Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-23
COMMISSION PLAN
TO STUDY GERMANY
STILL BECL GUIDED
Officials Reiterate Denials
Movement Has Govern
ment Backing.
MYSTERY BEHIND SCENE
OF WORLD DIPLOMACY
Proposed Body of Experts to
Solve Rcparalions Unofi-
cial if Formed.
BERLIN HEARS MANY HuMots
situation ns to American Attitude
Confused. Due to CONFLICTING
Dispatches.
MYSTERY BEHIND SCENE
OF WORLD DIPLOMACY
nEnLIH HEARS MANY nuMorts
situation ns tn American Attitude
Confu"cd, Due to Conflicting
Dispatches.
he Associated prcsr.

WASiiiNGTON. Dec. 2o-The stu
htlon relative to extension o! Amer
ican aid toward "a European rcpara-
lions settlement continued today TO
present badly bccloudcd picture on
which little light WAS thrown from
any quarter
American officials reiterated their
d"nials Of government backing at the
present stage FOR the American com
mission plan sponsored hy CONNER
'ihi leaders. and az various published,
statements regarding the direction IN
winch American official opinion was
tending
y" Cirnr-Cut Denial.
but there was no clear-cut denial
mat high officials in Washington had
discussed the commission proposal
earnestly among themselves and
with others. ana no one attempted TO
give the impression that the United
= states government would he dis
pleased should tho discussions now
u! progress result In an agreement.
Neither did any official come for
ward to explain the true character
az The mysterious novIngs behind III,
scenes of world diplomacy. to whicn
alIusion had been made In official
quarters. both in Washington and
TIA" capitals OF Europe.
or their negative cOmmen, on .he
subject. state Department authorities
seemed most anxious 20 deny that
inc government itself. despite the
clos" touch u is maintaining with the
situation. was in any way "A party at
IN" present time To- the plan for a
survey commission. suggested arst
IN TINS country by officials Of the
/. hamocr or Commerce OF the United
states
IL ,Iss
II was said flatly tina, the Amer
irah government. at the present stage
"' the discussions. has no connection
WIN the commission plan. which con-
templates creation OF a body Of cX-
r"riS 10 inquire into The ABILITY OF
'crhany To pay rcparatlnns. Fur
thermorc, one official indicated that
the commission plan ever comes 10
'hc point where a proposal for it's
acceptance could be made through
diplomatic channels, the United
states would not be the proper power
/ 70 make that proposal 1t was
pointed out that treaty rights are
involved IN the reParations diner
cncc. and that no formal offer To
mediate would be in place from any
government. except on the solicita-
li"h OF thc governments involved in
tho controversy
""'"" Noufu lie Unofficial.
AS TO commission plan. the com.
mission would be wholly unofficial
Z oody so far as the Washington rov.
ernment Is concerned. and would have
I" do only with reporting its nniin-s
as to Germany's economic ability 10
pay.
What actual figures. would be fixed
on as a rcpara:ions total would or
course. be matter that the allied
governments must decide for them
serves. But with the economic re-
port on Germany available. known to
represent tho views of industrial ex-
per's without any national bias. IL
has been tho hope OF sponsors OF
the American commission plan that
there could be nm agreement as TO
the amount and form OF German paw
ments which would finally settle the
question.
Seeks Simple solution,
The only inkling as TO the homes
or tho American government In II,
efforts TO find way to a reparations
settlement was a prediction made to-
day that II 1t ever became possibIe
to announce any official plan II
would he found to be n very prac
tical proposal. lacking in any SEN
sational quality. Anything that Is
being done officially In the way of
getting clear understanding of gov
crnmental attitudes abroad. II was
indicated. was aimed at such n con-
ccption OF the problem to be solved
Bcrlin Confused by Rumors.
Rp n