New-York tribune., 1922-01-25
New Pact With
Berlin ON w ar
Claims ayored
Question Of Provision for
Commission 10 Adjust
Private Da,nases Figures
in White House Council
Genoa Not Discussed
Loan Of $4,000 600 TO Ii
IBERIA Agreed On as an
Administration Policy

WASHIN GTON, Jan. "a fBy the As
sociated Press).-A now treaty between
the United States and Germany, TO
create q commission for arbitration of
private damage claims growing out Of
the World War, probably will be ne
gotiated under decision reported to
have been reached tonight at dinner
conference at the White House between
President Harding, Secretary Hughes
and Republican leaders Of the Senate
ard House.
Another new Administration policy
aaid to have been agreed upon was for
loan Of $4,000 600 to Liberia.
The Genoa economic conference, the
treaties resulting from the armament
conference ard other international
problems, it was said, were not dis
cpssed at the conference, which was
reported to have been confined to the
war claims arbitration and Liheriar
loan questions.
Favorable Action Probable
Negotiation of the proposed arbi-
tration treaty was not definitely dec; T.
ed upon, but President Harding was
said to have indicated that the suggcs-
tion Of 4 new treaty probably would
be sdorted
Under the treaty Of Berlin, by which
the United States concluded peace with
Germany, the United States reserved
tire right to join with the Allies IN
arhitral commissions already estab-
llshed abroad Tor the adjudication o.
way claims. The question Of the United
States joining in this commission was
said TO have been canvassed thoroughly
by the President with Secretary
Hughes and the Senate and House cad
c1s, many of wnom arc members Of the
committees dealing with foreign rela.
tions. II America were TO participate
in the established arbitration commis-
sion under the Treaty Of Versailles, il
was said that action within three
weeks would be necessary. because of
the recognized hostility of many Pc
publican Senat rs to any sort OF par
ticipation in engagements Of the Yer
sallIcs Treaty, the consensus Of opini on
at to-nlght's conference was said to be
that action under the treaty Of Berlin
would be impracticable.
Hug es Approves Plan
Secretary Hughes was said to have
express ed the opinion. with concur
renee OF the Congre ssionai leaders, tnat
negotiation o. new treaty with the
German government 10 set up the War
Claims Arbitration Commission would
be simpler solution. The President
took the question under advisement
and his visitors SAID they believed the
new treaty could be promptly rego-
tlated and ratified with little difficulty.
The opinion was expressed that the
German government would accede to
She proposal for a new treaty in view
OF the reported desire Of German citi
zens TO nave their wsr claims adjuste 4
and any surplus of property .eturned
70 them. Secretary Hughes, it was
SAID, was unable to give an estimate Of
the amount OF American claims in
volved.
The Iiberian loan question was said
70 involve merely z rene val Of q s5,-
oOo' 'OOO loan agreement made during the
war. The loan was never conslm-
mated and authority for lending the
money expired with the establs.. .ment
OF the peace status. The ? esident and
his advisers were said to take the view.
however, that there was all impellinc.
moral obligation to m. Ike the loan now.
IN payment Of war expenditures made
by the republic of Liberia.
Participants in Conference
Among those who partic pated in the
conference were Secretary Hughes,
Speaker Gillett, Senator Lodge, chair
man Of the Foreign Relations Commit
tee; Chairman Porter of the House
roreign Affairs Committee; REPRESENTA-
tive Mondell, Republican leader in the
House; Senators McCumbe1, of North
Dakota; Brandegee, Of Connecticut;
Lenrcot, of Wisconsin, and Kellogg,
Of Minnesota, members of the Foreign
Rela tiO0s CoUmittea. Chairman Ford
ney of the House Ways and Means
Committee and Representative Burton,
Of Ohio, a member Of the Foreign AT
1airs Com N ttae