Evening star., 1923-01-05
i. s. HAS REACHED
LIMIT IN EFFORTS
TO ASSIST EUROPE
Next Move for Settlement of
SnarI Must Come From
France.
HUGHES STANDING FIRM
ON NEW HAVEN SPEECH
French Criticism of Seeretary's Re-
marks Resented-Slight Hope
for Solution.

The United States government has
gone as far as it possibly can toward
Suggesting a solution for the Euro
pean reparations problem. and the
next move for settlement of the Ques-
fion must come from France, it was
announced on the highest official au-
thority today.
Secretary of State Hughes made
plain this governments readiness to
be of assistance when he said, in an
address at New Haven, that IL the
conference of premiers should fan the
next best alternative seemed the crea-
tion OF an international commission
OF financial experts to investigate the
fullest extent of Germany's ability to
pay the reparations bill.
VIII Go No Further.
Further than this, IL was stated, the
American government cannot and Will
not go, no matter how much 1t might
desire to render ali possible assistance
in avoiding an economic calamity in
Europe France has the unofficial
American suggestion before it: IL that
government cares to accept and settle
the problem without resort to armed
Intervention, details for the investi-
cation can be easily worked out, it
was announced.
1t is impossible for the Washington
government to issue an invitation to
the powers TO create such a commis
sion it was said, because the repara-
lions situation is being controlled by
the European governments, which 1t
., ,t,, fnle
declare they can see no sense in for
mally presenting the proposition to
the powers unless ii would be acceptable
10 France.
Attacked by French.
Secretary Hughes address at New
Haven was made in the friendHest
spirit, and yet. 1t was pointed out, the
French press has seized upon and at
tackled it from every imaginable an
gle. Washington officials have care
fully studied the Secretary of States
remarks and they have failed to find
one statement that might rightfully
offend the Trench people or the
French government.
France has the American suggcs-
ion for an alternative before it,;
whether or not the Paris government
will accept II is matter only the
French officials can determine. But
mn the face of press dispatches from
Paris, indicating preparations for the
military occupation of the rich, Ruhr
valley, Washington officials now see
gcant hope of Secretary Hughes prop
osition becoming operative.
Speech Sufficient Nettce.
When the attention Of Washington
officials was called to the reported
statement of Premier Poincare that
France had not been officially informed
of the Hughes suggestion, they re-
fused to discuss what might consti-
tute official information. They were
satisfied, however, that Secretary
Hughes speech at New Haven was suf-
ficient notice to France of how far
America would go in helping to solve
the reparations problem.
Principle Must BE Accepted.
Unless France sees At to accept the
American suggestion before dispatch
ing more troops into the Ruhr valley
step that Washington officials fear
viii have a far-reaching and disastrous
stfect-the administration's spokesman
could see nothing that this govern
ment might do now except be as friend
ly as 1t can. All France needs do is
accept the principle; the details can
be arranged without friction or diff
Guilty. No matter how much the
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