The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-01-28
Proposed Treaty
With Germany
Arbitration Of Private Dam
age Claims Of War Makes
Early Action Necessary

Washington, Jan. y (By the As
sociated PrcsS) a new treaty be-
tween the United States and Ger
mary 10 create /; commission fo''
arbitration OF private damage
claims growing out OF the World
war probably Will be negotiated
under a decision reported TO have
been reached tonight at q dinner
conference at the White House by
President Harding. Secretary
Hughes and Republican leaders OF
the senate and house.
Another new administration pol
icv said to have been agreed upon
was for a loan Of So,00o,o0o to
Liberia.
The Genoa economic confer
encc, the treaties resulting from
the armament conference and 9TH
er international problems. it was
said, were not discussed at the
conference. which was reported 10
have been confined 10 the w;ir
claims arbitration and Libcrian
! loan questions.
Negotiation of the proposed ar
bitration treaty was not definitely
; decided upon, but President Hard
ing was said to have indicated that
the suggestion Of a new treaty
probably would be adopted.
Under the treaty Of Berlin, by
which the United States concluded
peace with Germany, the United
States reserves the right to join
With the allies in ;trbitral com
missions already es tab | / $ h q
abroad for the adjudication OF war
claims. The question OF the Cnlted
States joining in this commission
was said to have been thoroughly
canyaSsed by the president with
! Secretary Hughes and the senate
and house leaders, many OF whom
are members Of the commissions
dealing with foreign relations. II
America waSfto participate IN the
established arbitration commission
under the treat OF Versailles. II
was said that action within three
weeks would be necessary. BE
cause OF the recognized hostility
of many Republican senator's tc
any sort of participation. IN en-
gagements of the Versailles treaty
! the concensus Of opinion at to-
! nights conference was said to be
that action under the treaty OF
Berlin would be impracticable.
Secretary Hughes was said te
have expressed the opinion, with
concurrence Of the congressional
leaders, that negotiation Of a new
treaty with the German govern
ment 20 set up the war claims al
bitration commission would be 8
simpler solution. The preSiden1
took the question under advise
nlent and his visitors said they be-
lieved that the new treaty woul(
be promptly negotiated and ratified
! with little difficulty.
The opinion was expressed tha'
the German governmnct would ac
cede to the proposal for a new
| treaty in view OF tho reported de-
sire Of German citizens TO have
their war claims adjusted and an,
surplus OF property returned t.
them. Mr.. Hnghes was unable t'
give an estimate Of the amount o
American claims involved.
The Liberian loan 4uIestlon va;
said to involve merely a renewa
Of /, $5,000.o00 loan agreemen
made during the war. The loar
was never conSummated and au'
thority for loaning the money cX'
pired with the establishment OF the
peace status. The president ant
his advisers were said to take thc
view. however. that there was III
impclling moral obligation ;,
make the loan now, in payment
of war expenditures made by the
republic of Liberia. Bills author
ling renewal Of the loan already
have been introduced in congress
and chairmen tonight promised
speedy action toward their pas,
sage.
Among those who participated
in the conference We're Secretary
Hughes. Speaker Gillette, Senator
Lodge, chairman Of the foreign af
fairs committees: Representative
Mondell, Republican leader IN the
house: Senators McCumber OF
North Dakota. BrandcSce of Con
nccticut, Lenroot of Wisconsin ant
kellogg of Minnesota, members o.
the foreign relations committee
chairman Fordney of the house
ways and means committee, anG
Representative Burton OF Ohio. {
/ member Of the foreign affairs com
mittec.