcing
the Zeppelin works to be moved to
Soain. where within a year ships
will be built and a European and
South American airship line will
be established At first fhe air
craft will be vessels Of 10000 ctbic
meters. but eventually they wilfAe
increased to 10000 and 10000 GU
bic meters.
One way out of the present mess,
according to reliable authorities, Is
for America, which signed a sepa-
rate treaty with Germany, not to
to be bound by the treaty of ver-
sailles and to challenge the en-
tente by ordering ZeppeIins and
submarines to the limit Of Ger
many's capacity. Germany would
violate the treaty with the en-
tente by fulh1ling American orders.
but IL would not violate the Amer
lean treaty. The American army
and navy would welcome that. say
the German builders. who have been
nagotiating with America for years