Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-12-15
Ambassador Harvey's Re
call for Consultation is
Considered Significant.
AVERT CRASH
yOrder For Return Direct From Hard
ing and Hughes--German Repara-
tions To Figure Largely, 1t Is
Thought-May Meet Premiers.

Washington, Dec. l5-The United
States shortly will take major step
of far reaching Importance in the
serious European situation, the United
Press learned from highly authorita-
tive quarters today.
Another world conference in Wash
ington, this one designed to bring
about a solution of or relief from the
desperate economic plight Of Europe,
is a probability.
Well informed quarters in Washing
ton estimate that this move by the
United States to avert the final crash
in Europe that admittedly is drawing
nearer each day may be made within
two or three weeks.
George Harvey, the American AM
bassador at London, has been direct
ly instructed by President Harding
and Secretary Of State Hughes to re-
turn to Washington for consultation
on-the European crisis.
That Harvey's return to Washing
ton involves the highest possible
questions of this governments for
eign policy was plainly indicated by
the fact that the instructions for his
trip to Washington did not pass
through the routine channels of the
STATE Department, and officials gem
orally had no knowledge Of his COM
ing. The orders for Harvey to come
to Washington went directly from
President Harding and Secretary
Hughes
Hughes today would not comment
on the purposes Of the American Am
bassador's return to Washington, but
the highest authorities at the State
Department confirmed the United
Press dispatch from London Of Har-
vey's announcement that he IS sail
ing December 90 for consultation
with the Government.
Within the last few days, the Brit
ish and German Ambassadors here
have laid before Secretary of state
Hughes the situation involved in the
collapse of the London Conference Of
Premiers and Germany's close prox-
unity to complete collapse, made
more serious by the French threat to
invade the Ruhr.
Just exactly what the details are
of teh action that emminate from
this country, cannot be revealed at
the present time. Diplomatic quart
ers here that are ordinarily closely
informed on all important develop
merts believe that an economic con-
ference in Washington is a proba-
bilitv. and these informed circles for
davs now have been certain that some
major move was coming from Wash
ington. -,
Whether this expected action will be
purely Ia governmental measure. or
will involve some gesture from pri-
vate interest in the United States,
has not vet been learned. The con-
templated action may be the calling
of an economic conference in Wash
ington, it may be an announcement
of the conditions under which Amer
lean bankers will advance loan to
Germany.
II may be participation of the
United States in the Conference OF
Premiers to reassemble in London.
January 2, the laying of plan OF
action before this meeting by Wash,
ington, or some other form of world
gesture showing how seriously the
United States regards the need for
settlement of the European problem.
Whatever comes, however. these
will be the policies that will form the
basis for action by the United States:
l. The German reparations prob
lem must be settled, and settled inn
mediately, for this is the root OF the
trouble in Europe today.
2. Germany must be made to Pay
to the utmost of her ability, but the
indemnity figure must not be hxed
beyond her capacity to pay; and the
present reparations sum that Ger
many has been ordered to pay-l5Z,-
100000 900 gold marks, or more than
10000, ,0O0,0O0 American gold dollars
is too much.
3. Drastic actions of coercion, such
as march by the French into tne
Ruhr Valley, would only defeat their
own purposes, retard reconstruction
and throw Europe again into tur-
moil.
4. While the present reparations
figure must be reduced to a point
consistent with Germany's capacity
to pay, the figure also must De deh-
nitely fixed before Germany can re,
turn to work and any help offered
such as in the form Of an internahon-
al loan. ~,
5. Accompanying a definite settle
ment Of the German reparation PROD
,inm there must Be Willingness on
the part Of the European nations
mostly concerned 10 reduce their arm
les.